I think I like the idea, but I have to ask a favor: Please stop the animated banner text!
I'm getting tired of how many web developers don't realize that endless, unstoppable animation is a huge accessibility issue. My brain apparently has some deep programming to follow anything that moves, so I can't actually read anything about the project without straining my brain. For reference, I'm autistic. Many neurodivergent people have similar issues. So, unintentionally, you're excluding people that might enjoy this.
Yeah. Every time I come across a banner like that I have to immediately scroll it off screen, otherwise my attention is spent tracking the banner and I can't focus on the text. Makes me wish `prefers-reduced-motion` supported `none`.
I gave up on the visual accessibility demands. Someone wants to make a website that I can't easily use? I avoid it. If it bothers me enough because it contains information I want, I will write them directly and kindly ask for an accessibility option.
Demanding everything be 100% accessible to everyone at all times is something that I feel is not necessary. It also feels like I am imposing my demands on someone, limiting their artistic creativity to suite my disability - I don't feel comfortable with that idea. If someone enjoys all the animation and blinding colors then let them. I'm actually happy for them that they can.
I used to be like that and I’ve completely flip flopped. I decided that people really need to know the problems they cause, and needless animations are absolutely rampant.
I was watching a conference talk yesterday on SVG, and the speaker had an endlessly repeating dumb meme gif on their slide. I couldn’t focus on what they’re saying at all. So, I’m excluded from the information they’re sharing. Fuck that. This is a very experienced web developer who probably cares enough to make things accessible, but they don’t realize the harm they’re doing. So, at least on places like HN, I’m going to be vocal.
I'm at peace with it. Complaining here might get notice but honestly you're more likely to initiate communication with a polite direct request. Some people might not want to engage in a public forum.
meme gif in a conference slide is an awful idea and very unprofessional.
I am sympathetic to what you are saying, but as far as using animation to attract business, you are in the lowest percentage of people that would make a purchase (as well as being on HN, you are probably far below a tenth of a percent for a customer). I also try to prevent large carousels and animations on websites for accessibility, but when it comes to those who convert to customers, the animations are going to win out by a ton. I know you know this, too, but I'm just saying it so you know you're heard, but businesses need to sell.
The number of people that are able to handle accessibility, while also being capable of creating a captivating presentation to drive sales, is extremely low. This isn't an attack on anyone, I wish things were more black and white, but until those with accessibility needs are driving revenue more you are at the mercy of the government and ADA (if you're in the US or anywhere else similar concerns are legal).
I think you’re overestimating how much needless animation helps sales and underestimating how many people are negatively affected by it.
20% of the population has high sensory sensitivity. Many of these people have issues with needless animation. Some people with ADHD also have issues. When you add them all up, it becomes a significant customer base. And even for neurotypical people, excessive animation is distracting. They’re able to tolerate it, but it’s still adding cognitive load.
And it’s been shown through usability studies that carousels are terrible across the board. Marketing people like them for some reason, but there is almost never a good reason for a carousel on the web. Marketing people and some designers like animation because it grabs your attention, and it gets a “wow” in a presentation to executives, but I’m not convinced it actually increases conversions.
I appreciate your response, and I have spoken out against using animation for anything that contains text or can be distracting to anyone (like a shifting pattern beneath static text). I try to talk people out of using carousels, but unfortunately, it often does come down to the executives and marketing people that are paying for the product.
I think that it does get a "wow" in presentation, but better writing and description of your product delivers a more long-term "wow". I just think that most marketing people reach for something easy that is pre-built, than taking the time to really think about how to market their product effectively.
Unless you can go against the wishes of those higher up than you, and show high sales growth, it's often a much easier life to show off a little animation and go after the idea than the presentation when needing to discuss low sales. I work for a digital marketing agency, and often disagree with choices that are made. I just have the ability to influence the backend technology and choices made, so pick my battles. I worked in both front-end as well as backend for a while, but I got burnt out by front-end from management and customers that didn't know any better, more than the constant churn in technology and techniques.
I do agree with you, but 20% is a low number to the type of people that want something to "pop" so they can not know what they are selling, but can show off some fancy animation and let the presentation do all the talking for them. I don't agree with it, but it is negative that the world does work like that most of the time.