Alpha Omega	05 July 2002 Home | Site MAP
Site Policies	Accessibility Copyright Privacy

Browser and accessibility policy

Over the years this web site has been written for compatibility with the lowest common denominator browser capabilities, with minor concessions to Internet Explorer capabilities (such as background sound). This means that frames, and even tables have been avoided.

Tables are now used more often because even Windows CE's pocket (or palm) sized computer version of Internet Explorer supports tables. (Sorry lynx users, we held out as long as was practical.) Many other web sites have over used resource-hungry graphics and animations to do what can now be done with text using cascading style sheets and dynamic HTML. Vision-impaired people using software that reads out the text continue to be considered in the layout of any tables, and the few frames pages being used always contain content for browsers incapable of viewing frames.

Rather than write for one browser or another, we are endeavouring to write to the cascading style sheets (css) standard, to which the various competing browsers are increasingly supporting. For the most part, the tags used should be compatible with both major browsers, and some of the others, but they are not critical for the delivery of the message. Older and non-css or partially-css browsers (such as Netscape 4) will just ignore the tags it doesn't understand. You will see all of the text, albeit with plain (or your default) formatting.

We continue to test using NCSA Mosaic 2.1.1, which has some neat features (such as autosurf), but does not support frames and only partly supports tables (bad text alignment and cell-sizing in tables). For those of you in places not well served by Internet servers or telephone companies, I recommend AMSD Ariadna which has features to optimise your surfing when challenged by low bandwidth (slow connection). They also have excellent support for Russian language web sites.

Our style policy is to use frames if and where it improves communication and navigation, but to continue to provide non-frames content at all times. Any no-frames content will also be low-graphic, but you need not avoid a frames pages for fear of bulky or hard to navigate pages. They continue to be designed to conserve bandwidth. We will continue to make use of highly compressed audio, and our restrained use of visuals to help the majority of users who don't have fast Internet service.

People using (CSS and DHTML) compliant browsers will see and hear the content as it is intended, but no matter which browser you use you will continue to be able to access all information content on this website.

If you have a Javascript capable browser (and have it turned on), you will be able to see some conservative enhancements (niceties) we have made, but regardless (of whether you have a Javascript), you will still get the basic content of the page. Any Javascript enhancements are done carefully and with restraint. You may not even notice which features are enabled using Javascript, and which use HTML and CSS.

Copyright

Copyright to any original content and design belongs to Ian Green or Alpha Omega Computers Pty Ltd (A.C.N. 006 768 458). Any other sources will be acknowledged where possible. You may quote material (to the extent of "fair use") from this site so long as proper attribution is made. For any other use please ask first.

Privacy Policy

At Alpha Omega we never use cookies to gather personal information about you.

People subscribing to the Direct Democracy or any other mailing lists are not tracked or profiled. The interaction is limited only to the personal communications that you see when you write your postings. You will never be subscribed except by your own clear request.

We will not share any personal information with anyone. If you want them to know, we're sure you will tell them yourself. We would rather you felt safe and secure than even to know your personal details, and if you give us your personal details so we can do business, you can be absolutely certain that we will not use it for anything other than the transaction it was given for.

If we do use a cookie, it will only be to facilitate your task at hand, for example, to make a shopping cart work, or to allow you to have your own customised settings including preferred language or interests. This does not mean that any information has ever been recorded here or on a web server, that says who you are or contains your preferences. Those settings are simply saved on your computer to help you.

We want you to be anonymous even in trade, so we encourage an alternative to the need for credit card or personal cheque clearance, in anonymous payment mechanisms such as e-gold. If we deliver physical goods to you, naturally we need to know where to deliver them, of course, but we will certainly not contact you unless you tell us to. We hope you remember ao.com.au and aoShop.com and visit us often! :)

You are encouraged to use encryption and cookie manager software such as:

• Pretty Good Privacy (PGP)
• Cookie Pal

Other useful privacy software may be found at TUCOWS. (We don't have any affiliation with any of these companies.) 

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