Global Spinneret

An eye-opening piece by Angela Colter in Content Magazine. (Emphasis mine.):

People with low literacy skills have always been part of our audience. … Most of us just didn’t know it. But now we do.

Another common question, “Won’t dumbing down the content make it unpleasant for everyone else?” … You’re not “dumbing down” anything, you’re simplifying it. … In fact, crafting your content to accommodate this audience has the added benefit of making information easier for everyone to read, understand, and use. Everybody appreciates clarity.

The entire article is worth a thorough read. And a re-read. And an action plan.

jedsundwall:

Good question. Come tell Michelle Chronister and me what you think at SXSW!

I do, but then I’m weird. How about you?

wilwheaton:

As an amazing validation of the grassroots response to SOPA, led by groups like Fight for the Future, EFF, Public Knowledge, and Demand Progress, they write, “Since the mark-up, we have increasingly heard from a large number of constituents and other stakeholders with vocal concerns about possible unintended consequences of the proposed legislation, including breaches in cybersecurity, damaging the integrity of the Internet, costly and burdensome litigation, and dilution of First Amendment rights.”

Wonderful news. Hopefully this will start turning the tide against SOPA as well.

instapom:

Yesterday, my friends (and former colleagues) at the X PRIZE Foundation rolled out their newest incentive prize: the $10,000,000 Qualcomm Tricorder X PRIZE. Teams from around the world will compete to build “a portable, wireless device in the palm of your hand that monitors and diagnoses your health conditions.” This is truly a Star Trek idea being made real.

So awesome. I can’t wait to see what comes out of this.