Google's Accessable search

[Koz]

Hi,

We got a blog article up on Google's new Accessable search. This new search method prioritises web sites buy weighing their Page Rank and accessability for the visualy-impaired.

So it seems that Page Rank does have a perpose in some searh methods. Does this mean that Google will eventualy list its SERPs by PR?

How will accessability impact search engine optimisation in the future?

Heres a link to the SEO blog (http://www.digital-m.co.za/seo-blog/2006/07/googles-new-accessible-search-for.html). I'm interested in your thoughts.

Cheers, Koz

[Blazingpie]

Where do u see anything saying it uses PR as a factor?

[Koz]

Hi Blazingpie,

Accessible Search makes use of the existing PageRank system as well as evaluating the usability of the web site.

Cheers, Koz

[Paz]

Hi,

This is quite interesting Koz because I checked a few random sites for domain name searches and found a few strange things. Most of the domains ranked OK, when I did a search for Paul Mckenna (http://www.google.com/u/accessible?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&cx=accessible%21&q=paul+mckenna&btnG=Search) for example, they guy's website wasn't in #1 in the accessibility searches and follows behind the wikipedia entry.

The thing is though that P.Mc. has gone to great lengths to make his site accessible to visually impaired people, and there's even an accessibilty link on the top right of his home page.

I can't find a reliable pattern at all, but it seems that sites with a lot of javascript (and maybe flash) don't rank so well for accessibility searches.

The question is, will Google perhaps one day add some accessibilty criteria to their algorithm. It's quite possible I think.

Cheers,
Paz.

[Blazingpie]

Koz, i was referring to the FAQ :p

(http://labs.google.com/accessible/faq.html) doesn't mention anything about using PageRank, nor does the Official Google Blog entry (http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2006/07/finding-easy-to-read-web-content_20.html) :p

Which would make sense, seeing how PR deals with links, and I know of at least 1 high PR site that it difficult for those with perfect vision to navigate, let alone a visually-impaired person...

[Koz]

I can't find a reliable pattern at all, but it seems that sites with a lot of javascript (and maybe flash) don't rank so well for accessibility searches.

you're right about that. Its because JavaScript interferes with with the screen reader programms.

I also wonder if websites will increasingly be made more accessible just to tap into a large market of the visualy-impaired?

Cheers, Koz

[Koz]

Blazingpie,

The article the blog is sourced from was written by Eric Auchard, editor and journalist for Reuters' technology news coverage worldwide, in where he interviewed T.V. Raman.

Blazingpie...
Which would make sense, seeing how PR deals with links, and I know of at least 1 high PR site that it difficult for those with perfect vision to navigate, let alone a visually-impaired person...

Like you said, PR deals with links not the usability. Accessible Search balances PR with good usability. Does your friend's site show up in Accessible Search at all?

Cheers, Koz