Mediasurface Upgrades Content Management Software to Improve Website Accessibility

Meeting web accessibility just got easier with Morello 5.7

Europe’s leading content management solutions provider today launched Morello 5.7, its enterprise-level solution for web content management. Morello 5.7 features new enhancements to help create and maintain XHTML Transitional or Strict websites, allowing organizations to more easily adhere to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).

Accessible websites are both a legal requirement and make good business sense.  The Disability Rights Commission states for example that anyone should be able to use, navigate and understand a website despite physical, sensory or cognitive user disabilities, work constraints or technological barriers.  Accessible websites also demonstrate an ethical approach to business and ensure the 11 million plus disabled adults in the UK have equal access to company information, products and services. 

These factors are driving an increasing number of businesses to find ways to adhere to WCAG and to make their corporate online presence more compelling.

XHTML Strict is the purest form of XHTML, which not only allows for easier rebranding of sites for the web, but additionally for repurposing content for other devices such as aural browsers and Braille devices.  XHTML Strict also makes it easier to support non-PC web browsing devices such as handhelds thereby exploiting the exponential rise in remote web browsing through handheld devices.

The new XHTML Parser in Morello ensures that it is straightforward and easy for users to ensure content on websites confirms to the highest standards of XHTML Transitional or Strict.

Morello 5.7 also includes many to features to further empower the business user including:

•More control for the business user over template design through the enhanced Morello Page Studio. Users can now build pages from categories of components, each of which can be configured specifically for that page, giving the business user significantly more flexibility
•Synchronise documents and image libraries through Morello’s enhanced Microsoft Office SharePoint Services (MOSS) Connector enabling users to re-use more of their Sharepoint content across Morello sites
•Adhere to compliance regulations through Version Compare. Users can see the difference between different versions of content, allowing them to see insertions and deletions made between different versions.

Lawrence Shaw, CEO of SiteMorse, a company specialising in the testing and measurement of website performance and accessibility said:

“We’ve been calling for companies to take more care with the quality of the HTML that they produce for years and it’s great to see Mediasurface take the lead by providing the ability to deliver XHTML Strict code direct from Morello.  It will make a massive difference to the quality of websites and their overall accessibility.  Equally, it will help ensure content managed with Morello can be easily deployed on mobile and handheld devices.”

Andy Peart, Chief Marketing Office, Mediasurface said:

“Morello was already the most user-friendly content management system on the market.  With this latest version we’re the first major vendor to deliver XHTML Strict out of the box.   This is just another demonstration of our unwavering commitment to ensure Morello remains the most usable content management system available.”