Nathan Demsky wrote:
> Further to my earlier post " Is this site breaking Search Engine rules"
> about possible breaking of Google AUP by www.morleyharps.co.uk , I have now
> pointed out to them the error of their ways and they have amended their
> hidden text to:
>
> <div id="pagedescription" title="Copy for Lynx Browsers / Screen Readers">
>
> <p>A family business, Clive Morley Harps has been making harps since
> 1817.<br /><br />Formerly based in London's elegant South
> Kensington, Clive Morley Harps still makes harps and sells them
> together with harp strings, harp accessories and harp sheet music from
> its showroom and studio in Lechlade, Gloucestershire.<br /><br />In
> addition, Clive Morley Harps offers the harpist long or short term harp
> rental services on a wide range of harps available in stock. Renting a
> harp is ideal for first time musicians or for use at harp concerts and harp
> recitals.<br /><br />For first time harpists (and those just
> learning the ropes - or rather the strings!), harp classes
> are also available from experienced harps teachers at Clive Morley
> Harps' studio in Lechlade, Gloucestershire.<br /><br />Both
> Morley Workshop harps and other manufacturer's harps are available to
> buy online or by contacting Clive Morley Harps at their showroom and studio
> in Lechlade, Gloucestershire. Types of harps include: folks
> harps; electro folk harps; lap harps; travle harps; busking
> harps; scottish folk harps; modern folks harps; therapy
> harps; concert harps; dusty strings harps; morley workshop
> harps; antique harps; pedal harps; concert pedal harps;
> pure electro pedal harps; midi harps. Also sold are harp kits,
> for the DIY harpist.<br /><br />Best quality harp strings can be bought
> by the note or octave online in the Clive Morley Harps shop - harps
> strings include: concert harps strings; gothic harp strings;
> grecian harps strings; modern concert harps strings; gut harp
> strings; synthetic gut harp strings; nylon harps strings; folk
> harps strings; polished nylon harp strings elysian gut harp
> strings; elysian nylon harp strings; bow brand gut harp
> strings.<br /><br />Harp accessories available to buy online
> include: harp stools; harp music stands; harp trollies;
> harp covers; harp twin tape pickups; electro harp pickups.<br
> /><br />Finally, Clive Morley Harps offer sheet music for harps whether
> for pleasure or for study, with exam pieces and study books available
> to buy online.</p>
>
> </div>
>
> Two questions,
>
> Firstly, is putting text specifically for screen readers and the Lynx
> browser a way of getting round the AUP or is it an established way of being
> disability friendly, or both!
>
> Secondly, what's the reason for using characters such as ";" in this
> hidden text instead of normal HTML code?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Nathan

Interesting point. it bears resemblance to my long standing gripe of my
competitor inspirals .co.uk who have a flash site but use a framed site
to hide 100's of pages of content. Though clever linking and use of
<noframes> they keep referring flash enabled visitors back to the flash
based shop... its most annoying.

on coolpink .co.uk they use a similar techniques to hide text thats
only available when printed... as these sites have been around for ages
and reported for using such techniques and are still in the listing
then its my guess that google doesn't have a problem with this
technique.

Buy silver jewellery this christmas from www.iosilver.co.uk the silver
jewellery specialists.