The blind access software, you mean, Sarah?
Blind users of the internet use software which enables them to 'see' what's written on the screen. The fact that the title of the story is highlighted and is the link to accessing the story makes it easier for this software to pick out the link. The box link we had previously is more difficult for the software to identify, as I understand it.
This is only a byproduct though of the change and it wasn't the primary reason for making the switch. It was just a bonus. I haven't asked for details, but I presume that it was also done to facilitate the programming that Janine is doing to switch the Archive website over to a database-run system, with an advanced search engine, so that readers can properly search for stories based on certain criteria. Year submitted, author, season, certain theme keywords and so on.
The changes will also be designed to make the Archive website much easier to manage - it's becoming very large these days with all you prolific authors out there
- with options that will make uploading data faster and smoother.
I think the reason that the title page looks busier than the previous format is that there are no longer any dividing lines between the entries. Before, each story was in its own little box - if you check the author listings, you'll see that still in place. The new format simply lists the stories, so it does look as though the entries are closer together than previously. I think the fact that the titles are now highlighted though, provides a dividing element between the entries all on its own, so there's really no need to include any artifical dividers any longer.
I think the change makes the page look cleaner and much more streamlined than the former format. Which is quite surprising really, because I hate change of any kind and am usually the first to take against something solely on the principle that it doesn't look the same as it did.
So this is high praise coming from me. <g>
LabRat