[access-uk] Re: Google is more accessible from today
- From: "Ray's Home" <rays-home@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 16 Nov 2006 08:20:45 -0000
Very good observations there Brian. I think HAL will navigate by heading, but
not 100% sure
there. Seems such an esy thing to implement, but praise is due to Google for
doing this.
I have Window-Eyes set these days to read number of links, headings, number of
frames
tables, and whether their are flash objects when a page is loaded. I don't
have it read
anything else at the outset as, too often, one is overwhelmed by a lot of not
very useful
information on many sites. Knowing the layout elements used in a page before
reading itis
very useful, as is the next different text navigation feature.
I thinnk if people can be made familiar with layout techniques on sites then a
lot of the
hassel people have with complex pages can vanish. This is no where more true
than with the
BBC Radio Player page, where once you know the elements being used to structure
this complex
page, you can get around it quite easily, IMHO.
From Ray
I can be contacted off-list at:
mailto:ray-48@xxxxxxxx
-----Original Message-----
From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf
Of Brian Hartgen
Sent: 15 November 2006 6:00PMogle is more accessible from today
Damon, this was very well spotted and thank you for letting us know. This
is going to be brilliant not only when I am searching for material, but when
training people how to use the internet it will make a huge difference.
Certainly Window-Eyes gives you the ability as well to move by heading, and
in both products you can bring up a list of headings. I cannot remember
about Supernova/Hal, and I have just uninstalled it from the computer onto
which I had it installed so cannot check right now.
Unfortunately Webbie (used with Thunder) has no regard for headings
whatsoever.
I always think the use of headings is very good for allowing a person to
bypass information people do not wish to read.
Again, thanks.
Brian Hartgen
MSN: brian@xxxxxxxxxxx
SKYPE: brianhartgen
SKYPE IN UK: 0208-133-7186
SKYPE IN US: 213-985-3581
----- Original Message -----
From: "Damon Rose" <damon.rose@xxxxxxxxx>
To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, November 15, 2006 5:38 PM
Subject: [access-uk] Re: Google is more accessible from today
>I dunno Adrian. I think it could be argued that each result is a kind of
> sub heading with details about it underneath.
>
> How else can you suggest being able to skim a page in quite such a
> stylish and simple way? Shouldn't all screenreaders buy into this H
> thing? If there's a better quicker way then I'd be really interested to
> know more.
>
> With you on misuse of markup though, the BBC search site is not so hot
> with it.
>
> Cheers
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
> Of Adrian Higginbotham
> Sent: 15 November 2006 13:51
> To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [access-uk] Re: Google is more accessible from today
>
> Certainly it makes skimming through results easier for this user but is
> it an improvement to accessibility or just a confluence by design or
> miss-fortune of one feature within one popular screenreading product and
> the semantics of a single website.
>
> To my mind tailoring your Website to fit with the functionality with
> one, or a small number of specific products is not accessibility. What
> about users of systems or technologies that don't have the ability to
> use that particular feature. The purpose of international standards and
> specifications, or guidance such as the WAI WCAG guidelines is that
> accessibility can be implemented in a way that is technology
> independent.
>
> I'd rather see assistive technology venders make their product conform
> with wcag guidance than websites that adapt to the functions of the
> products.
>
> Headings should be used for structural mark-up which arguably this is
> not.
> Use a header to identify the beginning of the search results section by
> all means but rely on the Links from that point onward.
>
>
> Adrian Higginbotham
> Project manager, Standards
>
> British Educational Communications and Technology Agency - BECTA
> Tel: Direct dial 024 7679 7333 - Becta switchboard 02476-416994.
>
> Email: Adrian.Higginbotham@xxxxxxxxxxxx
> Web: http://www.becta.org.uk/
> BECTA, Millburn Hill Road, Science Park, Coventry, CV4 7JJ
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
> Sent: 15 November 2006 12:03
> To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [access-uk] Google is more accessible from today
>
> Hi all.
>
> Have you noticed that Google is more accessible from today?
>
> When it returns your search results, each result is a heading. So, with
> jaws for instance, you can just whip thru them quickly using the letter
> H or do insert-F6 to bring up the list of headings.
>
> This gets my accessibility of the year award 2006 because it
> significantly decreases my research time on search engines.
>
> Give it a go. I'd be interested to hear your feedback and it's the kind
> of thing I'd like to share with the BBC's accessibility gurus. A small
> thing like this can really make a difference. Does it make a difference
> to you?
>
> ...Damon
>
> http://www.bbc.co.uk/
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