[access-uk] Re: Your thoughts on access keys on websites?
- From: Catherine Turner <catherineturner2007@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Wed, 24 Mar 2010 07:58:59 +0000
Hi Tony,
JAWS key z wouldn't make any difference for the access keys. That
switches the virtual cursor on and off, but doesn't free up any of
JAWS's keystrokes. Of course if one wanted to use the access keys one
could press JAWS 3 to pass next key through to the application though
I haven't tried that with access keys. It also wouldn't get rid of
the converse problem of access keys interfering with JAWS.
Not knowing enough about the development side of it (perhaps there is
a way of switching the access keys on/off) - it does seem that access
keys can interfere with screen reader keystrokes too much.
But I do want to counter this argument that you can have "proper
access" or well marked up html on the one hand and access keys on the
other. There are two sites I use on a regular basis which have
headings, sensibly named links etc and also access keys. I use the
access keys because, no matter how well marked up the html, it is
quicker to press an access key than, say, go through a list of
headings to get to the link I want to activate. For me it's about
efficiency and getting my task done. One keystroke is quicker than
two, and while this might not sound very significant it is very
significant if you use a particular website heavily and it all adds
up.
So I would say that access keys can be useful. Whether it's possible
to implement them in a way that doesn't interfere with screen readers
is a different issue. I imagine this would be possible with
stylesheets but whether/how you go about it is another issue.
Catherine
On 3/24/10, tony sweeney <deirton711@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Catherine,
>
> Don't mind me butting in here but I gave a Jaws command earlier re access
> keys which should have been, jaws key and z as a toggle!
>
> Thanks anyone for not having jumped down my throat!
>
> Cheers
>
> Tony Sweeney
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Catherine Turner
> To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Sent: Tuesday, March 23, 2010 6:51 PM
> Subject: [access-uk] Re: Your thoughts on access keys on websites?
>
>
> Oh dear, I'm going to throw a spanner in the works. On the whole, I
> don't used access keys. However on a couple of sites I use heavily on
> a daily basis I find them useful, and they don't interfere with my
> screen reader. I use Firefox where you press alt shift key to
> activate the access keys. I do find them useful and wouldn't want to
> be without them for these specific websites, though yes there are
> alternative ways. When I use Internet Explorer the access keys rarely
> work properly. I wonder whether it's possible to keep them and have
> them not interfere with screen readers, but I suspect this is not
> possible since some may use alt shift as keystrokes. I do think it's
> a shame though, as they are useful, and I wish there was a way of
> implementing them in such a way where the browser could switch them
> on/off as desired so I could have my access keys, and those who don't
> want them can ditch them...
>
> Catherine
>
> On 3/23/10, Barry Hill <bbinc@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> > I have never successfully used access keys. Either they interfere with
> Jaws
> > or they don't take me to the place they are meant to. I don't like them
> and
> > don't use them. For me, correct use of headings is much more useful.
> >
> > Cheers
> >
> > Barry
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
> Of
> > Jonathan
> > Sent: Sunday, March 21, 2010 9:09 PM
> > To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > Subject: [access-uk] Your thoughts on access keys on websites?
> >
> > I'm putting the final touches to a section of a site for blind or
> partially
> > sighted users, with the help of someone from this group who I'm in
> private
> > email exchange with, and a couple of others giving me advice which has
> been
> > invaluable.
> >
> > The users themselves want to know why I wasn't using "access keys" -
> > keyboard navigation through pages by pressing keys on the keyboard.
> >
> > The RNIB suggest access keys shouldn't be used, or if so, very
> > minimally:
> >
> http://www.rnib.org.uk/professionals/webaccessibility/designbuild/navigation
> > /Pages/access_tabs.aspx
> > When I got the RNIB to check the last site I did, they also suggested I
> > didn't use access keys.
> >
> > A working group drafting future specifications on accessible sites also
> > suggest access keys aren't used. And in fact, some browsers don't
> support
> > them at all now.
> >
> > However, I thought I'd let this group cast the deciding vote! The users
> > (well, 2 of them) say "yay", the guide says "nay"!
> >
> > So what are your thoughts on access keys? And as a sub-question, if I
> were
> > to drop the idea of access keys for site navigation and just use them
> for
> > navigation of audio playlists, then I would stick the the recommendation
> of
> > numbers only. What numbers would be easiest? I was thinking 1 for stop,
> 2
> > for play, 3 for next item (track), 4 for previous track. All thoughts
> > welcome!
> >
> > --
> > Providing support to Britain's 500 talking newspaper services
> > http://www.talking-newspapers.co.uk/
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