[access-uk] Re: Your thoughts on access keys on websites?

  • From: "tony sweeney" <deirton711@xxxxxxxxx>
  • To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Wed, 24 Mar 2010 00:27:02 -0000

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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