I hope you mean that the form should be on a page by itself not that it
should be opened in a new window in your browser. I say this because
opening pages in new windows without the user asking that to be done causes
compatibility issues with some browsers and some devices. I think you only
mean you would like the form's page to be less cluttered. I agree that it
could be less cluttered, but clutter is convenience to some people and
clutter to others. It is just a fact of browsing the web.
I don't know what screen reader you use, but i think that window-eyes and
JAWS work very very similarly on web pages, so I think I can give you tips
for getting the form filled out with the least amount of effort. I would
also suggest that anyone who uses the web with a screen reader should read
that section of the screen reader manual. You wouldn't believe how much
more efficient at navigation you can become in no time at all. Unlike many
other screen reader commands, most of the ones for web pages are easy to
remember. It's only table reading commands that seem a bit baffling.
When you arrive on the bookshare submit page you should immediately use the
link at the very top of the page that says "skip to main content". Your
screen reader also has a command to skip past links which will do almost
as well as that link, but the command might not be the same in all programs
and you get some other junk on most bookshare pages. That is what that
link has been put there for. Now press F to bring you to the first form
field. This will be title. press enter on the title edit. When you have
entered that information a tab will take you to the language combo-box. A
single tab will take you from field to field without any extra keystrokes.
Everything is simple as far as navigation is concerned until you get to the
silent spot. The silent spot is the browse button used for finding the
file you wish to upload. If you are paranoid you can exit forms mode to
see that the browse button is indeed what you have been placed on. The
button is only silent when your screen reader is in the mode used for
filling out forms. It is unfortunate that the button is silent, but once
you know that it is no longer a problem. After all the buttons on your
phone aren't marked, but because they never change you can handdle them
without a problem. As far as I can tell it is not bookshare's fault, or
even that of the screen reader makers that that dumb button doesn't speak.
I have used other sites with browse buttons and none of them speak. they
seem to be a weird beast in Explorer. In firefox the browse button is
spoken. However you identify the button, just press enter on it and you'll
be in a familiar looking dialog, because it is the exact same dialog used
throughout windows for opening a file. Hitting Alt-I while in that dialog
will take you to the "look in" list where you can select a drive or
location where your file is. It depends on your version of windows how
many tabs it takes to get to the list of files and folders in that
location. I think this is by far the easiest way to pick a file to upload.
Except for the poor people who have a computer that freezes up when they
hit enter on the browse button, I don't understand why people insist on
typing the path and filename of the book they want to upload. It's so easy
to mess up.
Now there is just one tab necessary once you've picked the file to be
uploaded to get to the short synopsis field. Once that is filled out there
will be a help link before you get to the next thing to be filled out. Is
one extra tab so terrible?
Now you will get to the Adult content check-box. I would exit forms mode
at this point because check-boxes tend to work just as well or much better
when you just use space to check and uncheck them while not in forms mode.
Your screen reader might not read the check-box titles as it should
otherwise. I haven't investigated why this is the case on the bookshare
page. that might be something that could be improved.
when you have selected all the categories that apply to your book you can
either use the screen reader command to go to the next edit-box if your
screen reader has such a command, or you can hit Control-F and type in ISBN
and press enter. That will take you to the next field, which is obbviously
the edit-box for filling in the ISBN. You'll need to go back in to forms
mode to fill it in.
Now there will be another help link and then the quality radio buttons.
Many pages have radio buttons that don't speak correctly, but the ones on
the bookshare page work just fine. Make a selection and then you can just
tab to the last two controls which are for long synopsis and comments.
After you fill in any comments one more tab takes you to the upload button.
I'd advise reviewing what you have filled in on the form before hitting
enter on the upload button, but of course that is up to you. If you aren't
in forms mode and have finished with the form you can press B to jump
directly to the next button. That might appeal to you since there are only
three buttons on the page, start search, browse, and upload.
I'd love it if you had some feedback while the file is being uploaded, but
even if you get progress reports the progress bar lies, so it's just a lot
of jabber without much value. Not sure anything can be done about that.
So what's new, life is like that and although we seem to suffer more from
stupid issues, I know sighted people find a lot of things they have to use
un-ideal as well, and in the case of Explorer progress bars we are totally
equal.
I hope this helps a little anyway. :-)
Sarah Van Oosterwijck Assistive Technology Trainer http://home.earthlink.net/~netentity
Hi Sarah, The forms should open a window which is related to that form only. Please note all the competing links, apparently along the edges of the window. As a result instead of going from item to be entered to item to be entered, between each you get links going other places, such as similar authors other titles and picture links and while I know help links are important there is surely a better way of including them. Now lets talk about the brows button. The whole thing can be verry frustrating for a new volenteer that isn't stuborn. These are only some of the more important ones. Or maybe your screen reader doesn't present the window the same way mine does. Please let me know. Tom
----- Original Message ----- From: "Sarah Van Oosterwijck" <curiousentity@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, December 02, 2005 3:13 PM
Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: venting my frustrations
Tom,
What problems with the web site make you think it was designed by someone thinking of mouse use? Bookshare's forms work as well as any, with the exception that they weren't exactly designed for user convenience. That isn't an issue with how you access the forms, though. If you have problems maybe someone could help, or at least tell you whether your experience can be improved or just something you have to put up with. :-)
Sarah Van Oosterwijck
Assistive Technology Trainer
http://home.earthlink.net/~netentity
----- Original Message ----- From: "tom hawkins" <tjhawk1@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: "Gustavo Galindo" <gustavo.g@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, December 01, 2005 9:54 PM
Subject: [bksvol-discuss] venting my frustrations
Hi Everyone,
Well I' am totally frustrated with bookshare and the lack of simple communication procedures. I spent a great deal of time validating a book to make as near perfect as possible including using my wife's time which she treasures dearly. I went to the step one list to see if any of the Dale Brown books that I submitted nearly three months ago were returned, only to find the book that I just validated back on the step one list and no communication from bookshare. When I checked the notes, the administrator apparently did not like the copyright.
Well a publisher is clearly listed as the copyright holder. So now what does it take to fix the problem! If the administrator took a moment to open the book it clearly states that the copyright holder is the publishing company as listed. Is there some special miracle to be performed? I have decided not to list the problems that I encountered with the web site, as Iwell it seems that the designer was a mouse user and could see what they were doing.
Tom
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