[access-uk] Re: Your thoughts on access keys on websites?
- From: "Mark Threadgold" <m.j.threadgold@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 21 Mar 2010 21:15:07 -0000
I invariably don't return to sites that use access keys.
Every one I have ever come across has interfered with the navigation keys
utilised in my screen reader, for which I have paid a great deal of money
over the years.
I would rather learn how to get around sites with the use of my access
technology and avoid the sites with access keys. This way I should be able
to figure out any site using the same keystrokes and techniques.
In my experience all access keys do is make a site more awkward to use and I
dislike them enormously.
Mark Threadgold
Of all the things I have ever lost, The one I miss most is my mind...
-----Original Message-----
From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
Jonathan
Sent: 21 March 2010 21:09
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!
--
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