[access-uk] Re: Your thoughts on access keys on websites?
- From: Catherine Turner <catherineturner2007@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Tue, 23 Mar 2010 18:51:54 +0000
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
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