Access Keys

Geoserv · #1 09-29-06, 09:13 AM

Came across a great tutorial on implementing access keys, and what they are most commonly used for.

Quote:

What is an access key?

An access key is a HTML attribute that allows users to navigate to a certain link via the keyboard, rather than clicking. Its primary goal is to increase accessibility and usability in web pages for users who find using a mouse difficult.

Accessibility benefits

Access keys mainly benefit users with motor difficulties (users who find moving difficult, and have difficulty with pointing devices such as mice). By providing navigation with access keys, users have the option to perform a simple keystroke to navigate links.

On a PC, access keys are normally used by holding ‘alt’ and pressing the access key.

On a MAC, access keys are normally used by holding ‘ctrl’ and pressing the access key.
WCAG

Providing access keys is part of the WCAG priority 3 guidelines (here), in which it states that important links should have a keyboard shortcut.

Read full tutorial...

Geoserv.

Brandon · #2 09-30-06, 08:05 PM

DN Lodge has access keys

I use ALT + S to post instead of clicking "Post Reply", it's much faster.

Nice link.

Angel · #3 10-01-06, 10:01 AM

I've never actually used access keys before, but it does seem convenient. I think I'll be implementing it into my website. Maybe it'll bring in more visitors

linuxhq · #4 10-01-06, 02:08 PM

Angel, smf already has access keys lol.
Most people dont even know they exists, let alone use them. Its something you should work on only after everything else is finished, as a minor convienienve to other users.

Geoserv · #5 10-02-06, 06:24 AM

Also, be sure to include the list of keys in your accessibility statement or somewhere on your website so people will know you have them, and what each one does.

Geoserv.

Brandon · #6 10-02-06, 07:34 AM

Yea

if people don't know that they're there there is no point of using them.

Geoserv · #7 10-02-06, 10:14 AM

Another good code to use is tabindex.

Geoserv.

linuxhq · #8 10-02-06, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geoserv

Another good code to use is tabindex.

Geoserv.

hehe yeh. I love it when someone modifies, say a login box, and when you want to tab into the password box, it goes to the search box lol.

Geoserv · #9 10-03-06, 06:12 AM

haha...thats happened to me before.

Geoserv.

Nigel Lew · #10 10-07-06, 09:48 PM

Commentor number 2 from the tutorial pretty much summed this up by saying the following...

"While I love the idea of accesskeys, I recommend they not be used at all unless a script is provided like we did at Accessites.org allowing users to set their own. We used to use numbers 0-5 thinking they were safe choices (letters are trouble) but we learned differently. One day a fellow was using our contact form and had a chanracter in his name that required he type a character entity so he used Alt+0 to make that so. Next thing he knew he was on another page. Fortunately for us he reported it. That’s when we added the script."

As you will see, there are a number of issues with access keys and user agents. This is likely why access keys are slated for depreciation in XHTML 2.0.

Current working draft is here.. http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml2/
See the section on the access module. There is a big difference between convenience and accessibility.

There was a year long debate about this on the GAWDS list. It was pretty fascinating. If I had my way, accessibility would be enforceable law in the U.S.. Hopefully the current Target frackus will pave the way for us americans to get it together.

http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/dro/section1.html Go Clinton!

Target stuff.... http://www.nfb.org/nfb/Target_Sept_R...sp?SnID=434667

hope that helps
Nigel

Geoserv · #11 10-07-06, 10:07 PM

What a great script on accesssites.org, I never thought of that idea.

Thanks Nigel for your input.

Geoserv.

Nigel Lew · #12 10-08-06, 02:17 AM

thanks G... I am curious to hear if you have an opinion on the matter. Its certainly a heated one. Accessibility is a widely argued topic.

Nigel

Geoserv · #13 10-08-06, 09:20 PM

Well, I currently dont use Accesskeys, because I have been told that not all browsers support the same keys. Thats why I liked that post you made earlier to accesssites.org

I think making your website 100% accessible is all part of validation and proper coding. The only part I dont have much knowledge about is accessible colors for color blind visitors, that would require serious thought prior to development.

Geoserv.

Angel · #14 10-08-06, 10:02 PM

If there are color blind visitors, how would you know which colors are good to use and which are not? Wouldn't ever color blind visitor differ in which colors they could and could not see? I think you could fix this by a different color scheme (different skins), but besides that, I don't see how you would go about solving the problem.

Nigel Lew · #15 10-08-06, 11:33 PM

Yeah, it would vary, here is where it gets tricky. This gentlemen(huge in the field) has an interesting palette switcher on his site.

http://www.brothercake.com/ see the bottom of the page. Basically, we would just call a different style sheet. I have a list of common deficiencies or otherwise abled situations. I will track it down and edit my post.

I am also finally going to redo my website, it should include most things of this nature. Its been on my desk since june. I might get it done this week.

I finally get to get back to web stuff. I have been pretty busy. I need to find my linux drive and plop it back in my computer it has most of this stuff on it. Me hates windows.. lol...

Nigel

Edit: man he has been busy http://www.artslineonline.com/controlpanel.shtml

Edit: Cool this sums it up... http://members.shaw.ca/hidden-talent...lorblind1.html

this would probably explain why the site I posted above has a red/green deficiency palette and then a range of high contrast options....
N.

Geoserv · #16 10-09-06, 07:42 PM

Wow great links Nigel, some people have amazing talent. I think I would like to learn those tricks myself, may need to read up on it more.

Thanks,
Geoserv.