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Re: Opening Links in New vs. Same Window in Online Courses

for

From: Birkir R. Gunnarsson
Date: Feb 20, 2013 8:56AM

When a link points to a document (PDF, Word etc), please provide that
information within the link itself, such as
"Course schedule (PDF)"
That information should suffice, as users know that off-line documents
open in a new Window.
(at least this applies to screen reader users, since they always use
AdobeReader for instance, to view .PDF files).

Personally (and I know I do not have more research to this, not yet) I
also believe that links that clearly point to external resources, such
as social networks should open in a new window/tab (they do most of
the time anyway). I'd say the same for an eLearning-based nline chat
and such. In general I like links that point to an external site to
open in a new window/tab (but of course they should be indicated as
such).

When it comes to links that open up a new page within the site, I'd
generally not expect these to open in a new window, it could get
awfully clutterred very quickly.

When it comes to forms, I have seen things done both ways, but
generally prefer forms to open in the same window, thoughif there is a
confirmation message, a thank you, or some other indication, I have
sometimes seen it opened ina new window (personally I would recommend
using the Page Title element to indicate successful submition of a
form).

The most "personal preference aspect" of this post has to do with
links that open external sites. Time and again I have clicked on a
link to an external site, then closed the window only to realize I
closed the page entirely and have to reopen it, as I always expect
these to open in a new window or tab. Again, may be this is a habit
that I, as a screen reader user, have established, mostly because
links in GMail posts always open in a new tab perhaps.

Feel free to post any opinions on this logic, and I very much want to
conduct further research into this area, or read about research
conducted by others.
-B

On 2/19/13, Subhash Chhetri < <EMAIL REMOVED> > wrote:
> Hi Bryan,
>
> U are right that it is not always possible to open each links within same
> browser.
> And for Screen reader also, it is not always problematic to brows the link
> that opens in new window.
>
> But while making a link that opens in a new window don't forget to attach
> additional information (opens in new window or any meaningful one) to the
> link itself.
> Reason, in some browser, like firefox, screen reader does not give any
> information that link is opening to new window. However, in Internet
> Explorer, when any link is clicked that opens in a new window, screen
> reader
> itself announce "new browser window" along with URL of a new page.
>
> And usability tips addressed by Whitney might be helpful for Sighted user.
>
> Best regards,
> Subhash Chhetri
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: <EMAIL REMOVED>
> [mailto: <EMAIL REMOVED> ] On Behalf Of Whitney
> Quesenbery
> Sent: Wednesday, February 20, 2013 2:29 AM
> To: WebAIM Discussion List
> Subject: Re: [WebAIM] Opening Links in New vs. Same Window in Online
> Courses
>
> You describe a real usability problem, caused by a lack of consistency and
> good presentation/affordances for secondary windows.
>
> In usability testing, I see participants confused by second windows all the
> time, especially when they are unexpected or proliferate, whether they are
> using assistive technology or not.
>
> The visual and interaction design advice we give is that secondary windows:
>
> - Only be used for short, contained tasks (calculators...) or secondary
> material designed to be used side-by-side (definitions..)
>
> - Opened in a window that is smaller than the main window
>
> - Formatted without the full chrome, so they are visually distinct
>
> - Contain sufficient branding to connect it to the main page.
>
> - Have an explicit close button either at the top, bottom or both.
>
>
> Whitney
>
>
> On Tue, Feb 19, 2013 at 2:50 PM, Vetter, Jackie < <EMAIL REMOVED> > wrote:
>
>> I understand that recommended best practice in online web accessibility
>> is
>> to make all links open in the same window so using the Back button will
>> return to the previous screen. Because my team is in the business of
> online
>> course design, it is not possible for us to open many (and, often, most)
> of
>> our links in the same window. Much of the material we link to is in the
>> form of a Microsoft Word document, PowerPoint presentation or PDF file
>> which have to open in a new window so they can run in the program that
>> allows viewing of and/or interaction with the file.
>>
>> As a sighted user, I find that after getting into the habit of closing
>> everything that opens in a new window by clicking the X in the top left
>> of
>> the screen, I tend to do the same thing when I close a link that opened
>> in
>> the same window. When I do this, I end up closing the learning management
>> system and the course out completely. As a sighted user, I find this very
>> frustrating so I can't help but wonder what kind of experience a blind
>> person might have under the same circumstances.
>>
>> Because we can't avoid the instances where we have to open pages in a new
>> window, we are introducing inconsistency by opening some links in a new
>> window and some in the same window. For accessibility purposes, is it
>> better to open some links in a new window and some in the same window or
>> would it be better to open everything in a new window for the sake of
>> consistency? Has anyone done any research on this specific scenario?
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: <EMAIL REMOVED> [mailto:
>> <EMAIL REMOVED> ] On Behalf Of
>> <EMAIL REMOVED>
>> Sent: Tuesday, February 19, 2013 1:00 PM
>> To: <EMAIL REMOVED>
>> Subject: WebAIM-Forum Digest, Vol 95, Issue 20
>>
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>
>
>
> --
> Whitney Quesenbery
> www.wqusability.com | @whitneyq
>
> Storytelling for User Experience
> www.rosenfeldmedia.com/books/storytelling
>
> Global UX: Design and research in a connected world
> @globalUX | www.amazon.com/gp/product/012378591X/
> > > >
> > > >