Thread Subject: Re: note for focus cursor

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From: Sean Hayes
Date: Wed, Sep 12 2007 1:15 PM

Thanks, Greg. That does address that concern.

On re-reading the provision however, I have another concern with the section :
"Software must support at least one mode that ..."

Which implies that the application software must implement this itself, but typically it is the platform software which provides this functionality for applications, for example embodied in a 'widget set' or library; and even if the application designer could override the platform behaviour, they typically would not do so in order to fit in with the platform user interface guidelines

In the case of a web application it may be the browser or plugin which provides this (but not always).

Perhaps a better wording would be something along the lines of:

"Platform software must support at least one mode that provides a highly visual indication of which user interface object currently has the keyboard focus. Application software that provides user interface objects must either use the focus mode provided by the platform software or provide such a mode directly"

Sean Hayes
Incubation Lab
Accessibility Business Unit
Microsoft

Office: +44 118 909 5867,
Mobile: +44 7875 091385

From: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = [mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ] On Behalf Of Gregg Vanderheiden
Sent: 12 September 2007 19:39
To: 'TEITAC Web/Software Subcommittee'
Subject: [teitac-websoftware] note for focus cursor

At the very close of the meeting - I noticed that this provision does talk about "without moving the cursor". Thus knowledge of the cursor WOULD be required as Sean had identified. (apologies Sean). I have edited the note below to include his comment (I think).

I also put a generic note for those who are not designing software.


* NOTE: A focus cursor that is visually locatable by people (familiar with what the focus cursor would look like) who have 20/20 vision at 3.5 times the typical viewing distance without moving the cursor is sufficient.
* NOTE: Since computer software would be displayed on unknown screen sizes: for computer software a focus cursor that is visually locatable by people (familiar with the cursor) who have 20/20 vision at 2.5 meters when software is displayed on a 38 cm (15 inch) diagonal screen at 1024 x 768 pixels resolution, without moving the cursor is sufficient.





Gregg

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