EWG:Draft Oct 26 Mechanical Controls

2.1-D - Mechanical Controls

This page is the text proposed in the Nov Plenary Meeting.

Go to the Oct 26 Draft of this Provision

Go to the Sandbox of this Provision

Proposed text in Oct 26 draft:
All mechanically operated controls and keys:

1. Must be tactilely discernible without activating the controls or keys.
2. Must be operable with one hand and must not require pinching, twisting of the wrist, tight grasping, or simultaneous actions. The force required to activate controls and keys must be 5 lbs. (22.2 N) maximum.
3. If key repeat is supported, the delay before repeat must be adjustable to at least 2 seconds. The key repeat rate must be adjustable to 2 seconds per character.
4. The status of all locking or toggle controls or keys must be visually discernible, and discernible either through touch or sound.

Rationale: Changes in this section were limited to the addition of the "Simultaneous controls" to the operability requirements and reordering requirements to align the adjective "tight" with "grasping". This requirements does not imply that a product must be entirely operable with one hand (eg, product could be placed on a surface).

Comments from ITAA
Regarding item 2, does this disallow audio volume controls with knobs for twisting? If so, we suggest if there is alternative, accessible way of controlling the parameter that is controlled by twisting, this be allowed in the provision.

Suggest change in title to MECHANICALLY OPERATED CONTROLS as named in the definition of OPERABLE CONTROLS.

Comments from CSD/Trace Center

1. Recommend against renaming. "Mechanically Operated Controls" is longer and only adds ambiguity (does mechanical mean how the controls operates or was operated).
2. This provision does not disallow rotational controls that can be operated by rubbing edges or moving pointers etc. It does specifically disallow controls that require twisting of the wrist. A quick test is if they can be operated by using the eraser end of a pencil.