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Re: Visible Skip Nav Link

for

From: Vincent Young
Date: Feb 16, 2012 11:18AM

@Jared

> Vincent's example where it pops into view when the mouse moves is very
distracting

This was a quick example I put together to showcase the existence of
alternatives. In reality, I'm I'd probably come up with something
different. The main points are:

1. Visible skip links can increase usability (Terrill Thompson makes this
case)
2. Clients (typically big business) often have many interested parties
3. A permanent visible skip link is not always possible as a result of #2
4. There might be alternatives (which I was exploring)

> could render navigation of the page impossible for
> users with high distractability.

Maybe, but I would do some user testing first before coming to this
conclusion. This is where the close button could be useful.

When thinking through this I was really thinking more of something along
the lines of a "Enhance Main Content" for visual users, where the UI
drastically changes (tastefully) to bring just the main content into view
(not just scroll/highlight) as many browser add-on tools out there do. If
I have time I'll put together a more thoughtful example.

@Ellen

No problem. I'm familiar with the position you are in so it was a good
exercise for me.

On Thu, Feb 16, 2012 at 9:43 AM, Bourne, Sarah (ITD) <
<EMAIL REMOVED> > wrote:

> Elle,
>
> Mass.Gov used the visible "skip to main" link on our recent design
> refresh. The business case was that it was useful for touch device users,
> and that there was no harm in including for any form factor. The longer
> story is that we analyzed a gazillion sites, came to a consensus on the
> requirements, and gave them to the designer, along with all of our other
> requirements. The designer included it into the design, and we received no
> complaints about it ("clutter" or otherwise) from the other stakeholders.
>
> Hawaii also has a visible one: http://portal.ehawaii.gov/index.html as
> does https://www.disability.gov/
>
> sb
>
> Sarah E. Bourne
> Director of Assistive Technology &
> Mass.Gov Chief Technology Strategist
> Information Technology Division
> Commonwealth of Massachusetts
> 1 Ashburton Pl. rm 1601 Boston MA 02108
> 617-626-4502
> <EMAIL REMOVED>
> http://www.mass.gov/itd
>
>
>