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Re: jquery effects accessible?

for

From: Jim Allan
Date: Jan 9, 2014 12:54PM

Windows also has a similar system property
Control Panel > Ease of Access Center > Use text or visual alternatives for
sounds
you can flash the screen, or window, or caption bar (title bar).

I have used it with toggle keys (make a sound when I hit caps lock...which
I do lots)
Control Panel > Ease of Access Center > Make it easier to focus on tasks

so when I hit capslock, the computer beeps and the screen flashes.

Being able to use the build in system accessibility options for web
behaviours would be beneficial to many users. Though most mobile devices
don't have these type of features (yet, I hope), so some other means of
conveying that information needs to be developed.
Jim


On Thu, Dec 19, 2013 at 8:28 PM, Karl Groves < <EMAIL REMOVED> > wrote:

> Jonathan,
>
> The short answer is that the pulsate effect itself is not inaccessible,
> with the huge caveat that it depends on what you're using it for. So as
> always the first question to ask is "What is this thing and what does it
> do?"
>
> Based on the use case you describe, the pulsate effect could actually be
> good for accessibility, if it was combined with some other means of
> conveying information.
>
> Consider for a moment how this is to be used: " if the user clicks on
> another button in the pool, it pulsates to convey that it cannot be moved
> and that the list is full" This is great! For those who use Macs, you can
> actually set your computer to do something similar by going to System
> Preferences > Accessibility > Audio and then selecting the checkbox that
> says: "Flash the screen when an alert sound occurs." This feedback
> mechanism is good for users who are hard of hearing.
>
> Thing is, it isn't enough on its own. So back to "What is this thing and
> what does it do?": It indicates to the user that their attempt to do
> something won't succeed - if you can see it. The pulsate effect is achieved
> by quickly alternating some CSS properties. If you cannot see, cannot see
> well, have turned off CSS, or created custom user styles, this will not be
> noticed by users and, as a consequence, another manner of indicating this
> same sort of messaging should be provided. This could be as simple as an
> additional text message indicating to the user what's going on.
>
> Quick demo at http://jsfiddle.net/karlgroves/aNagL/1/
>
>
> On Thu, Dec 19, 2013 at 9:18 AM, Jonathan Pund < <EMAIL REMOVED>
> >wrote:
>
> > I have an app that is using the "pulsate" jquery effect (
> > http://api.jqueryui.com/pulsate-effect/). Here's the context: the user
> > needs to choose ten items from a pool, and does so by click on the button
> > corresponding to the item. When the list is full, if the user clicks on
> > another button in the pool, it pulsates to convey that it cannot be moved
> > and that the list is full. These are my questions:
> > 1) Is this effect accessible "straight out of the box" from the
> > jquery package? Or do I need to make some additions to the code to make
> is
> > accessible?
> > 2) Does this violate 508 or any other accessibility mandate by
> > only conveying the user "error" with a visual effect? I know that would
> be
> > the case if you were using only color or only sound, but what about only
> a
> > visual effect?
> >
> > Thanks in advance,
> > Jonathan
> > > > > > > >
>
>
>
> --
>
> Karl Groves
> www.karlgroves.com
> @karlgroves
> http://www.linkedin.com/in/karlgroves
> Phone: +1 410.541.6829
> > > >



--
Jim Allan, Accessibility Coordinator & Webmaster
Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired
1100 W. 45th St., Austin, Texas 78756
voice 512.206.9315 fax: 512.206.9264 http://www.tsbvi.edu/
"We shape our tools and thereafter our tools shape us." McLuhan, 1964