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Re: Links opening in new windows

for

From: Karl Groves
Date: Aug 5, 2014 9:33AM

"The example in G201 is incorrect. It uses a link with target="_blank"
as an example, but it's already been made clear that activating a link
is not "Input" or "Focus". G201 (which is an Advisory Technique, not a
Sufficient Technique) provides a technique for something that is not
even covered by the success criteria it is associated to! "

Pretty much my point exactly.

Thanks.


On Tue, Aug 5, 2014 at 10:48 AM, Jared Smith < <EMAIL REMOVED> > wrote:

> Karl Groves wrote:
>
> > Do you think 3.2.2 includes links?
>
> No.
>
> 3.2.2 is titled "On Input...". Links do not take input. It would,
> however, be a 3.2.2 failure if the user is typing in a text box or
> changes a select menu, for example, and a new window opens that they
> have not been previously informed of.
>
> > Do you think the warning(s) must be provided, as is the case in G201?
>
> Yes, but only if you're talking about input or focus.
>
> The example in G201 is incorrect. It uses a link with target="_blank"
> as an example, but it's already been made clear that activating a link
> is not "Input" or "Focus". G201 (which is an Advisory Technique, not a
> Sufficient Technique) provides a technique for something that is not
> even covered by the success criteria it is associated to! This would
> be like having a technique for color contrast associated to the
> success criteria for alternative text, except that color contrast is
> at least covered elsewhere in WCAG. A requirement that users be
> informed that links open in new windows is not.
>
> Clearly several in the WCAG working group thread you posted seemed to
> want to contort and reinterpret a success criterion (ANY success
> criterion for that matter) to somehow force this in as a new failure.
>
> Opening new windows is also not covered by 3.2.5. The other techniques
> you list (H83, SCR24, and G200) are quite a stretch in their
> applicability to this success criteria. 3.2.5 says that you can't
> cause a change of context that is not user initiated. Opening a new
> window at a random point in time would be a failure, but clicking a
> link is an explicit user request for a change of context and would not
> be, even if it opens a new window.
>
> In reality, links that open in new windows without previous
> notification can be confusing... but for everyone. It is a usability
> issue, but it's not something addressed by WCAG (well, at least the
> normative part, not counting these advisory techniques for which there
> is no proper success criteria).
>
> I can argue that there are situations where informing users that links
> open in new windows could make an interface LESS usable and
> accessible. It would be burdensome and unnecessary to indicate that
> all links open in new windows in Gmail, for example, where all links
> in messages do so consistently.
>
> Jared
> > > >



--

Karl Groves
www.karlgroves.com
@karlgroves
http://www.linkedin.com/in/karlgroves
Phone: +1 410.541.6829

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