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Re: yet more questions

for

From: Paul Bohman
Date: Aug 17, 2001 10:36AM

In answer to your question about logical event handlers and embedded
interfaces:
Logical event handlers:
Here is what the W3C specification says: "For scripts, specify logical event
handlers rather than device-dependent event handlers. [Priority 2] "
It's easiest to explain the term by first explaining what a device-dependent
event handler is. The easiest examples are JavaScript commands (event
handlers) such as onMouseover. In the case of the onMouseover event handler,
the event (moving your mouse over something) triggers another event (e.g.
switch images, show submenus, or other effects). Much of the time,
onMouseover events are not very important (as with images that appear to
glow when you move the mouse over them), but in other cases the events can
be very important (as when entirely new content appears when the mouse moves
over a piece of text). It would be better to not rely on a particular device
(e.g. a mouse) for these important events. A programmer could use other,
more generic event handlers, such as onSelect, which would be activated with
either a keystroke or a mouse click. I'm not a JavaScript expert, so someone
else may be able to further clarify which specific event handlers should and
shouldn't be used.

Embedded interfaces:
The W3C spec says: "Ensure direct accessibility of embedded user
interfaces."
Things that qualify as embedded user interfaces include:
-java applets
-media players (Windows Media Player, RealVideo, QuickTime, etc.)
-Flash animations/scripts
-Shockwave scripts
-all other plug-ins
The idea here is to make sure that you use plug-ins that are built for
accessibility. There are relatively few of them, especially when it comes to
embedded plug-ins (see "To embed or not to embed" on the WebAIM site
http://www.webaim.org/Articles/embeddedmp.php). The guideline is just
telling us not to use inaccessible plug-ins and java applets, and not to
create them.
Hope this helps.
Paul Bohman
Technology Coordinator
WebAIM: Web Accessibility in Mind (www.webaim.org)
Center for Persons with Disabilities (www.cpd.usu.edu)
Utah State University (www.usu.edu)

----- Original Message -----
From: "Glenda Watson Hyatt" < <EMAIL REMOVED> >
To: "WebAIM accessibility forum" < <EMAIL REMOVED> >
Sent: Thursday, August 16, 2001 12:39 PM
Subject: yet more questions

> Can anyone explain, in simple terms, "logical" event handlers?
>
> And "embedded" interfaces?
>
> Thanks,
> Glenda
>
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> Glenda Watson Hyatt
> Soaring Eagle Communications
> "Creating freedom and power through accessible communications"
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> Website: http://www.eaglecom.bc.ca
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