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RE: Next and Previous Accesskey

for

From: John Foliot
Date: Oct 6, 2003 2:15PM

> We decided to use numbers rather than letters, to minimize conflicts with
> browsers and screen-readers, and avoid language dependencies.

Ouch!!!!

Are you aware that these "Accesskeys" currently conflict with "reserved"
keystroke combinations in at least two adaptive technology programs? For
example, in IBM's HomePage Reader Alt + 1 starts "Heading reading mode"
(reading only the headings on a page) whereas the entire range of numbers
(Alt+1 through Alt+0) are "Reserved for User-defined windows" in GW Micro's
WindowEyes. Remember as well, that with a program such as WindowEyes these
keystrokes are available for more than just web surfing; they interact with
any and all programs on the installed computer, allowing visually impaired
users to operate word processors, spread sheet applications, etc. Given
that fact, the program will over-ride any Accesskey you may have specified
in your (x)HTML... rendering the operation non-functional - in other words
"broken".

One other thought to consider is how often do you anticipate repeat
visitors, especially those who will bother enough to learn "your" standard
implementation of Accesskeys? For while it may be "standard" on your
site(s), the use of Accesskeys is non-standard across the entire web. Will
visitors truly stop to learn (i.e. commit to memory) your Accesskeys on your
site? To me it's a big stretch... (although I have not seen your site nor
know anything about your user base).

After researching the entire Accesskey "situation" in the summer of 2002, we
put forth a recommendation to the Canadian Federal Government's web
standards panel to *NOT* attempt to implement Accesskeys, which after
deliberation they agreed to. See:
http://www.cio-dpi.gc.ca/clf-upe/6/skip_e.asp and
http://www.wats.ca/resources/accesskeys/38

"Following the identification of a conflict between the Access keys
previously recommended on the CLF Web site for site navigation on GoC web
sites, and the proprietary assignment of access keys being used in
commercially available software, e.g. speech enabled Web browsers, the CLF
Access Working Group has made the following recommendations for amendment to
the CLF best practices:

1. The use of Access Keys M, 1 and 2 be eliminated, and the use of any
other access keys is discouraged because there is no way of knowing which
access keys conflict with any assistive technology or other applications
installed and running on users' desktops...."

For more info on the Accesskey issues, see also:
http://www.wats.ca/resources/accesskeys

--
John Foliot <EMAIL REMOVED>
Web Accessibility Specialist / Co-founder of WATS.ca
Web Accessibility Testing and Services
http://www.wats.ca 1.866.932.4878 (North America)







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