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Re: click here?

for

From: Mark Rew
Date: Sep 4, 2001 10:32AM

This is a good discussion because it ask the question what will make sense
to someone not relying on the graphics image. I have two points:
- I agree with the idea that "click" can refer to almost any type of
pointing device. I use a keyboard to browse and select links from Web
pages, but I use the term "click."
Second: When telling the user to "click here to view map" I would ask a map
of what. Should the link say, "Click here to view a map of the U.S."? When
creating atl text I try to provide enough information so that the user knows
exactly what will happen if they click on the image.
Mark
----- Original Message -----
From: "Kynn Bartlett" < <EMAIL REMOVED> >
To: "WebAIM forum" < <EMAIL REMOVED> >
Sent: Tuesday, September 04, 2001 12:02 PM
Subject: Re: click here?

> At 08:39 AM 9/4/2001 , Jo Miller wrote:
> >"View map" would be sufficient and preferable, in my opinion. The words
"click here" are not necessary, and in any case it is wise to avoid
device-specific language (remember, there are many devices that people can
use to browse the web, and not everyone follows links by "clicking" with a
mouse).
>
> I agree that "click here" isn't good for hypertext reasons, but I
> am very very very worried about the idea that it's somehow an
> accessibility problem because "many people don't click." At best
> it's a "you might hurt my feelings because I'm left out" problem,
> but I think even that's wrong.
>
> There's nothing inherently "mouse-ist" about "click here". It
> doesn't say "click here with your mouse". You can "click" with a
> pointer of another kind, with a keyboard (my keys click, don't
> yours?), and with anything else. A "click" in web parliance really
> just means "select this link", and it turns out that pretty much
> everyone who uses the web can understand exactly what it means.
> People with keyboards don't sit there saying, "'Click here???' What
> in the world? I have no mouse!"
>
> In fact, it's pretty much become a case that "click here" is more
> slang than technical instruction. It means "follow this link" not
> "click on your mouse button."
>
> Therefore, I think it's safe to say "click" without fears of being
> "device specific." A link that _only_ says "click here" is bad
> for other reasons, but not for the reason that "not everyone clicks".
>
> --Kynn
>
> --
> Kynn Bartlett < <EMAIL REMOVED> > http://kynn.com/
> Technical Developer Liaison, Reef http://www.reef.com/
> Chief Technologist, Idyll Mountain Internet http://idyllmtn.com/
> Online Instructor, Accessible Web Design http://kynn.com/+d201
>
>
>