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Re: Click Here.

for

From: mmoore@knowbility.org
Date: Feb 16, 2006 2:50PM

> On 2/16/06, ben morrison < <EMAIL REMOVED> > wrote:
>> On 2/16/06, Kynn Bartlett < <EMAIL REMOVED> > wrote:

> Wrong. That's an argument against using "click here" as the only link
> text, but even still it's a poor argument.
>
>> So if i was using a screenreader and asked for all the links on a page
>> what is more helpful:
>
> This is a faulty assumption. Links in web pages aren't meant to be
> yanked out of context. It's hypertext, and it's structured context
> for a reason. Removing that context is harmful, and screenreaders
> which do this are harmful, long-term, to the accessibility of the web.
>
> It makes no sense at all to demand that web pages make sense when
> individual links are read out with all structure stripped.
>

I can't say that I agree with you here Ken. When a sited person visits a
page looking for a link to take him or her to more information about
something that he or she knows is mentioned within a page, they will
frequently do this by visually scanning the links on the page. (Gaining
nothing from context) The link list feature of screen readers allows
blind users to gain that same functionality. Well chosen link text helps
both the sited and unsited alike in this situation. Example: I have
arrived on a page promoting an event that I would like to attend. I want
to purchase tickets to the event but don't want to bother reading all
about the event, I already know I want to go. If the page has 30 links
that say nothing but "Click Here" with the contextual phrase that tells me
where I am going either before or after "Click Here" it takes me a lot
longer to find the link to the tickets visually, and I cannot do it
without listening through the page using a screen reader. If instead
there is a link that says "Purchase Tickets" I can get my tickets quickly
whether I am scanning visually or using a link list on a screen reader.
Of course the link text could be "Click Here to Buy Tickets" but why
bother with all the extra words.

Mike