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Re: More data on accesskeys (New article written Nov. 1)

for

From: Joshue O Connor
Date: Nov 3, 2006 3:10AM

Hi John,

At the risk of upsetting a hornets nest here, can you please point to
any resources which indicate
exactly what UA key combinations are mostly effected by user defined
access keys?

I am only partially playing devils advocate here, and I am genuinely
interested to see if there is a
definitive list.

Thanks

Josh



John Foliot wrote:
> Colin Lieberman wrote:
>> My apologies if this has already been addressed and I missed it,
>> but...
>>
>> Is there research available on use of accesskey implementations?
>>
>> I would be curious to read about any user or users who either use the
>> feature or who have tried and found it unhelpful.
>
> Colin,
>
> I personally am unaware of much specific research data on the subject (and
> trust me, I follow this one closely <grin>), although the UK based Nomensa
> ran a straw poll of blind and partially sighted people that suggests that
> around 8 out of 10 people find access keys pointless, unhelpful, poorly
> implemented and or less use than the functionality of their own access
> technology. (Note that this is/was specific to one user group, and others,
> notably the mobility impaired, may find keyboard accelerators more useful)
> [http://www.nomensa.com/resources/articles/accessibility-articles/access-key
> s.html]
>
> The UK government continues to recommend their use, despite known conflicts
> with some of their recommendations and various adaptive technologies - I am
> unaware of any research that shows usage stats or even awareness of the
> accesskeys outside of web-developer circles.
> [http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/e-government/resources/handbook/html/2-4.as
> p#2.4.4]
>
> Based on my research and subsequent urging, the Canadian Government reversed
> their recommendations for accesskeys:
> "A conflict has been identified between Access keys previously recommended
> for use on Government of Canada sites and the proprietary assignment of
> Access keys in commercially available software, therefore Access keys are
> not being used."
> [http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/cioscripts/help/specs_e.asp?who=/clf-nsi/]
>
> JF
>
>
>
>
>


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