WebAIM - Web Accessibility In Mind

E-mail List Archives

Re: Reason For Links Opening In New Window

for

From: Joshue O Connor
Date: Jan 8, 2007 8:50AM

> What are the
> other reasons why new windows are still "deemed harmful"?

One area that certainly springs to mind is users with cognitive
disabilities. I would suggest that some users with cognitive/sensory
disabilities may experience a disconnect when browsing a site that
generates new browser windows, or certainly a lot of browser windows.
Also older users can find them confusing. However, there may also be
times when the same new browser window could facilitate comprehension by
(as someone earlier suggested) allowing a glossary of terms to accompany
a complex HTML document. In order for this to work it has to be apparent
to the user that they can expect a new window (would you call the
presence of new browser windows a shift in modality, maybe, if their
mode of interaction was to change also such as entering data?). This
could accompany a change in the user task such as filling out a complex
form in a new browser window. Having said that, when I have seen this
technique used and a new browser window appear for the user to input
their data, it had often been implemented very badly, using a very small
window size, or not giving the window immediate focus when the user
clicks "Fill out our form" etc, or changing the colours and graphics so
the new window is visually inconsistent with the parent site. The use of
these windows is also further complicated if the user has previously
visited a site(s) which have spawned other browser windows that have not
closed when they have left the last site(s) they visited.

Generally, I don't recommend their use at all but if they _must_ be used
I think it is important to be consistent with the look and feel of the
site they are generated from, that the user is clearly informed (in
advance) of what to expect and that the number is minimal.

My 2 cents.

Josh

********************************************************************

NOTICE: The information contained in this email and any attachments
is confidential and may be privileged. If you are not the intended
recipient you should not use, disclose, distribute or copy any of
the content of it or of any attachment; you are requested to notify
the sender immediately of your receipt of the email and then to
delete it and any attachments from your system.

NCBI endeavours to ensure that emails and any attachments generated
by its staff are free from viruses or other contaminants. However,
it cannot accept any responsibility for any such which are
transmitted. We therefore recommend you scan all attachments.

Please note that the statements and views expressed in this email
and any attachments are those of the author and do not necessarily
represent the views of NCBI


********************************************************************