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Thread: Keyboard Shortcuts
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From: Akshi Kakar
Date: Tue, Mar 05 2013 9:56AM
Subject: Keyboard Shortcuts
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Hello,
I have been creating keyboard shortcuts for a web application that also uses answer fields. In doing so, we have used SPACE to activate the accesskey such that every shortcut is a combination of 'SPACE then [a letter]'.
Is it a good idea to use SPACE with letters for shortcuts? We were also hoping to run these shortcuts by an expert or a user with disabilities to ensure that what we have created are easy-to-use for all. Do you know of experts in the field who could verify these keyboard shortcuts?
Best regards,
Akshi
From: Jared Smith
Date: Tue, Mar 05 2013 10:18AM
Subject: Re: Keyboard Shortcuts
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That's an interesting combination. I'd think that there could be
potential for inadvertent shortcut activations. Space can be used to
trigger page scrolling, activate checkboxes, etc. And you'd need to
make it apparent to the user what these shortcuts are.
Another thing to consider is screen reader support. When a screen
reader is active, the space bar key event cannot be detected by your
scripting - it is handled by the screen reader directly (unless in
forms/application mode). This means that your shortcuts probably won't
work at all in a screen reader unless you're triggering application
mode - and this introduces another set of complexities and potential
conflicts with existing spacebar norms (such as activating a
checkbox).
This would certainly be best determined through some user testing.
Jared
From: Pradip Chandra Sikdar
Date: Tue, Mar 05 2013 10:20AM
Subject: Re: Keyboard Shortcuts
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"Space" is used in different purposes in the web application. for
example, in most of the screen readers, "space" activates the link.
so, I think, you should avoid "space".
On 3/5/2013 10:26 PM, Akshi Kakar wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I have been creating keyboard shortcuts for a web application that also uses answer fields. In doing so, we have used SPACE to activate the accesskey such that every shortcut is a combination of 'SPACE then [a letter]'.
>
> Is it a good idea to use SPACE with letters for shortcuts? We were also hoping to run these shortcuts by an expert or a user with disabilities to ensure that what we have created are easy-to-use for all. Do you know of experts in the field who could verify these keyboard shortcuts?
>
> Best regards,
>
> Akshi
>
> > > --
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Pradip Chandra Sikdar
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From: Akshi Kakar
Date: Tue, Mar 05 2013 1:03PM
Subject: Re: Keyboard Shortcuts
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Would it be a good idea to use a letter instead of SPACE like gmail uses g? We cannot use a letter because we also have answer fields where students can enter text.
Best regards,
Akshi