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Number of posts in this thread: 6 (In chronological order)

From: R Sengers
Date: Thu, Jul 13 2017 1:43PM
Subject: Alt key to reveal keyboard shortcuts?
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We want to implement keyboard shortcuts on a web app for users who are using keyboard instead of mouse to move around to different parts of the page. We'd like to let users know what keyboard shortcuts are available on the page.

We're considering doing this: when user hits ALT key, the web page reveals all the keyboard shortcuts that are available on the page. When user releases the ALT key, they disappear.

Do you foresee any issues with this plan? Do you know if the Alt key (by itself) already in use for other purposes by any common browsers, OS's, or assistive technologies?

Thanks!
Rachel Sengers

From: Jeremy Echols
Date: Thu, Jul 13 2017 1:48PM
Subject: Re: Alt key to reveal keyboard shortcuts?
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Alt typically reveals the browser's menu. I'm not even sure if you can capture an alt key by itself.

A common pattern I've seen is the "?" key showing an overlay of keyboard shortcuts, and "ESC" hides it. This is how gmail does it.

From: JP Jamous
Date: Thu, Jul 13 2017 2:08PM
Subject: Re: Alt key to reveal keyboard shortcuts?
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Rachel,

I have a big NO about that particular key. Even if you get it to work with some JavaScript, the Alt key is by default the menu key for all Windows applications including browsers. That is why I highly discourage you, because you created a blocker on your site for me to access my browser menus.

You can try another key or a combination such as CTRL + 1 or Alt + 1. This way, you are not tampering with Windows default shortcut keys.

I also like to add numbers rather than letters, because CTRL + p is a browser shortcut to print the page. CTRL + c is to copy. So to avoid any conflicts, Alt + 0 or 9 or 7 would be best as browsers and most Windows applications do not use numbers along with the Alt or CTRL keys.

From: Tim Harshbarger
Date: Fri, Jul 14 2017 7:09AM
Subject: Re: Alt key to reveal keyboard shortcuts?
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You might be able to make the feature work if you used another key like control.

However, you would want to execute the feature in a way where pressing control would display the information, but not prevent the browser from executing any keyboard commands that involve the control key. I think that is likely to be possible using javascript.

I would also think you would need to find a way to let users know this functionality exists. Additionally, this approach would work well for those who perceive things visually, it wouldn't work so well for those who don't perceive things visually or who have limited visual fields. In the first situation, you probably need some way to inform people who use screen readers what the keyboard commands are. That might also go for people with limited vision who use magnification--since the only visual indicators they would likely see would be those that are currently magnified.

Thanks,
Tim

From: JP Jamous
Date: Fri, Jul 14 2017 7:55AM
Subject: Re: Alt key to reveal keyboard shortcuts?
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Great one Tim. I presumed she had that in mind already.

Thank you for pointing it out.

From: Keith Bundy
Date: Fri, Jul 14 2017 8:12AM
Subject: Re: Alt key to reveal keyboard shortcuts?
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Actually, the Control key by itself is used by most screen readers as the silence command.



Keith Bundy
Digital Accessibility Consultant & Trainer
 

 
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