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weldo · 28-05-2004, 12:17

I got me a job interview next week and I've rebuilt a page or two of their existing site with XHTML...as an example of accessibility.

If i made it keyboard accessible that would be cool too, methinks.

Never really looked at that before - anyone got any ideas for me to learn a bit - dead quick ??

Wouldn't have to get it to 'work' as such, but would be good as a talking point really.....

Brown · 28-05-2004, 13:00

accesskeys. simple and takes seconds to do. just another attribute of the 'a' tag. accesskey="j" then alt + j then hit return (depending on what browser you're using - opera doesn't need you to press the alt key but then it does need someone to be using it in the first place) - the thing to do is to make sure that you don't use any of the commonly used letters as access keys are triggered by the alt key - which if you used alt f would then disable the file menu for keyboard users.

however, i feel that things like this will become more of a legacy issue as browsers realise the potential of keyboard type navigation - see firefox spec for more details - i guarantee the next release of ie (if they go there) will have this included.

smallbeer · 29-05-2004, 03:51

Like Brown says, there are problems with people using shortcuts already defined by other software, so it's best to use numbers instead of letters.

Some good info here, more good accesskey links at the bottom of the page aswell.
http://diveintoaccessibility.org/day...shortcuts.html

For general accessibility info, I always find actual Accessibility Statements a good place to start.
http://www.fixingyourwebsite.com/Div...statement.html
http://www.7nights.com/asterisk/acce..._statement.php

Stickman · 30-05-2004, 19:58

Accesskeys might be part of the standards hype.
Nice idea in theory, but when you research how the blind use the web you're better off not bothering.

There are too many conflicts with shortcuts already defined - as said above - and with the range of screenreaders used and personalised setups it seems the only keys safe to use are a few punctuation things. So you can end up taking control away from those you're trying to help and doing more harm than good.

That's what I found anyway.

28-05-2004, 12:17	#1 (permalink)
weldo now with added beard Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Liverpool Posts: 5,435	Any good links or advice on keyboard access/navigation issues for sites ?? I got me a job interview next week and I've rebuilt a page or two of their existing site with XHTML...as an example of accessibility. If i made it keyboard accessible that would be cool too, methinks. Never really looked at that before - anyone got any ideas for me to learn a bit - dead quick ?? Wouldn't have to get it to 'work' as such, but would be good as a talking point really.....

29-05-2004, 03:51	#3 (permalink)
smallbeer I Ain't Losing Any Sleep™ Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 5,200	Like Brown says, there are problems with people using shortcuts already defined by other software, so it's best to use numbers instead of letters. Some good info here, more good accesskey links at the bottom of the page aswell. http://diveintoaccessibility.org/day...shortcuts.html For general accessibility info, I always find actual Accessibility Statements a good place to start. http://www.fixingyourwebsite.com/Div...statement.html http://www.7nights.com/asterisk/acce..._statement.php __________________ That's fuckin' ingenious, if I understand it correctly. It's a Swiss fuckin' watch.

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28-05-2004, 13:00	#2 (permalink)
Brown volkswagen yellow & gold Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: london, england. Posts: 6,147	accesskeys. simple and takes seconds to do. just another attribute of the 'a' tag. accesskey="j" then alt + j then hit return (depending on what browser you're using - opera doesn't need you to press the alt key but then it does need someone to be using it in the first place) - the thing to do is to make sure that you don't use any of the commonly used letters as access keys are triggered by the alt key - which if you used alt f would then disable the file menu for keyboard users. however, i feel that things like this will become more of a legacy issue as browsers realise the potential of keyboard type navigation - see firefox spec for more details - i guarantee the next release of ie (if they go there) will have this included.

30-05-2004, 19:58	#4 (permalink)
Stickman Dr. Lucien Sanchez Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: UK Posts: 5,527	Accesskeys might be part of the standards hype. Nice idea in theory, but when you research how the blind use the web you're better off not bothering. There are too many conflicts with shortcuts already defined - as said above - and with the range of screenreaders used and personalised setups it seems the only keys safe to use are a few punctuation things. So you can end up taking control away from those you're trying to help and doing more harm than good. That's what I found anyway.

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