How to shift the key focus between blocks that contain many UI elements in web applications? (Comment 362)

Hello WG members,
I often design multifunctional web applications at work. We think all users should be able to quickly reach the item that they want to use. So, users who operate with only keyboard like screen reader users should be able to shift the key focus between blocks that contain many UI elements in web applications. Because, web applications have so many UI elements and, Shortcut keys cannot provide screen reader users with the benefits of GUIs. But, it seems  that there are no specifications for this purpose.

Proposal:

As a countermeasure against the problem described in the Comment, we have invented a way of grouping multiple UI elements of similar functionality into one block. Please refer to the prototype we developed with a latest web browser.

http://www.hitachi.co.jp/universaldesign/ria/ajax/en/sample/index.html

You can move the key focus to the next block by pressing Ctrl+. (period) and the previous block by pressing Ctrl+, (comma). This proposal takes into account the results of our survey of shortcut keys used in web browsers and screen readers. Moreover, "<" (which is on the same key as the comma) and ">" (which is on the same key as the period) intuitively represent backward and forward operation. We assigned each block with the group role and the aria-label property in WAI-ARIA. We describe which functions are grouped at the aria-label property.
At this point, we already find a combination of web browser and screen reader that enables the name of the block that was established using this method as well as the status of grouping elements to be read aloud within the explanation of the role of application in accordance with WAI-ARIA.
We expect that web browsers enable users to shift the key focus between blocks which are assigned the group role in WAI-ARIA even if developers of a content did not address like prototype above.
If you accept this suggestion, we expect that a design pattern will be indicated in WAI-ARIA 1.0 Authoring Practices.

Received on Thursday, 23 February 2012 09:25:08 UTC