Re: 1.4.3 Contrast (Minimum) - Sufficient Technique for UI Controls

James,

Thanks for taking a look and providing feedback.  I see your point and can
agree with you about the inactive user interface components.

However, we still run into problems with developers on their active UI
components because they are quick to point out that the techniques state
"text or images of text".  Therefore their UI controls (or icons) are
exempt from 1.4.3 because they do not have any text associated with them.

There is the advisory technique for icons:
"Making icons using simple line drawings that meet the contrast provisions
for text (future link) "

So perhaps my questions should have been:  Why is it only advisory for
icons?  And, are UI controls without text considered to be icons?  I would
think that a UI control (or icon) of a gear for options should have to meet
the same requirement as an image, link, or button on a page that is labeled
"Options".


Regards,


Marc Johlic
Accessibility Consultant
Human Ability & Accessibility Center, IBM Research
                                                                                             
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From:	James Nurthen <james.nurthen@oracle.com>
To:	Marc Johlic/Tampa/IBM@IBMUS
Cc:	w3c-wai-gl@w3.org
Date:	03/24/2011 12:09 PM
Subject:	Re: 1.4.3 Contrast (Minimum) - Sufficient Technique for UI
            Controls
Sent by:	w3c-wai-gl-request@w3.org



Marc,
I do not think we should create a sufficient technique which includes a 3:1
ratio for inactive controls. 1.4.3 specifically states that
"Text or images of text that are part of an inactive user interface
component .... have no contrast requirement"
so any sufficient technique should not attempt to impose one on these
elements.

Regards,
James
On Mar 24, 2011, at 7:10 AM, Marc Johlic wrote:

> Hi,
>
> I'd like to recommend we add a new Sufficient Technique to 1.4.3 Contrast
(Minimum), to cover UI controls. In particular, there should be a
sufficient technique to meet the contrast ratio of 4.5:1 for active
controls, or 3:1 for inactive controls
>
> The issue is that currently 1.4.3 Contrast (Minimum) doesn't appear to
provide clear guidance around UI controls on web pages that do not have any
text associated with them (i.e. An icon of a gear for options, an _ to
minimize or an 'x' to close a window).
>
> Most of the techniques are for the minimum contrast requirements of text
and images of text.
>
> There is an Advisory Technique that states: "Making icons using simple
line drawings that meet the contrast provisions for text (future link) ".
Perhaps that could be expanded on to include UI controls on a page and
moved to a Sufficient Technique for UI controls.
>
> Even with that though, we are seeing more and more web pages that consist
of several "portlets" where only one portlet or division on the page might
be active at any one time. The remaining portlets / divisions have controls
that would be in an inactive or disabled state.
>
> Where do we find the balance between meeting minimum contrast
requirements - especially for inactive controls - and cognitive overload
where the user cannot discern between which controls are active or inactive
on a page?
>
> Our recommendation to teams has been that the controls on the page should
follow the contrast guidelines, and depending on the size of the actual
control, the control would be treated as either large text or small text
and follow the associated guideline. Disabled / Inactive controls were
included in this recommendation as well.
>
>
> Do you think this is something that the WG could take a look at and
provide more guidance?
>
>
> Unfortunately I couldn't quickly find an external site that had an
example of the controls and pages we're seeing lately, but while not a
perfect example, the "Basic Form Widgets" and "Sliders" tabs on the Dojo
Toolkit Rich UI Widgets page help to give a visual sample of disabled /
inactive controls: http://dojotoolkit.org/widgets
>
> The types of controls we're running into are similar but without the text
on or near the control.
>
> Marc Johlic
> Accessibility Consultant
> Human Ability & Accessibility Center, IBM Research
>
> ( (T/L) 391-5905 | External 813-356-3081
> * johlic@us.ibm.com
> For self-help visit us at the IBM Human Ability & Accessibility Center
> Follow us on ibm.com/able | <27202286.gif>Facebook |
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