Re: onclick vs Re: Click here

At 9:48 PM +0100 8/9/02, David Woolley wrote:
>  > Saying 'click here' to a speech-input user is a little like saying "do you
>>  see?" to a person who is blind. It isn't quite appropriate. But beyond
>>  upsetting them you will probably get your meaning across.
>
>This does, however, invalidate the reason for using "click here" in the
>first place, which is generally an assumption that the user is too stupid
>to follow anything except explicit directions in terms of the specific
>technology that they are using.

Sure.  But it's not an accessibility error.  It's just bad style.

Actually, "click here" is also very imperative.  It tells you what to
do.

      You can enroll online -- just <a>click here</a>!

      You can <a>enroll online</a>!

One of these is more imperative and urges action more effectively.
Hint, it's not the second. :)

      You can enroll online -- just <a>use your browser's function to
      follow this link however you do that with whatever assistive
      technology you might have and you will be taken to an enrollment
      form!</a>

Well, okay, this is better:

      You can enroll online -- <a>enroll now!</a>

But you see, there are purposes for "click here" beyond simply the
assumption that someone doesn't know how to use a hyperlink.  It's
marketing.  Saying "click here" is more likely to get a response than
not saying it.

--Kynn

-- 
Kynn Bartlett <kynn@idyllmtn.com>                 http://kynn.com
Chief Technologist, Idyll Mountain            http://idyllmtn.com
Next Book: Teach Yourself CSS in 24       http://cssin24hours.com
Kynn on Web Accessibility ->>          http://kynn.com/+sitepoint

Received on Saturday, 10 August 2002 01:30:45 UTC