Re: Page length and number of links

I also find that a long article can work better on a phone or a low bandwidth scenario (because the file downloads once). This is particularly true for more in-depth articles. 

Having said that, I would recommend a summary for longer articles and using lots of headings, lists, short sentences for most Web content. As with other issues of accessibility, it sounds like some judgement and common sense are needed.

FWIW - I was at a news site recently on an iPhone, and I was blocked by an ad between page 1 and 2 of a news story and had to use the long version to read the content. I'm glad they did have that version for those who needed it.

Elizabeth

On Jun 21, 2013, at 9:38 AM, Jamal Mazrui <empower@smart.net> wrote:

> Actually, As a screen reader user, I usually prefer a long page with a complete document rather than multiple pages.  This allows me to invoke a screen reader feature that reads continuously without interruption.  It also allows me to do global searches on the whole document.
> 
> For example, when reading a newspaper or magazine article, I always search initially for a "print" or "single page" view.  Otherwise, it can be quite tedious to navigate to the next page and isolate the main content again.  I think a lot of blind people share this perspective.
> 
> I do understand that sighted people or people with other disabilities have different usability considerations.
> 
> Jamal
> 
> On 6/21/2013 6:26 AM, Vivienne CONWAY wrote:
>> Thanks for that Morten.
>> 
>> I agree, in that less is usually better.  For some reason people seem to think they have to put everything on 1 page - often on the home page.  They don't think about how tedious and often difficult it is for the user to find the information they need.
>> 
>> 
>> Regards
>> 
>> Vivienne L. Conway, B.IT(Hons), MACS CT, AALIA(CS)
>> PhD Candidate & Sessional Lecturer, Edith Cowan University, Perth, W.A.
>> Director, Web Key IT Pty Ltd.
>> v.conway@ecu.edu.au
>> v.conway@webkeyit.com
>> Mob: 0415 383 673
>> 
>> This email is confidential and intended only for the use of the individual or entity named above. If you are not the intended recipient, you are notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this email is strictly prohibited. If you have received this email in error, please notify me immediately by return email or telephone and destroy the original message.
>> ________________________________________
>> From: Morten Tollefsen [morten@medialt.no]
>> Sent: Friday, 21 June 2013 6:17 PM
>> To: Patrick H. Lauke; w3c-wai-ig@w3.org
>> Subject: SV: Page length and number of links
>> 
>> Hi!
>> 
>> I agree with Patrick, and this is a classic usability topic. General answers do not excist, at least the target group and type of content is important. Steve Krug has some quite good usability statements (in the book Don't make me think):
>> 
>> 1. Don't make me think
>> 2. It doesn't matter how many times I have to click, as long as each click is a mindless unambiguous choice.
>> 3. Get rid of half the words on each page. Then get rid of half of whats left.
>> 
>> As Patrick write: "... though it may make their experience far more tedious" is of course correct (and this is probably the reason why you asked this question). An example is a page with hundreds of links without any local page jumps: possible to use with a keyboard, but not efficient for the keyboard youser.
>> 
>> Morten Tollefsen
>> www.medialt.no, +47 908 99 305
>> 
>> -----Opprinnelig melding-----
>> Fra: Patrick H. Lauke [mailto:redux@splintered.co.uk]
>> Sendt: 21. juni 2013 11:31
>> Til: w3c-wai-ig@w3.org
>> Emne: Re: Page length and number of links
>> 
>> On 21/06/2013 09:55, Vivienne CONWAY wrote:
>>> I'm looking for a bit of advice about the appropriate maximum length
>>> of a page and number of links on pages.  We recently came across a
>>> page that seems to go on forever and can't see any of the guidelines
>>> that actually deals with this issue.  The page is poorly divided up
>>> and that obviously comes under headings etc.
>>> Also, wondering if anyone has any 'best practice' links on both this
>>> and the number of links that a page should limit itself to.  If you
>>> think either of these violates WCAG 2, I'd really like to hear how and why.
>> This sounds to me like more of a general usability issue rather than a specific accessibility one (as overly long pages will likely affect all users, not just specifically users with disabilities, though it may make their experience far more tedious). And no, there doesn't seem to be anything specific in WCAG 2.0 on this matter.
>> 
>> It's difficult to say what length a page should be..."as long as it needs to be" is possibly the only advice I could give.
>> 
>> If this was part of an audit, I'd add it as a general remark about usability.
>> 
>> Sorry, not very helpful I guess...
>> 
>> P
>> --
>> Patrick H. Lauke
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> re·dux (adj.): brought back; returned. used postpositively [latin : re-, re- + dux, leader; see duke.]
>> 
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> 
> 

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Received on Friday, 21 June 2013 14:36:56 UTC