RE: aisles in the key cluster

The guidelines would never dictae a particular key, but statements could be
made related to the physical proximity of the keys used to implement
certain functions.
Jon


At 02:17 PM 7/28/98 -0700, Charles (Chuck) Oppermann wrote:
>Personally, I believe it's out of scope to specify what keys should be used,
>other than to say something like "use keyboard shortcuts which are native to
>the platform and user interface being used.  Also take into account the
>needs of physically impaired users when designing keyboard layouts."
>
>The worst thing that a browser can do is invent new keyboard models which
>are incompatible with the other applications and the overall scheme of the
>platform and it's associated user interface.
>
>Charles Oppermann
>Program Manager, Active Accessibility, Microsoft Corporation
>mailto:chuckop@microsoft.com http://microsoft.com/enable/
>"A computer on every desk and in every home, usable by everyone!"
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Bryan Campbell [mailto:bryany@pathcom.com]
>Sent: Wednesday, July 22, 1998 2:58 PM
>To: w3c-wai-ua@w3.org
>Subject: aisles in the key cluster
>
>
>Hello,
>
>Here are some refined ideas for the 'Physically Impaired Navigation' issue #
>19. While keyboard controls must be clustered to reduce keyboard travel
>distance for those with diseases like MS, having controls in one large block
>is troublesome for those of us lacking fine motor control. To meet both
>needs I see the controls as a cluster of ocean islands, 2 keys together to
>say move the Link Anchor Up & Down pages with doing nothing keys besides
>them. Because keyboard rows are offset there is less chance of sliding down
>to hit incorrect keys. To take advantage of that offset it might be possible
>to put keyboard controls in 4 key vertical aisles [2 islands that abut].
>These aisles will make it easy to keep keyboard controls close to ENTER
>which will usually do get item. The 2 key island can still be used for Page
>Next & Back with Backspace as Back & the "+=" key as Next, for example.
>
>Unfortunately mnemonics will be lost in this layout, but the loss isn't that
>great as it is unlikely function names could be place appropriately on
>one-key controls, in any case. In about 2 weeks people get use to control
>placement especially when it has some spacial root. Pages move side ways so
>those command keys are side-by-side, Link Anchor goes up & down so keys
>should be vertical. Also browser should use a modifier key to jump Link
>Anchor 6 or 7 links. I have macros to jump 6 or 11 links in either
>direction, they greatly reduce the workload. A new command to go back to
>last link would be terrific because sometimes I get to a link & slip side
>ways, end up on a Heading. As a TV recalls a last channel the browser would
>return to the last link. Thanks for reading.
>
>Regards,
>Bryan
>
>-> "I don't need to stand to talk, to advise, & to generally make a pain in
>the ass out of myself." Dr. Stephen Franklin, "Babylon 5": 'Shadow Dancing'
> 
Jon Gunderson, Ph.D., ATP
Coordinator of Assistive Communication and Information Technology
Division of Rehabilitation - Education Services
University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign
1207 S. Oak Street
Champaign, IL 61820

Voice: 217-244-5870
Fax: 217-333-0248
E-mail: jongund@uiuc.edu
WWW:	http://www.staff.uiuc.edu/~jongund
	http://www.als.uiuc.edu/InfoTechAccess

Received on Wednesday, 29 July 1998 10:07:31 UTC