Re: Question on Active state styling for links

I agree, it is a failure of WCAG to inhibit the natural feedback for
activating a control. I think in the mobile context we want to ask
ourselves if we need to go further. Is the OS visual feedback enough for
low vision users.

Cheers,

David MacDonald



*Can**Adapt* *Solutions Inc.*

Tel:  613.235.4902

LinkedIn <http://www.linkedin.com/in/davidmacdonald100>

www.Can-Adapt.com



*  Adapting the web to all users*
*            Including those with disabilities*

If you are not the intended recipient, please review our privacy policy
<http://www.davidmacd.com/disclaimer.html>

On Wed, Jul 8, 2015 at 10:30 AM, Kim Patch <kim@redstartsystems.com> wrote:

>  I strongly agree with Jonathan. Feedback from electronic controls is
> critical, and has a long history (subtle audio signal clicks on telephone
> lines that many folks assume are part of the process of connecting to a
> call). Users need to distinguish between something going wrong (locked up
> phone, slow phone, connection blip, bad connection, website just went down)
> and it going as expected. I think feedback is not only critical but often
> missing and needs attention. This is an accessibility issue because lack of
> feedback increases cognitive effort and can increase steps.
>
> Cheers,
> Kim
>
>
> On 7/8/2015 9:59 AM, Jonathan Avila wrote:
>
>  Is there a particular value in providing alternative styling for :active links in the mobile environment? That is, when the link is touched or clicked that there is a visible change in appearance.
>
>  My opinion (and this is based on the BBC mobile standards and guidelines project) is that the user would benefit from feedback to know something happened when an interaction has occurred.  For example, if I tap and add button but it's not obvious that something was added to my cart a noticeable visual indicator would be very helpful.  This could be done by the add button changing in a way to show that it was activated or it could be some other visual item nearby changing or moving, etc.
>
> Jonathan
>
> --
> Jonathan Avila
> Chief Accessibility Officer
> SSB BART Group jon.avila@ssbbartgroup.com
> Phone 703.637.8957
> Follow us: Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn | Blog | Newsletter
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jeanne Spellman [mailto:jeanne@w3.org <jeanne@w3.org>]
> Sent: Wednesday, July 08, 2015 9:52 AM
> To: MATF
> Cc: Michael Cooper; Kevin White; wai-eo-editors
> Subject: Question on Active state styling for links
>
> I received a question that originated with the EO working group where they would like an opinion from the Mobile Accessibility Task Force.
>
> Is there a particular value in providing alternative styling for :active links in the mobile environment? That is, when the link is touched or clicked that there is a visible change in appearance.
>
> An informal opinion from the WCAG WG is that WCAG doesn't address the need for alternative styling -- outside of issues of how it is styled, e.g. for color and contrast.  Is there a particular value from the mobile perspective that merits creating a technique for this?
>
> Here is the example from EO  --the "Getting Started Tips", specifically on "Ensure interactive elements are easy to identify": - http://w3c.github.io/wai-quick-start/designing.html#ensure-interactive-elements-are-easy-to-identify
>
>
> Thanks,
>
> jeanne
>
>
>
>
> --
> ___________________________________________________
>
> Kimberly Patch
> President
> Redstart Systems, Inc.
> (617) 325-3966
> kim@redstartsystems.com
>
> www.redstartsystems.com
> - making speech fly
>
> Blog: Patch on Speech
> +Kim Patch
> Twitter: RedstartSystems
> www.linkedin.com/in/kimpatch
> ___________________________________________________
>