Re: We require a property that is only used for explaining how to operate with keyboard. (Comment 363)

This request may be addressed by Issue 406: aria-help proposal, currently slated for ARIA 2.0.
https://www.w3.org/WAI/PF/Group/track/issues/406

On Feb 20, 2012, at 8:14 PM, takahiro.inada.rh@hitachi.com wrote:

> Hello WG members,
> I often design multifunctional web applications at work. Screen reader users should be informed how to operate individual UI elements or blocks as necessary when the focus is on those elements or blocks. Users highly likely know how to operate the keys for such widgets that can be defined under the roles of WAI-ARIA-for example TabPanel and Tree-because they are widely used. However, it is difficult to build a feature- multifunctional RIA using only the widgets defined in WAI-ARIA. Therefore, uncommon key operations are sometimes required in order to make all functions operable via a keyboard. Customizing a widget often not only makes the key operation unclear, but also confuses users due to the difference between the key operation detected by users or screen readers and the actual operation.
> We have no choice but to use aria-describedby property to describe the guidance of keyboard operation when that operation is not well known by users. But, aria-describedby property is essentially intended as supplements to labels. So, users cannot know just for a keyboard guidance. They will be forced to be shown a guidance of key operations with irrelevant information.
> 
> Proposal:
> 
> We require a property that is only used for explaining how to operate with keyboard. If such a property is established, we would like web browsers to be able to display the content of the property only when the key focus is on an element, because this would allow operating instructions to be conveyed to users who are viewing the screen but using only keyboard. And also, we whold like screen readers to be able to read aloud the content of the property only when users require.
> Please refer to the prototype we developed with a latest web browser and a screen reader.
> 
> http://www.hitachi.co.jp/universaldesign/ria/ajax/en/sample/index.html
> 
> We use aria-describedby property instead of a property we require to describe the guidance of keyboard operation when that operation is not well known by users.
> 
>

Received on Thursday, 23 February 2012 23:02:20 UTC