RE: ATAG 2.0 Focus indicator during navigation

Hi Alex,

I suggest a modified wording because the SC is only level AA in WCAG2, but I would like to see it level A in ATAG2 - because in my opinion sequential keyboard navigation of even moderately complex user interfaces is impossible without it. 

I don't know why WCAG set it at AA, but perhaps:

1. on web pages with just a few links, it's not quite so important
- but in ATAG2 we're talking about authoring tool UIs which tend to have more on-screen controls

2. browsers typically display the URI of links (e.g. in the status bar) which might give the user some hint of which link has focus (e.g. if a "Tools" button links to "tools.html") 
- but in ATAG we're also talking about non-Web-based tools which won't provide URI hints

3. the WCAG wording "keyboard operable user interface" could be applied to direct keyboard navigation interfaces, where a focus indicator is not necessary (e.g. Press 1 for English, 2 for French, 3 for Spanish)
- so I thought that by making the wording specific to sequential keyboard access, a level A could be better justified.

Cheers,
Jan


(MR) JAN RICHARDS
PROJECT MANAGER
INCLUSIVE DESIGN RESEARCH CENTRE (IDRC)
OCAD UNIVERSITY

T 416 977 6000 x3957
F 416 977 9844
E jrichards@ocadu.ca


> -----Original Message-----
> From: Alex Li [mailto:alli@microsoft.com]
> Sent: February-07-13 12:55 PM
> To: Richards, Jan; w3c-wai-au@w3.org
> Subject: RE: ATAG 2.0 Focus indicator during navigation
> 
> No serious objection, but why are we deviating from WCAG 2.4.7?
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Richards, Jan [mailto:jrichards@ocadu.ca]
> Sent: Wednesday, February 06, 2013 6:15 AM
> To: w3c-wai-au@w3.org
> Subject: RE: ATAG 2.0 Focus indicator during navigation
> 
> Sorry, I pressed send to quickly on the previous email.
> 
> Here's the proposal for a new ATAG 2.0 SC. The wording is adjusted from that of
> WCAG [1] and makes use of the ATAG2 term "sequential keyboard access":
> 
> A.3.1.2 Focus Visible: If the *authoring tool* provides *sequential keyboard access*,
> then a keyboard focus indicator can be visible. (Level A)
> 
> ---
> 
> [1] 2.4.7 Focus Visible: Any keyboard operable user interface has a mode of
> operation where the keyboard focus indicator is visible. (Level AA)
> 
>  [2] ATAG2.0 Glossary: sequential keyboard access: Using a keyboard interface to
> navigate the focus one-by-one through all of the items in an ordered set (e.g., menu
> items, form fields) until the desired item is reached and activated. This is in contrast
> to direct keyboard access methods such as keyboard shortcuts and the use of
> bypass links.
> 
> (MR) JAN RICHARDS
> PROJECT MANAGER
> INCLUSIVE DESIGN RESEARCH CENTRE (IDRC)
> OCAD UNIVERSITY
> 
> T 416 977 6000 x3957
> F 416 977 9844
> E jrichards@ocadu.ca
> 
> 
> 
>

Received on Thursday, 7 February 2013 20:29:06 UTC