Re: WAI-ARIA FAQ

OK will work on these...thanks!

Original Message:
-----------------
From: Alan Chuter achuter@technosite.es
Date: Fri, 30 Nov 2007 10:40:11 +0100
To: w3c-wai-eo@w3.org
Subject: Re: WAI-ARIA FAQ



Hi Sharron,

I stumbled on "2. What is WAI-ARIA intended to do?" It seem to grind
to a halt in jargon like "web devices", "widgets", "Ajax, DHTML, and
other current technologies". Perhaps a simple example would help; one
that can be explained from the user's perspective, like an HTML pop-up
window. Perhaps even with a couple of images. This information could
be in another page so as not to make the text too long for people who
already know what the idea is.

This "intended to do" section could describe what the problem is with
the widgets and why they are often not accessible, which may not be
apparent to the first-time reader. Obviously these concepts are not
easy to explain. How about "Some users can not see the page and use
voice access. When content is modified dynamically by script, these
users may not be aware of the change and are unable to detect what
part has changed"

Another approach might be to ask the reader to imagine the other
user's experience, "Imagine you can not see the screen but use voice
access to use a Web mail application. How can you know when new
message has arrived?"

Under "Is WAI-ARIA available and supported now?" I think it sounds
like we're a politician trying to avoid answering the question.
Perhaps it would be better to admit that nobody supports it all and
that support is still patchy. To beat about the bush is doing a
disservice to the reader. Most readers probably don't want to know
about the W3C process, especially if they have to read the process
document to find out what it is. I think the idea of the process bit
is to say "it's a slow process because..." but the message is lost.
What most readers (content developers, policy makers) really want to
know is whether they should be adopting it now. Perhaps it would be
better to say that people with disabilities who need to use ARIA have
the necessary support available if they upgrade their AT and UA, so
yes it is worthwhile.

In this section, for "open source JavaScript toolkits" , maybe you
could put an in-page link to the section further on in the document.

best regards,

Alan






On 30/11/2007, Sharron Rush <srush@knowbility.org> wrote:
>
> Hey Justin,
>
> Thanks for these good comments, very helpful.  here is the new
> doc...I thought I had sent it earlier but this worked out since it
> gave me a chance incorporate your philosophy, excellent!
>
> See (hear) everyone in the morning!
>
> Sharron
>
> At 12:54 PM 11/29/2007, Justin Thorp wrote:
>
>
> >Few comments...
> >
> >*My general FAQ philosophy*
> >When I read a FAQ, I expect that in the first sentence or two of the
> >answer  I'll get the answer to the question.  Because people scan so
> >much when they read online, I wouldn't expect that people would read
> >much more than a sentence or two anyhow.
> >
> >So when i read questions like... 2. What is WAI-ARIA intended to do?
> >In the answer i'd be looking for it to say... WAI-ARIA is intended
> >to [fill in the blank].
> >
> >*3. Is WAI-ARIA available and supported now?*
> >http://www.w3.org/WAI/EO/Drafts/ARIA/faq.html#available
> >
> >What does this (the first paragraph) have to do with wether WAI-ARIA
> >is available or supported now?
> >
> >"ARIA is being developed under the W3C Process, more thoroughly
> >discussed elsewhere. The process is ongoing and is intended to
> >reflect the diverse needs of a broad community, including industry,
> >disability organizations, accessibility researchers, government, and
> >others interested in Web accessibility."
> >
> >Are we really asking what is the status of WAI-ARIA?  Maybe this
> >question would help from being multiple questions.
> >
> >
> >******************
> >Justin Thorp
> >US Library of Congress
> >Web Services - Office of Strategic Initiatives
> >e - juth@loc.gov
> >p - 202/707-9541
> >
> > >>> Shawn Henry <shawn@w3.org> 11/28/2007 6:57 PM >>>
> >3. WAI-ARIA FAQ
> >* http://www.w3.org/WAI/EO/Drafts/ARIA/faq.html
> >An updated version and specific questions for EOWG will be available
> >before the teleconference.
>
>


-- 
Email: achuter@technosite.es
Blogs
http://www.blogger.com/profile/09119760634682340619


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Received on Friday, 30 November 2007 13:52:47 UTC