Re: simulating output of transform tools

I think we must distinguish batch transforms of a whole document,
which are then processed by UA navigation methods, from
interactive applications which support thing like table
navigation.

It is very hard to evaluate the latter from static mockups.  An
active prototype is pretty much required.  The essense of
navigation is the closed-loop process alternating read and move
steps.

Al

to follow up on what Leonard R. Kasday said:
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> From: "Leonard R. Kasday" <kasday@acm.org>
> Subject: simulating output of transform tools
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> One of the questions we face is how to get feedback regarding what
> transform tools might do, in advance of having the transform tools.  One
> way would be to simply write, by hand, what the output of the transform
> tool would look like.
> 
> I did this for a hypothetical transform tool that someone might use to
> better access tables.  As described in the UA guildelines
> 
> http://www.w3.org/WAI/UA/WD-WAI-USERAGENT.html#Nav-tables
> 
> users need to travel by row or column, and need information about the
> current cell.
> 
> The demo is at 
> 
>  http://astro.temple.edu/~kasday/web_access/table_access/
> 
> It shows what the output of a transform tool might be.  Note that I simply
> created the output by hand: there's no actual filter here.
> 
> Basically, it has two linearized versions of the table, one in column
> order, and one in row order.  You start off in row order. Each cell in is a
> link.  Activating the link announces the row and column headings and gives
> you the option of continuing in row order or column order, resuming your
> travels from the cell where you just were.  The menu also lets you start over.
> 
> The demo works best with Lynx.  It could be extended to give other features.
> 
> The point I'm trying to make here, aside from the possibility that the demo
> shows a useful tool, is that we can simulate the outputs of tools.  We
> could then get get feedback from users in various ways... either via
> requests to email lists, or by working with people in a lab.
> 
> Please tell me what you think.  We can pursue this in the forthcoming
> teleconference.
> 
> Len
> 
> 
> 
> -------
> Leonard R. Kasday
> Institute on Disabilities/UAP at Temple University, Philadelphia PA
> email:     kasday@acm.org
> telephone: (215} 204 2247
>

Received on Tuesday, 6 October 1998 12:16:43 UTC