RE: javascript and URLs

I agree that this is an until user agents issue. Albeit an important one. I
suspect that for people who have difficulties with concentration, short-term
memory anbd the like this is a ore serious issue than it is for people who
are blind or using substantial screen magnification (two other groups of
people who will not necessarily realise immediately that a new window has
been created).

I believe that Opera and iCab offer the opportunity not to have new windows
created, although I ahven't checked. As far as I know IE and Netscape haven't
got this far yet.

My informal observation of people who are using a screen reader in a
situation where a new window comes up is that they figure out
what is happening reasonably fast, but that re-establishing context is not
instantaneous, and can be a considerable annoyance.

cheers

Charles McCN

On Sun, 4 Mar 2001, Josh Krieger wrote:

  I couldn't disagree more.  This is one of those "until user agents..."
  guidelines.  There are many good reasons to use pop-up windows for sighted
  users that make sites substantially easier to use and more accessible -- why
  do you think so many people use them.  The fact that pop-ups on the screen
  distract a screen-reader is not so helpful in content guidelines, it's a UA
  issue and could easily be handled by a good piece of software (anyone know
  what the IBM reader does here?).  It would be good to hear from some blind
  folks out there how much of an issue this really is for them.

  + Josh +

  -----Original Message-----
  From: w3c-wai-gl-request@w3.org [mailto:w3c-wai-gl-request@w3.org]On
  Behalf Of Lisa Seeman
  Sent: Sunday, March 04, 2001 1:39 AM
  To: Robert Neff; wai-gl
  Subject: Re: javascript and URLs


  I think that there is consensus that opening a new window is not, ever, a
  good thing. It confuses navigation. (Imagine a non sited person who is moved
  without her knowledge to a pop up window and then tries the back button -
  disorienting the user.)
  Lisa
  -----Original Message-----
  From: Robert Neff <robneff@home.com>
  To: wai-gl <w3c-wai-gl@w3.org>
  Date: Saturday, March 03, 2001 9:45 PM
  Subject: javascript and URLs


  >wendy, have we considered javascript opening URLs in new new windows (that
  >are not pop-ups) as a techniques or other?  was just thinking about the
  >number of web sites includeing news sites that do this.  you click on the
  >URL link and it opens another browser window.  what if javascript is turned
  >off? or do we need no script here?
  >
  >comments?
  >
  >



-- 
Charles McCathieNevile    http://www.w3.org/People/Charles  phone: +61 409 134 136
W3C Web Accessibility Initiative     http://www.w3.org/WAI    fax: +1 617 258 5999
Location: I-cubed, 110 Victoria Street, Carlton VIC 3053, Australia
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Received on Sunday, 11 March 2001 11:20:35 UTC