RE: Pop-Ups

Perhaps I'm worrying for no reason, I would like to believe so.  I
appreciate everyone's feedback on this matter.

Thank you,
-Kimberly

-----Original Message-----
From: Phill Jenkins [mailto:pjenkins@us.ibm.com]
Sent: Friday, October 18, 2002 9:41 AM
To: w3c-wai-ig@w3.org
Subject: RE: Pop-Ups


Thanks for the scenario:

> - the main window (LMS GUI window) remains open
> - the user selects a topic of instruction
> - that topic opens in a new window
> - user finishes the training object and closes it
> - then selects another topic

How is this a problem?  This is a perfectly usable and expected behavior.
Of course the user must be told or "warned" that the lesson topics open up
in new browser window - that's part of learning the "courseware".  We don't
have issues with desktop software opening up dialogs do we? of course not.
I'm the user and I have control to open the lesson in a new window.  The
user agent / browser (not the author)  also has a role here to notify the
user that the link will open a new window, and when selected, notify the
user that a new window has in fact opened.  For example, Home Page Reader
plays a few notes to let the user know a new window has opened.

Now, if new windows opened up automatically, without the user selecting a
link, then that is a problem.  And there are two variations on that
scenario - first, opening on top of the current window and second, opening
underneath or behind the current window.  Most of the current so called
advertising pop-ups behave this second way.  You don't know they are there
until you close the current browser window and find these other windows
still opened.  Worse of course is the first scenario - when it
automatically opens on top and takes focus away without the user having
clicked anything.

Let's keep the issues separate so we don't get confused.

Regards,
Phill Jenkins
IBM Research Division - Accessibility Center
http://www.ibm.com/able

Received on Friday, 18 October 2002 10:48:44 UTC