- From: Andy J.W.Affleck <listaccount@raggedcastle.com>
- Date: Thu, 5 Aug 2004 08:43:41 -0400
- To: "Liz Layman" <LLayman@ifmc.sdps.org>
- Cc: <w3c-wai-ig@w3.org>
I wasn't asking about navigation or skip navigation. I use that regularly in all of my designs. I was asking specifically about the use of forms-based menus to replace a group of icons so as to reduce the amount of "ear clutter" heard in a screen reader. My understanding is that a page with 100 or so icons would have all 100's alt text read. But grouping those 100 into, say, 10 menus only has screen readers saying "Label of menu: menu, 10 items" or somesuch. I was basically checking to see if my understanding is correct and this is a good way to improve the usability for screen reader users while not compromising graphical browser usability. -A On Aug 4, 2004, at 11:12 AM, Liz Layman wrote: > We utilize the "Skip Navigation" as the first link a screen reader will > encounter (typically the first item read placed in upper left corner). > We make the navigation all accessible (various sites have more or less > horizontal/vertical options) as well. An assistive technology user can > choose to view the navigation or skip the navigation and go right to > where the content starts on each page (use d-linking). > > http://www.access-board.gov/sec508/guide/1194.22.htm > See letter 'O' > http://www.access-board.gov/sec508/guide/1194.22.htm#(o) > > > > > Thank you, > Liz Layman > Programmer I > IFMC Information Systems > Iowa Foundation for Medical Care > llayman@ifmc.sdps.org > 515-440-8580 > > > >>>> Andy J.W.Affleck <listaccount@raggedcastle.com> 8/4/2004 8:39:15 AM >>>> > I'm redesigning an older UI for a content management system. Currently, > > in the administrative/management interface, every content item is > wrapped in a box at the top of which is a group of controls and icons: > > Select this item checkbox (for working with multiple items at once) and > > then a series of icons: move to top, move up, move down, move to > bottom, edit, spell check, make public/not-public, etc. At the very top > > of the page are another set of icons for working with the selected > items. > > All told, there are a whole lotta icons on the page (there's also > navigation management on the left side of the page with a whole other > group of controls/icons). > > In a screen reader this UI is, as you would guess, a nightmare. Every > single piece of text, ever single alt attribute, everything is read. A > > page with a lot of content could take a long time to get through. > > In thinking about streamlining the UI so that it is still visually > usable but also far friendlier in a screen reader I am considering two > > approaches. One is to simply move the navigation management to its own > > screen so you are either working on the content OR the navigation > rather than having both on one screen. This simplifies things and also > > makes each page have its own focus rather than trying to be a > full-dashboard. > > Second, and this is where I am turning to this list for advice, is to > get rid of the icons. It seems to me from what I have seen and read > that form-based menus are the answer. I'd have the checkbox to select > an item and then a menu of controls. Screen readers read the labels for > > both and mention that there is a menu of X items but don't actually > read all the items unless requested to do so. This, to me, seem like > the right approach. Thoughts? > > Thanks > > -A > > Andy J. W. Affleck > listaccount@raggedcastle.com > http://www.raggedcastle.com/webcrumbs/ > iChatAV/AIM: andyjw23 > > ----------------------------------------- > Email messages cannot be guaranteed to be secure or error-free as > transmitted information can be intercepted, corrupted, lost, destroyed, > arrive late or incomplete, or contain viruses. The Centers for > Medicare & > Medicaid Services therefore does not accept liability for any error or > omissions in the contents of this message which arise as a result of > email > transmission. > > > Andy J. W. Affleck listaccount@raggedcastle.com http://www.raggedcastle.com/webcrumbs/ iChatAV/AIM: andyjw23
Received on Thursday, 5 August 2004 08:43:53 UTC