Re: what do screen readers do with "the padlock"?

Al Gilman wrote:
> Do some screen readers or self-voicing browsers inform the user of
> this security status distinction?  Do they generally?  How?

JAWS in IE will generally output 'secure connection' when it comes
across the https:// protocol.

This area is very interesting. For example is security binary? Is
something either completely secure or completely insecure? Are there
grey areas where the connection may be partially secured and good enough
to use but not *completely* secure and so on?

To me it makes more sense for a user agent to be able to inform the user
to what degree a connection is secure. The user agent could detect the
encryption algorithm/key and inform the user if it is a high bit rate
(128 +) or of a lower variety. Colour coding can be used to visually
show the user however how is this information given to a screen reader user?

I suppose I am saying that in time IMO there will be a need for
informing the user about the *degree* of security and this must be
accessible to users of assistive technology.

BTW Security is an illusion anyway IMO.

Josh


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Received on Wednesday, 31 October 2007 22:18:31 UTC