RE: Access Keys as a means to passing 2.4.1 Bypass Blocks

Hi Harry
Thanks for your input - this is really useful.

Question - do you believe that the provision of access keys would produce a 'pass' grade for 2.4.1?


Regards

Vivienne L. Conway, B.IT(Hons), MACS CT, AALIA(cs)
PhD Candidate & Sessional Lecturer, Edith Cowan University, Perth, W.A.
Director, Web Key IT Pty Ltd.
v.conway@ecu.edu.au<mailto:v.conway@ecu.edu.au>
v.conway@webkeyit.com<mailto:v.conway@webkeyit.com>
Mob: 0415 383 673

This email is confidential and intended only for the use of the individual or entity named above. If you are not the intended recipient, you are notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this email is strictly prohibited. If you have received this email in error, please notify me immediately by return email or telephone and destroy the original message.

________________________________
From: harry.loots@googlemail.com [harry.loots@googlemail.com] On Behalf Of Harry Loots [harry.loots@ieee.org]
Sent: Monday, 15 October 2012 8:51 PM
To: Vivienne CONWAY
Cc: Userite; w3c-wai-ig@w3.org
Subject: Re: Access Keys as a means to passing 2.4.1 Bypass Blocks

Hi Vivienne
In practice it is unlikely that shortcut keys will interfere with AT software's shortcut keys, since the latter's shortcut keys will normally take precedence over HTML shortcut keys (accesskey attribute).

The spin-off, of course, is that this would render the accesskeys provided by the site redundant to AT users.

This despite I think there is a strong argument in favour of using accesskeys:

There is a large group of people that will directly benefit from the provision of shortcut keys.
Shortcut keys to key page zones and frequently used functions, will benefit all people who prefer to use the keyboard (as opp. to mouse), or are unable to use the mouse. Including those with short-term needs.

I would suggest the following convention:

1) Provide two hidden links, at the beginning of the page structure, both of which are revealed to the user, when the user tabs and the the first one receives focus:
i) Skip to content link (ALT+S) - jumps to main content area; ii) Link to shortcut keys (ALT+0) - displays all site-based shortcut keys.

2) Additionally, if a user tabs and an element that has an accesskey associated with it, receives focus, this should be revealed to the user (e.g.: [ALT+(key)] is hidden until the link or element receives focus.

Note: Unlike HTML 4.01, where the accesskey attribute could only be used with certain elements, HTML 5 allows the accesskey to be associated with any element, making it far easier to use the accesskey to provide shortcuts to key page zones.

Kind regards, Harry




On 15 October 2012 12:48, Vivienne CONWAY <v.conway@ecu.edu.au<mailto:v.conway@ecu.edu.au>> wrote:
Hi Richard
Thanks for that - I had understood the same thing.  It makes me wonder why it is being considered as an Advisory Technique for the future.


Regards

Vivienne L. Conway, B.IT<http://B.IT>(Hons), MACS CT, AALIA(cs)
PhD Candidate & Sessional Lecturer, Edith Cowan University, Perth, W.A.
Director, Web Key IT Pty Ltd.
v.conway@ecu.edu.au<mailto:v.conway@ecu.edu.au>
v.conway@webkeyit.com<mailto:v.conway@webkeyit.com>
Mob: 0415 383 673

This email is confidential and intended only for the use of the individual or entity named above. If you are not the intended recipient, you are notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this email is strictly prohibited. If you have received this email in error, please notify me immediately by return email or telephone and destroy the original message.

________________________________
From: Userite [richard@userite.com<mailto:richard@userite.com>]
Sent: Monday, 15 October 2012 6:30 PM
To: Vivienne CONWAY; w3c-wai-ig@w3.org<mailto:w3c-wai-ig@w3.org>
Subject: Re: Access Keys as a means to passing 2.4.1 Bypass Blocks

Hi Vivienne,

My understanding is that access keys are not recommended as the can conflict with screen reader software.

Richard

From: Vivienne CONWAY<mailto:v.conway@ecu.edu.au>
Sent: Monday, October 15, 2012 4:26 AM
To: mailto:w3c-wai-ig@w3.org
Subject: Access Keys as a means to passing 2.4.1 Bypass Blocks

HI all

I'd like to get your opinion as to whether the provision of access keys is a satisfactory method to pass 2.4.1 Bypass Blocks.

They aren't covered by the Sufficient Techniques but there is a mention in the Advisory Techniques as a possible future link.  My concern is that unless they are visible upon keyboard activation, the user would not know they are available unless there was a mention in the 'accessibility page' , if there was even that page provided.

A page I'm looking at has an inadequate heading structure (only 1 h3 and 2 h4 elements), no skip links, but has access keys that you can find out about in the accessibility link at the bottom of the page.

IMHO, it is certainly not 'best practice', but does it actually fail 2.4.1?



Regards

Vivienne L. Conway, B.IT<http://B.IT>(Hons), MACS CT, AALIA(cs)
PhD Candidate & Sessional Lecturer, Edith Cowan University, Perth, W.A.
Director, Web Key IT Pty Ltd.
v.conway@ecu.edu.au<mailto:v.conway@ecu.edu.au>
v.conway@webkeyit.com<mailto:v.conway@webkeyit.com>
Mob: 0415 383 673

This email is confidential and intended only for the use of the individual or entity named above. If you are not the intended recipient, you are notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this email is strictly prohibited. If you have received this email in error, please notify me immediately by return email or telephone and destroy the original message.

________________________________
This e-mail is confidential. If you are not the intended recipient you must not disclose or use the information contained within. If you have received it in error please return it to the sender via reply e-mail and delete any record of it from your system. The information contained within is not the opinion of Edith Cowan University in general and the University accepts no liability for the accuracy of the information provided.

CRICOS IPC 00279B

________________________________
This e-mail is confidential. If you are not the intended recipient you must not disclose or use the information contained within. If you have received it in error please return it to the sender via reply e-mail and delete any record of it from your system. The information contained within is not the opinion of Edith Cowan University in general and the University accepts no liability for the accuracy of the information provided.

CRICOS IPC 00279B


________________________________
This e-mail is confidential. If you are not the intended recipient you must not disclose or use the information contained within. If you have received it in error please return it to the sender via reply e-mail and delete any record of it from your system. The information contained within is not the opinion of Edith Cowan University in general and the University accepts no liability for the accuracy of the information provided.

CRICOS IPC 00279B