Success Criteria 2.1.4 Question

Hi Folks,

Does a web page or web application require text input in order to fail 2.1.4 – Character Key Shortcuts <https://www.w3.org/WAI/WCAG21/Understanding/character-key-shortcuts>?

For example, if there is no text input, the user cannot accidentally fire a letter-key shortcut when entering text.

The web applications that I work on are interactive visual simulations that generally do not include text input. While most of the key shortcuts we have designed thus far require focus, there is at least one that I know of that does not. I want to understand 2.1.4 better. 

In the sim Projectile Data Lab <https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/projectile-data-lab/latest/projectile-data-lab_all.html> while not screen reader accessible, it is navigable with a keyboard. This sim has 2 global keyboard shortcuts described in the Keyboard Shortcuts dialog located in the bottom navigation bar:
1. Launch or stop projectiles with Option + L.
2. Go to one of six fields with F + 1 through 6.

These 2 global shortcuts do not require focus on the launcher button or on the group of fields. 

My question is specifically about the “Go to field” shortcut which is a combination of two print keys. Would this fail 2.1.4?

This sim does not have text input.

Taliesin
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
Taliesin L. Smith
talilief@gmail.com 
taliesin.smith@colorado.edu 

Inclusive Design Research Specialist
PhET Interactive Simulations
http://phet.colorado.edu/
Department of Physics
University of Colorado, Boulder