Re: REVISED PROPOSAL: Checkpoints for navigation

Finaly discharging my action item - sorry about the delay...

Charles

On Thu, 29 Apr 1999, Jon Gunderson wrote:
  
  -------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Checkpoint: Sequential access to active elements
  Sub-groups: Both
  Priority: 1
  
  Technique
  Allow the user to sequentially move the focus of the user agent to each of
  the active elements of a document.   The active elements include links,
  form controls and long descriptions.
  
  -------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Checkpoint: Search for an element based on its text content
  Sub groups: Both
  Priority: 1

CMN:
I think this is a P2.
  
JRG:
  Techniques
  If text is found in the document the selection moves to the matching text
  and element.  The text content of form controls and the text attributes of
  elements can optionally be included in the search and if a match is found
  the focus is moved to the control with the matching text.
  
  Control elements with text content:
  Input 
  Textarea 
  Option 
  Legend
  
  Initial list of Attributes of Elements 
  Title 
  Name 
  Summary
  
  
  -------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Checkpoint: Sequential access to all elements
  Sub groups: Dependent user agents
  Priority: 1
  
CMN:
I think this is really part of the access to the DOM - the technique provided
is one way to make the navigation more intuitive for certain types of markup.

JRG:
  Techniques:
  Allow the user to sequentially move through all block (paragraph) level
  elements in a document.  The current element is selected as the user
  navigates between blocks.  A initial list of block (paragraph) level elements:
  
  DD		Definition 
  DIV		Division
  DT		Definition term
  H1-H6		Headers
  LI		List elements
  P		Paragraphs
  PRE		Preformatted text
  TH		Table header
  TD		Table data
  INPUT		Form controls
  TEXTAREA	Form control
  LEGEND 	Form label 
  FIELDSET 	Form divisions
  CITE 		Citation text
  CODE 		Code text
  SAMP
  KBD		Keyboard text
  
  
  -------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Checkpoint: Allow the user to access the text information of an element
  Sub groups: Dependent user agents
  Priority: 1
  
  Technique
  Allow the user to view the text content of an element including the viewing
  of single characters, words and sentences with in the element.
  
  -------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Checkpoint: Allow the user to move the focus to a frame from a list
CMN:
list of frames

JRG:
  Sub groups: Both
  Priority: 1
  
  Techniques
  The user can access a list of frame elements in the current document.
  
  Implementation Idea #1 (basic)
  There is command that allows a user to move the focus to the next or the
  previous frame in the document sequentially.  Only frames are traversed by
  the command.
  
  Implementation Idea #2  (advanced)
  The user agent generates a list of frames.  The text items in the list are
  based on the NAME attribute or physical position on the screen. The user
  can use cursor keys or the first letter to move through the list of frames.
   The cursor keys allow for moving one or multiple items in the list
  depending on the cursor key pressed:
  
  Common cursor keys
  up or left arrow		next frame in list
  down or right arrow	previous frame in list
  home			first frame in list
  end			last frame in list
  number keys		move to the Nth frame in list
  enter key		move focus to frame in the document
  
  Selecting a control moves the focus to that frame in the document.
  -------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Checkpoint: Search for a link based on its text content
  Sub groups: Dependent user agents
  Priority: 2
CMN:
I think this is a P3
JRG:
  
  Techniques
  Allow the user to search for a link based on the text contents of the links
  in a document.  Images that are part of the links the text content will be
  considered the ALT text. If the text is found in a link the focus is moved
  to that link.
  
  -------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Checkpoint: Allow the user to move to a header from a list
CMN:
list of headers.

This is really a technique for navigating a DOM for HTML and similar
relatively flat structures, where the semantics about which things contain
what are based on the element type rather than the syntax.

JRG:
  Sub groups: Dependent user agents
  Priority: 2
  
  Techniques
  The user can access a list of only header elements. 
  
  Implementation Idea #1 (basic)
  There is command that allows a person to move the selection to the text
  content of each header in the document sequentially.  Only headers are
  traversed by the command.
  
  Implementation Idea #2  (advanced)
  The user agent generates a list of headers in the document.   The user can
  use cursor keys or the first letter to move through the list of headers.
  The cursor keys allow for moving one or multiple items in the list
  depending on the cursor key pressed:
  
  Common cursor keys
  up or left arrow		next header in list
  down or right arrow	previous header in list
  home			first header in list
  end			last header in list
  page down		move N header forward in the list 
  page up			move N header backwards in the list
  letter keys		move to the next header that starts with that letter
  enter key		move focus to header in the document
  
  Selecting a link moves the selection to the header in the document.
  
  -------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Checkpoint: Allow the user to select a link from a list
CMN:
list of links. I think this is a P3 - a further refinement of searching
through active elements (as stated above).
JRG:
  Sub groups: Dependent user agents
  Priority: 2
  
  Techniques
  The user can access a list of only link (anchor) elements.  Links that are
  part of images will use the ALT text for the text content of the link.
  
  Implementation Idea #1 (basic)
  There is command that allows a person to move the focus to each link in the
  document sequentially.  Only links are traversed by the command.
  
  Implementation Idea #2  (advanced)
  The user agent generates a list based on the text content of each link in
  the document.  The text content could include additional information on
  whether the link is registered with the user agent as being visited or
  unvisited.  The user can use cursor keys or the first letter to move
  through the list of links.  The cursor keys allow for moving one or
  multiple items in the list depending on the cursor key pressed:
  
  Common cursor keys
  up or left arrow		next link in list
  down or right arrow	previous link in list
  home			first link in list
  end			last link in list
  page down		move N links forward in the list 
  page up			move N links backwards in the list
  letter keys		move to the next link that starts with that letter
  enter key		move focus to link in the document
  
  Selecting a link moves the focus to that link in the document.
  
  -------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Checkpoint: Direct access to a link from a list of visited links
  Sub groups: Dependent user agents
  Priority: 3
  
CMN:
I think this is a technique for access to a list of links - the previous
checkpoint
JRG:

  Techniques
  The user can access a list of only link (anchor) elements that are
  currently registered as being visited by the user agent.  Links that are
  part of images will use the ALT text for the text content of the link.
  
  Implementation Idea #1 (basic)
  There is command that allows a person to move the focus to each visited
  link in the document sequentially.  Only visited links are traversed by the
  command.
  
  Implementation Idea #2  (advanced)
  The user agent generates a list of visited links.  The user can use cursor
  keys or the first letter to move through the list of visited links.  The
  cursor keys allow for moving one or multiple items in the list depending on
  the cursor key pressed:
  
  Common cursor keys
  up or left arrow		next link in list
  down or right arrow	previous link in list
  home			first link in list
  end			last link in list
  page down		move N links forward in the list 
  page up			move N links backwards in the list
  letter keys		move to the next link that starts with that letter
  enter key		move focus to link in the document
  
  Selecting a link moves the focus to that link in the document.
  
  -------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Checkpoint: Direct access to a link from a list of unvisited links
  Sub groups: Dependent user agents
  Priority: 3
CMN:
same as the last - this seems to me like a technique. At the very least the
two should be combined.
JRG:  
  Techniques
  The user can access a list of only link (anchor) elements that are
  currently registered as being unvisited by the user agent.  Links that are
  part of images will use the ALT text for the text content of the link.
  
  Implementation Idea #1 (basic)
  There is command that allows a user to move the focus to each unvisited
  link in the document sequentially.  Only unvisited links are traversed by
  the command.
  
  Implementation Idea #2  (advanced)
  The user agent generates a list of unvisited links.  The user can use
  cursor keys or the first letter to move through the list of unvisited
  links.  The cursor keys allow for moving one or multiple items in the list
  depending on the cursor key pressed:
  
  Common cursor keys
  up or left arrow		next unvisited link in list
  down or right arrow	previous unvisited link in list
  home			first unvisited link in list
  end			last unvisited link in list
  page down		move N unvisited links forward in the list 
  page up			move N unvisited links backwards in the list
  letter keys		move to the next unvisited link that starts with that letter
  enter key		move focus to unvisited link in the document
  
  Selecting a link moves the focus to that unvisited link in the document.
  
  -------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Checkpoint: Allow the use to move the focus to the first control of a form
  from a list
CMN:
list of forms
JRG:
  Sub groups: Dependent user agent
  Priority: 3
  
  Techniques
  The user can access a list of forms on a page and move the focus to the
  first control in the form.
  
  Implementation Idea #1 (basic)
  There is command that allows a user to move the focus to the first form
  control in the next or previos form in the document sequentially.  Only the
  first form control in each form are traversed by this command.
  
  Implementation Idea #2  (advanced)
  The user agent generates a list of forms.  The text items in the list
  represent the TITLE or document order position of the form.  The user can
  use cursor keys or the first letter to move through the list of form
  controls.  The cursor keys allow for moving one or multiple items in the
  list depending on the cursor key pressed:
  
  Common cursor keys
  up or left arrow		next next from in list
  down or right arrow	previous previous form in list
  home			first form in list
  end			last form in list
  number keys		move to the N form in list
  enter key		move focus to control in the document
  
  Selecting a control moves the focus to that form control in the document.
  
  
  -------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Checkpoint: Allow the user to move the focus to a form control from a list
CMN:
list of forms
JRG:

  Sub groups: Dependent user agents
  Priority: 2
  
  Techniques
  The user can access a list of only form control elements.
  
  Implementation Idea #1 (basic)
  There is command that allows a user to move the focus to the next or the
  previous form control in the document sequentially.  Only form controls are
  traversed by the command.
  
  Implementation Idea #2  (advanced)
  The user agent generates a list of form controls.  The text items in the
  list represent the all the form controls in the document.  The text items
  are based on the form label or the type of control with additional
  information on which form the control is associated with if there is more
  than one form in the document. The user can use cursor keys or the first
  letter to move through the list of form controls.  The cursor keys allow
  for moving one or multiple items in the list depending on the cursor key
  pressed:
  
  Common cursor keys
  up or left arrow		next control in list
  down or right arrow	previous control in list
  home			first control in list
  end			last control in list
  page down		move N control forward in the list 
  page up			move N control backwards in the list
  letter keys		move to the next control that starts with that letter
  enter key		move focus to control in the document
  
  Selecting a control moves the focus to that form control in the document.
  
  -------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Checkpoint: Allow the user to select a long description of an image from a
  list 
  Sub groups: Dependent user agents
  Priority: 2
  
  Techniques
  The user can access a list of only long descriptions from images.
  
  Implementation Idea #1 (basic)
  There is command that allows a user to move the focus to the next or the
  previous long description link for an image or object in the document
  sequentially.  Only images and objects with long descriptions information
  are traversed by the command.
  
  Implementation Idea #2  (advanced)
  The user agent generates a list of long descriptions links available for
  images and objects in the document.  The text items in the list are based
  on the ALT text for the image or object. The user can use cursor keys or
  the first letter to move through the list of long description links.  The
  cursor keys allow for moving one or multiple items in the list depending on
  the cursor key pressed:
  
  Common cursor keys
  up or left arrow		next long description  links in list
  down or right arrow	previous long links description links in list
  home			first long description links in list
  end			last long description links in list
  page down		move N long description links forward in the list 
  page up		move N long description links backward in the list
  letter keys		move to the next long description link that starts with that
  letter
  enter key		move focus to long description link in the document
  
  Selecting a long description label moves the focus to long description link
  in the document.
  
  -------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Checkpoint: Allow the user to move the selection to a table from a list
  Sub groups: dependent user agents
  Priority: 2
  
  Techniques
  The user can access a list of table elements in the current document.
  
  Implementation Idea #1 (basic)
  There is command that allows a user to move the selection to the next or
  the previous table in the document sequentially.  Only tables are traversed
  by the command.  If tables are imbedded, then the next or previous table is
  determined by depth first ordering of tables in the DOM. 
  
  Implementation Idea #2  (advanced)
  The user agent generates a list of tables in the document.  The text items
  in the list are based on the CAPTION element or the physical dimensions of
  the table.  Information is also included on whether a table is embedded in
  another table. The user can use cursor keys or the first letter to move
  through the list of tables.  The cursor keys allow for moving one or
  multiple items in the list depending on the cursor key pressed:
  
  Common cursor keys
  up or left arrow		next table in list
  down or right arrow	previous table in list
  home			first table in list
  end			last table in list
  number keys		move to the N table in list
  enter key		move selection to table in the document
  
  Selecting a control moves the focus to that frame in the document.
  
  -------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Checkpoint: Search for the next element with the same attributes as the
  current element
  Sub groups: Dependent user agents
  Priority: 2 or 3
CMN:
I think a P3
JRG:  

  Technique
  Allow the user to move to the next or previous element of the same element
  type and attributes.  If an author used poor formatting methods this
  provides a means to navigate the structures of a document using the authors
  representation of the informaiton.
  
  -------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Checkpoint: Allow the user to navigate the Document Object Model (DOM)
  Sub groups: Dependent user agents

  Priority: 2
  
  Technique
  Navigating the document tree (as defined in the DOM level 1 specification)
  provides access to the contents of every element in the document.  This
  technique is designed to meet the needs of the users who require access to
  individual elements and their attributes to determine the document contents
  or prefers the tree metaphor for navigating the document.  
  
  Every node in the Document Object Model tree represents an element and its
  associated elements.   Every node has a parent node and potentially
  siblings, children and text content.  There are three basic navigation
  commands for navigating the document tree:
  
  Move to the parent node
  Move to a sibling node
  Move to a child node
  
  Moving to children or siblings could accomplished using the list techniques
  described for other checkpoints.
  
  At each node the user should be oriented to the type of element the node
  represents.  
  
  The types of user commands that need to be available at each node include:
  View text content of node (is this the same as view children?)
CMN:
I think we want text content of the node (i.e. include all the text content
of descendents), and the 'summary of the nodes children (including text
content of the node element)'.
JRG:
  View text content of children
  View text content of the siblings before or after this node in the tree
CMN:
This already follows - need not be specified again
JRG:

  View element attributes of the node
  View summary information on the number and element type of siblings
  View summary information on the number and element type of children
  View summary information on element location in the document tree

CMN:
This pretty much sums up what I was going to say.

I think what is wanted is the ability to navigate the tree as specified by
the DOM, and that additional credit would be gained by allowing the user to
navigate the structure defined in other ways. For exmaple, in HTML being able
to create a tree in which the headings are parents of smaller headings and
paragraphs, rather than being siblings as they are in the DOM, is a useful
feature, but I think that is technique material.


charles

Received on Tuesday, 4 May 1999 00:22:01 UTC