- From: Bryan Campbell <bryany@pathcom.com>
- Date: Thu, 04 Nov 1999 19:36:13 -0500
- To: w3c-wai-ua@w3.org
MINUTES(edited): W3C UA Telecon 3 Nov 99 > 16.GR: Repropose Checkpoiont 2.5 on user defined keyboard bindings so >that it's clear that there should be a cascade order whereby the user has >ultimate control or can concede control to the tool. > Status: comments are part of 29 October draft [snip] >4) Confirmation that old Guideline 2 (Keyboard) was deleted. >Resolved: Ok This isn't Ok. Guideline 2 as it was http://www.w3.org/WAI/UA/WAI-USERAGENT-19991022 gave developers new to making programs usable for people with disabilities grand insight into how help; the revised page feels lifeless. That is likely because Group members have worked so long on the task you don't require all the nuances to understand what must be done. May I suggest that Group members try to imagine reading the pages for the first time without an AT background (it took me years to stop assuming my reader understood my topic, many professors took me to task). Perhaps the importance of keyboards was over-stated, but now it is lost which is no better. Given that we don't how many folks rely on keyboards because a mouse can be difficult to use even for people that aren't disabled it is reasonable to clearly list keyboards to ensure usability which is part of the UA's Group Charter. What u do have as a guild is 2 headwand typists, myself & Bill McMurray <billmcm@earthlink.net> whom *buy* Opera http://www.opera.com because only it has the extensive 1 keystroke commands we *require* to efficiently explore the Web. Not to say Opera only has 1 feature, it is amazingly versatile! NCSA Mosaic & Opera both have 1 key commands making them current technology, & so appropriate for the UA Group to apply. In early 1996 Mosaic rendered more & more blank pages so in July when I found Opera on BrowserWatch it was a very joyful day, my best day on the Web, because it meant the Web wouldn't disappear! When Opera's Jon S. von Tetzchner introduced me to Mr. McMurray via email it was instance rapport because of our common need. Please read Mr. McMurray's home page http://home.earthlink.net/~billmcm/ for his enthusiasm over Opera & 1 keystroke browsing. Please read the article on his stroke http://home.earthlink.net/~billmcm/article.html Now because the keyboard Guideline was dropped I feel compelled to ask why 1 keystroke commands aren't a Priority 1 on behalf of limited digit computer operators? From May to Dec '98 I did a number of posts to the UA to illustrate 1 key utility & how to make it easy for developers: frankly I'm quite disappointed having to renew this issue with the W3C which I'd hoped would be an ally (Cerebral Palsy makes me spastic & my voice very uneven, both increased by the need to protect my Web access, while Mr. McMurray's stroke left him with no speech so Voice Recognition isn't the easy fix it seems). Also you need to call upon Mr. von Tetzchner as the expert on keyboard browsing since he has made it work! Yes there is a Technique to have user configure their own commands which is an unreasonable burden on *people* least able to cope with it. The Guidelines stress independent use of programs it mustn't be thought an experienced person will guide keyboard configuration. Regular computer buyers don't have to build their own mouse, people with disabilities shouldn't need to configure their own keyboard commands. Today it hit me very hard why I've not seen Mr. McMurray join in on forums, it just ends up too disheartening. Yet I've a little hope remaining that remedies arrive at the crunch so I will say thank you in advance for a better close to the issue! Regards, Bryan ->"I don't need to stand to talk, to advise, & to generally make a pain in the ass out of myself." Dr. Stephen Franklin, "Babylon 5": 'Shadow Dancing'
Received on Thursday, 4 November 1999 19:38:11 UTC