Re: Notes from W3C User Agent Teleconference for 10 August 2006

Thanks Al,

Make that:

Note:  If the user activates a link, opening that link's URI in the 
current viewport or in a new viewport would be considered to be an 
"explicit user request". Opening other URI's (e.g. as a result of code 
triggered by the loading of the page) is not considered to be an 
"explicit user request".

re: whether it is cool to have a link open a URI in new viewport:
We discussed it a bit and decided that since opening a new URI always 
entails a bit of context disconnect, it was ok, especially since the 
other options were (1) opening the URI in the current viewport (which 
could cause a user to lose a logged in session) or (2) simply not 
opening the URI at all and showing a notice (which would also be 
disruptive to the context).

Cheers,
Jan


Al Gilman wrote:
> 
> At 3:45 PM -0400 8/10/06, Jan Richards wrote:
>>
>>> ACTION: JR to Write note for 5.3 clarifying that new viewport is ok 
>>> on selecting link if the URL is the same
>>
>> Note:  If the user selects a link, opening that link's URI in the 
>> current viewport or in a new viewport would be considered to be an 
>> "explicit user request". Opening other URI's (e.g. as a result of code 
>> triggered by the loading of the page) is not considered to be an 
>> "explicit user request".
> 
> s/If the use selects a link/If the user activates a link/
> 
> User should be able to select or focus the link without activating it.
> 
> [but don't ask me for precise definitions.  I do think that 'select' 
> here invites misunderstanding.]
> 
> Compare with onChange problems in list boxes while arrowing around.
> 
> Al
> 
> PS: I wasn't in on the discussion, but without having heard that
> discussion I wouldn't be totally sure it's cool for a page the user
> requests by activating a link to open in a new window when the user
> didn't know in advance that it would.  If you've beaten this one
> to death, press on.
> 
>>
>>
>> Cheers,
>> Jan
> 
> 

-- 
Jan Richards, M.Sc.
User Interface Design Specialist
Adaptive Technology Resource Centre (ATRC)
Faculty of Information Studies
University of Toronto

   Email: jan.richards@utoronto.ca
   Web:   http://jan.atrc.utoronto.ca
   Phone: 416-946-7060
   Fax:   416-971-2896

Received on Thursday, 10 August 2006 20:35:05 UTC