RE: checkbox labels

Hello

As a so-called 'usability expert', specialising in forms design, I
thought I'd add my two cents.

The problem with Google example is that it only shows typein fields, not
any check boxes. Typein input fields are considered a different kettle
of fish to check boxes from a usability point of view.

On paper forms (in English), check boxes have historically been to the
right of label, as the pencil and eye follow the label from left to
right the user is then ready to tick the box (if it applies). 

On electronic forms (in English) the story is different. Typically the
label is on the right hand side of the *check box*. To some extent this
a hangover from initial progamming defaults but I think the main reason
it is done is because it facilitates alignment. I hear it's much harder
to program a form to have all the checkboxes aligned if they are on the
right of the label rather than the left.

For typein fields, however, the label (which is often a whole question)
should be on the left of the input box for 2 reasons: 

1. It is easy to scan a series of short checkbox labels on the right
hand side of the input field, but it doesn't make sense to read a long
question and then have to go back to the start to enter your (long)
answer.

2. It is accessible. 

I agree, however, that the aim should be to allow the designer to choose
and specify the location, if possible.

Regards


Jessica Enders
Senior Consultant - The Hiser Group
Ph: +61 (0)3 9648 4331 :::  Fax: +61 (0)3 9648 4390
18/535 Bourke Street, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, AUSTRALIA
www.hiser.com.au  |  jessicae@hiser.com.au
-----Original Message-----
From: Klotz, Leigh [mailto:Leigh.Klotz@xerox.com] 
Sent: Friday, 2 February 2007 7:41 AM
To: Kirk.Johnson@zootweb.com; Aaron Reed
Cc: www-forms@w3.org; www-forms-request@w3.org
Subject: RE: checkbox labels


Control is what's important; ideally it should be done through CSS or
through influence of the host language (HTML in this case).
Some XForms processors extend the appearance hint attribute to make it
easier.

Take a look at http://www.google.com/advanced_search for a design
example.

I count 9 short typein input fields; in 7 of them the labels are on the
left, and they are block style, column aligned.

In 2, the controls are inline, and I would suspect the labels would be
styled with no display in a desktop browser but with descriptive labels
which would be styled to show in other CSS media (screen reader, audio,
etc.)

In 1 ("domain") the label includes other form controls, and is on the
left. (I think this answers recent questions about allowing form
controls in labels!)

There are 7 selection (menu/pulldown) fields, and in 4 of them, the
labels are on the left.
One of those includes a nested selection field, which itself has no
label.
The other two are label-free (self-describing in the choice labels).
Presumably again, they would have real labels for accessibility but they
just wouldn't show on the desktop.

There is one selection styled as a radio button.  Its label is on the
left, and its hint is inline on the right.


I think a good challenege to XForms+host language vendors would be to
reproduce a page like this, tastefully.

Leigh.

 

-----Original Message-----
From: www-forms-request@w3.org [mailto:www-forms-request@w3.org] On
Behalf Of Kirk.Johnson@zootweb.com
Sent: Thursday, February 01, 2007 9:39 AM
To: Aaron Reed
Cc: www-forms@w3.org; www-forms-request@w3.org
Subject: Re: checkbox labels


www-forms-request@w3.org wrote on 01/31/2007 02:49:55 PM:

> I noticed that every xforms processor that I tried put the labels for 
> boolean inputs (usually rendered as checkboxes) to the left of the 
> checkbox even though the overwhelming preference for html forms is to 
> have the label on the right of a checkbox.

I think "overwhelming preference" understates the prevalence of this 
design rule. I don't have a single piece of software on my computer
where 
the labels are anywhere but to the right of a boolean control. Not one.

I have yet to get my feet wet with XForms, so there is no point in
trying 
to hide my ignorance when I ask: Are you serious? The labels are being 
placed to the left?

I am not aware of a single usability design reference that departs from 
the "on the right" guideline. If the current "XForms way" is to put the 
labels on the left, I respectfully suggest it is time to get someone
with 
usability design skills involved in XForms and reconsider this.

Kirk



***Disclaimer*** 
This email and any attachments may contain confidential and/or privileged material and/or material subject to copyright; it is for the intended addressee(s) only. If you are not a named addressee you shall not use, retain or disclose such information.

The views expressed in this email are those of the originator and do not necessarily represent the views of The Hiser Group or its parent company, Serco Group Pty Ltd. Nothing in this email shall bind Hiser or Serco in any contract or obligation.

Hiser cannot guarantee that the email or any attachments are free from viruses or errors and will not be responsible for loss or damage resulting either directly or indirectly from any such virus or error.

If this is a commercial electronic message within the meaning of the Spam Act, you may indicate that you do not wish to receive any further commercial electronic messages from us by sending an email to mailto:nospam@hiser.com.au

The Hiser Group Pty Ltd. Incorporated in NSW, November 1990.  ACN 050 327 716 
Registered office: Level 10, 90 Arthur Street, North Sydney, NSW 2060, Australia

Received on Friday, 2 February 2007 02:54:47 UTC