When presenting users with multiple submission options within a form, what order should they be presented in?
Again, the issue appears to arise with keyboard navigators - who, of course, include screenreader users.
All users prefer to have access to the most important information on a web page first. Screenreaders users are no different in this respect. Likewise, sighted keyboard navigators find multiple keypresses very tedious when trying to TAB to a critical link or form control.
Ordering Submission Buttons In Forms: continue reading …
Published: December 6th 2005
The decision to present back buttons within multi-page forms as links instead of a form controls may create a potential issue for screenreader users and a consistent use of forms controls appears to be the solution.
JAWS has a Links List feature and a Forms mode. Buttons, like all other form controls appear in the forms mode dialogue but not in the links list. It has been suggested that, when using a screen reader, the user will probably expect to find a form’s “Back” and “Continue” buttons in the forms mode dialogue.
The Use Of Links Within Forms: continue reading …
Published: December 6th 2005
The ACCESSKEY element within HTML 4 and XHTML 1 has long been the subject of some argument. Intended as a navigational enhancement for keyboard navigators, it became apparent that, at best, it was shunned by users and, at worst, could cause conflicts with keyboard bindings in other user agents.
For those unfamiliar with the background, I strongly recommend a perusal of John Foliot’s articles on the subject.
XHTML2 Draft backtracks on accesskeys: continue reading …
Published: November 17th 2005
It may have seemed rather quiet around here lately but there is a reason for that. All hell has been breaking loose behind-the-scenes!
One of my most annoying (recent) problems involves my left wrist. Some time in late June, I developed tenosynovitis - a condition in which a tendon becomes inflamed. Having done the whole “rest, anti-inflammatories and wrist splint” thing, I was eventually offered some treatment which involved having a steroid injection into the painful area with a view to settling the inflammation down and I duly accepted.
So a few weeks ago, my wrist was injected with a local anaesthetic, DMI (the steroid)… and something else. The “something else” was bacterial!
Ain’t Life Fun?: continue reading …
Published: November 17th 2005
