Posted by Karl Groves on 08/08/07 13:36

Dylan Parry <usenet@dylanparry.com> wrote in
news:46b972bd$0$648$bed64819@news.gradwell.net:

> Karl Groves wrote:
>
>> Having observed disabled people actually using sites
> [...]
>
> That statement makes it all the more valid. IMHO, the only way you can
> say for sure which is best is by observing /real-life/ users and how
> they cope (or not) with each technique. Obviously, in your case you
> have done! No amount of theorising can ever make up for proper
> observation in something as practical as accessibility.
>
> Cheers, Karl - you've been v. helpful in clearing my thoughts
>

Thanks for the kind words.

Watching people interact with sites is a major eye opener for me. I
enjoy every opportunity to go into the lab and act as an observer during
usability studies.

Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to go into the Technology
Center at the NFB headquarters in Baltimore MD and watched blind users
interact with web sites. They have this incredible room, probably 25
feet wide and 100 feet long filled with an amazing array of different
assistive devices.

One of the things you hear a lot in discussions of usability is how
people will "scan" a page looking for important phrases and keywords
rather than reading it word for word. Amazingly, I noticed this
happening with blind users as well. They would land on a page and
immediately begin tabbing, listening for link text to take them where
they wanted to go. Trouble was, as the screenreader was in the middle
of reading one link, they'd be tabbing to another. It was not unlike
someone holding the remote control's "channel-up" button down and was
kind of unsettling (because I could see them repeatedly skipping past
the link they were seeking).

Most users of screen readers will be able to go into summary mode and
also be able to generate a list of links. It is vitally important (even
more than a skip link, IMO) to create pages with an effective use of
headings and also with intelligently labelled links. No two links
should be labelled the same unless they go to the same destination and
for &diety; sake don't use "click here" or "more" or things like that.


--
Karl Groves
http://www.thehotrodclassifieds.com
http://www.grayscalecms.com
http://www.karlcore.com

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