The reason backspace is a problem in windows is: 1. its a key in IE that takes you back a page, and 2. there is that pesky "forms mode" issue. The problem with forms mode is that its a global state that can easily get out of sync. Its easy for the screen reader to get confused and either be in forms mode when its not supposed to be, or vice versa. It also sometimes reports and/or acts like its in forms mode when it isn't, and vice versa. So, the ORCA folks (and Apple I believe) are trying to come up with a way to make forms mode not necessary.
I think tabbing through a form can be much quicker than having to arrow through the whole thing, especially if you've seen it before. However, if fields aren't labeled properly, then you have to arrow around anyhow to get an idea of the purpose of the field you're trying to fill in. This is not an accessibility problem as much as a website design issue (i.e., the label element and/or title attribute should always be used to indicate the purpose of form fields). -- Rich ----- Original Message ----- From: "Dane Trethowan" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "General discussions on all topics relating to the use of Mac OS X by theblind" <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, September 02, 2007 9:44 PM Subject: Re: further comments on web and mac in general > Ah yep, that can be a problem at times because I think the backspace > key is a command in Windows Internet Explorer that takes you back a > page or something like that <smile>. > > On 03/09/2007, at 11:05 AM, Richard Gardenhire wrote: > > One thing I have noticed is that VoiceOver scans the screen similarly > to how a sighted person looks at it. For example, when entering a > form field in Windows, Jaws uses the tab keys to move through the > form field. I find that, with VoiceOver, on the other hand, I use my > right and left arrows to navigate the forms and have no problems > filling them out. Whenever I use my Tab keys, I tend to miss a lot > of textual information. Since learning to interact with dialog and > list boxes, I find it almost automatic to me. I also like the idea > that, if I enter an incorrect bit of information, I can go back > through the form and delete the text entered and replace it with the > new one. I tried that in Windows the other day, and the Backspace > key took me out of the form field. I know this because my wife was > watching the screen while I was filling out a credit card application > and was able to follow the form as I went through it. If that > doesn't convince her to convert to the Mac, ...... Richie > Gardenhire, Anchorage, Alaska. > > -- > Email services provided by the System Access Mobile Network. Visit > www.serotek.com to learn more about accessibility anywhere. > > > > > > > > ****************************** > > > Dane Trethowan > > From Melton Victoria Australia > > Email [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > phone uk 0121 288 4976 > > Phone/tty (+61 3) 9747 975 > > Fax +61 3 9743 7954 > > mobile/sms: +61425 777 508 > > Skype: callto:grtdane12 > > MSN: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > ****************************** > > > > -------------------------------- > > Join the fight against spam! Have your ISP enable client/server authentication. > > -------------------------------- > > > >
