Re: [WSG] Expected behaviour of links to external websites
On 20 December 2011 13:09, Alex Mironov alexmiro...@graphicdesignservices.ato.gov.au wrote: [snip] I was wondering if anyone had any views/resources as to whether users should remain in the same window or should be taken to a new window/tab when they click on an external link? Short answer: don't open new windows/tabs (unless you have a really good reason). Reason 1: it's da law! (if you're subject to WCAG 2.0 accessibility requirements, e.g. Australian Govt) ... e.g. http://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG20-TECHS/G200 (well, ok, not strictly da law, but clearly bad practice for many accessibility use cases and likely to fail accessibility audits.) Reason 2: opening new windows/tabs by default basically says welcome to 1999! If you're fine with that, go right ahead ;) *** List Guidelines: http://webstandardsgroup.org/mail/guidelines.cfm Unsubscribe: http://webstandardsgroup.org/join/unsubscribe.cfm Help: memberh...@webstandardsgroup.org ***
Re: [WSG] Expected behaviour of links to external websites
On 12/22/11 4:06 PM, m...@phonecoop.coop wrote: Hassan Schroederhas...@webtuitive.com Regardless -- for the vocal objectors, do the same objections apply to opening a new tab? Pretty much. That's just a smaller version of the same problem. Think of it this way: when you change channel on the tv, you expect it to change channel, not switch on a second tv to the new channel. That's crazy, isn't it? Not only crazy, but the Worst Analogy EVAR :-) Opening a new tab does nothing like switch on a second computer. And that's aside from the fact that I utterly hate the Flintstone technology we call television -- single window, no integrated on-screen nav -- the dumb terminal of media delivery. Appalling that we still have crap like this in the 21st Century. Regardless, I suspect that there's a significant difference in the user perception of tabs vs. windows, but I'd like to know if anyone has done any actual studies. -- Hassan Schroeder - has...@webtuitive.com webtuitive design === (+1) 408-621-3445 === http://webtuitive.com http://about.me/hassanschroeder twitter: @hassan dream. code. *** List Guidelines: http://webstandardsgroup.org/mail/guidelines.cfm Unsubscribe: http://webstandardsgroup.org/join/unsubscribe.cfm Help: memberh...@webstandardsgroup.org ***
Re: [WSG] Expected behaviour of links to external websites
Hassan Schroeder has...@webtuitive.com On 12/22/11 4:06 PM, m...@phonecoop.coop wrote: Hassan Schroederhas...@webtuitive.com Regardless -- for the vocal objectors, do the same objections apply to opening a new tab? Pretty much. That's just a smaller version of the same problem. Think of it this way: when you change channel on the tv, you expect it to change channel, not switch on a second tv to the new channel. That's crazy, isn't it? Not only crazy, but the Worst Analogy EVAR :-) Rubbish - I've done far worse before. Opening a new tab does nothing like switch on a second computer. No - it switches on a second browser viewport, either above or below the first one. And that's aside from the fact that I utterly hate the Flintstone technology we call television -- single window, no integrated on-screen nav -- the dumb terminal of media delivery. Appalling that we still have crap like this in the 21st Century. Your television doesn't have on-screen navigation? We've had it in some form since Digital Video Broadcasting started over a decade ago and now it's the only option in most of the UK. There are also the usual media centres but the simple TV display is still king for a reason. Some things have multi-window displays but it still only makes occasional appearances. Why is this? I say it's because it sucks because it doesn't fit the cinema-ish use metaphor. It sucks on the desktop too. If you take the actual computer desktop metaphor, with windows as documents on a desktop, opening new windows or tabs isn't the common action in that metaphor. What happens when you read a page on your desk and turn to another page? Does the new page usually appear alongside (like a new window) or beneath it (like a new tab) - or does it usually replace the page you finished? It replaces it, unless you do something special like grab a duplicate. Regardless, I suspect that there's a significant difference in the user perception of tabs vs. windows, but I'd like to know if anyone has done any actual studies. I'm aware of work on content-box tabs by Yahoo! described on http://www.useit.com/alertbox/tabs.html but not of browser-level tabs. It would be interesting. Regards, -- MJ Ray (slef), member of www.software.coop, a for-more-than-profit co-op. http://koha-community.org supporter, web and library systems developer. In My Opinion Only: see http://mjr.towers.org.uk/email.html Available for hire (including development) at http://www.software.coop/ *** List Guidelines: http://webstandardsgroup.org/mail/guidelines.cfm Unsubscribe: http://webstandardsgroup.org/join/unsubscribe.cfm Help: memberh...@webstandardsgroup.org ***
[WSG] Out of Office
I will be out of the office until January 3rd. If you have an urgent matter contact Chet at c...@inetsgi.com or dial 402.330.0636 x1001. Thank you. *** List Guidelines: http://webstandardsgroup.org/mail/guidelines.cfm Unsubscribe: http://webstandardsgroup.org/join/unsubscribe.cfm Help: memberh...@webstandardsgroup.org ***
Re: [WSG] Expected behaviour of links to external websites
On 12/23/11 11:12 AM, MJ Ray wrote: Not only crazy, but the Worst Analogy EVAR :-) Rubbish - I've done far worse before. I sit corrected - your powers are te awesum :-) Opening a new tab does nothing like switch on a second computer. No - it switches on a second browser viewport, either above or below the first one. ? above or below? Not sure we're talking about the same thing. Or at least I wouldn't describe it in those terms. Your television Apologies for the diversion; I could go on a long time about that one, but it's really OT here. Though again, it would be interesting to know if anyone's done studies on how computers/web browsing has influenced the perspective of TV users. Back to the original topic: It sucks on the desktop too. If you take the actual computer desktop metaphor, with windows as documents on a desktop, opening new windows or tabs isn't the common action in that metaphor. What happens when you read a page on your desk and turn to another page? Does the new page usually appear alongside (like a new window) or beneath it (like a new tab) - or does it usually replace the page you finished? It replaces it, unless you do something special like grab a duplicate. *OR* it's got a *different relationship* to the original window. If it's simply a *continuation* of the content, sure, replacing the original window content makes sense. But if it's e.g. a 'help' link, or a dialog box, it *does* open a new window. If the original content is a PDF, clicking an embedded link doesn't open inside Adobe Reader; it *opens a new window*. If I click on a link in my Twitter client, ditto. If cousin Connie emails a link to her favorite LOLCAT of the day, click, boom, new window. If people are baffled by new windows opening, there must be a lot of continual head-shaking going on out there... -- Hassan Schroeder - has...@webtuitive.com webtuitive design === (+1) 408-621-3445 === http://webtuitive.com http://about.me/hassanschroeder twitter: @hassan dream. code. *** List Guidelines: http://webstandardsgroup.org/mail/guidelines.cfm Unsubscribe: http://webstandardsgroup.org/join/unsubscribe.cfm Help: memberh...@webstandardsgroup.org ***
[WSG] Out of Office AutoReply: WSG Digest
I will be out of the office through Monday Dec. 26th and will respond to your message when I return. Kim *** List Guidelines: http://webstandardsgroup.org/mail/guidelines.cfm Unsubscribe: http://webstandardsgroup.org/join/unsubscribe.cfm Help: memberh...@webstandardsgroup.org ***
