I would like to share an interesting experience I had during accessibility testing of a website, in regards to this topic:
We were testing a blind participant using JAWS. The website we tested opened external links in new windows. The problem was, however, that the computer had Google Toolbar installed, which as a default blocks popups. While doing so, Google displays a little warning to inform the user that a popup was just blocked. The problem was, that these warnings are not being read by JAWS. So our blind user didn't have any clue why pressing on the links did not get him to the new page! That's a problem caused by Google, not the website, of course. But nonetheless it is an accessibility issue that probably needs to be considered. > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Behalf Of Lachlan Hardy > Sent: Wednesday, 6 October 2004 4:06 PM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: Re: [WSG] thoughts of external links in new window? > > > Ryan Nichols wrote: > > The reason you would want to usa a 'popup' is for contextual > > information. Usually this is in more of a web application scenario than > > a website per-se. So you have to think more broadly in the term of > > website than serving documents with content in them (ala 'surfing'). > > Contextual information has been used for a looong time in user > > interfaces. Just think of the numerous desktop applications > you use on a > > daily basis and how they use pop-up windows to either prompt for more > > data, or provide other useful information. > > An interesting perspective, Ryan, but I find your contextual argument to > be thoroughly convincing as a reinforcement of my own > > If a user wants to maintain their context by opening a new tab/window, > they may (as indeed, I almost always do). Forcing a new tab/window > provides no choice to the user > > I could possibly be swayed to agree with you when we are talking about > literal, full web applications. If someone chooses to purchase, or > install, a specific web application then I am happy to assume that they > have done their research. Hence they would be aware of the application's > policy regarding use of popups for certain functions etc > > I would not consider a shopping cart on a site to qualify as such a web > application. The user on an ecommerce site has not chosen the > application or its functionality. They using it merely as a means > to an end > > The difference between the two being that one allows the user a choice > (in purchasing the application) whereas the other does not > > Now that we are significantly off into the philosophical waffle of > hypothetical scenarios and ethical stances (not necessarily a bad > thing), I hope all this is helping John sway his usability team! > > Cheers, > Lachlan > ****************************************************** > The discussion list for http://webstandardsgroup.org/ > > See http://webstandardsgroup.org/mail/guidelines.cfm > for some hints on posting to the list & getting help > ****************************************************** > > ****************************************************** The discussion list for http://webstandardsgroup.org/ See http://webstandardsgroup.org/mail/guidelines.cfm for some hints on posting to the list & getting help ******************************************************
