UnderstandingGuideline 2.1:Keyboard Accessible
Guideline
Make all functionality available from a keyboard.
Intent
If allfunctionality can be achieved using the keyboard, it can be accomplished by keyboard users, by speech input (which creates keyboard input), by mouse (using on-screen keyboards), and by a wide variety of assistive technologies that create simulated keystrokes as their output. No other input form has this flexibility or is universally supported and operable by people with different disabilities, as long as the keyboard input is not time-dependent.
Note that providing universal keyboard input does not mean that other types of input should not be supported. Optimized speech input, optimized mouse/pointer input, etc., are also good. The key is to provide keyboard input and control as well.
Some devices do not have native keyboards—for example, a PDA or cell phone. If these devices have a web browsing capability, however, they will have some means of generating text or "keystrokes". This guideline uses the term "keyboard interface" to acknowledge that web content should be controlled from keystrokes that may come from a keyboard, keyboard emulator, or other hardware or software that generates keyboard or text input.
Success Criteria for this Guideline
Key Terms
- functionality
processes and outcomes achievable through user action
- keyboard interface
interface used by software to obtain keystroke input
Note 1
A keyboard interface allows users to provide keystroke input to programs even if the native technology does not contain a keyboard.
Example
A touchscreen PDA has a keyboard interface built into its operating system as well as a connector for external keyboards. Applications on the PDA can use the interface to obtain keyboard input either from an external keyboard or from other applications that provide simulated keyboard output, such as handwriting interpreters or speech-to-text applications with "keyboard emulation" functionality.
Note 2
Operation of the application (or parts of the application) through a keyboard-operated mouse emulator, such as MouseKeys, does not qualify as operation through a keyboard interface because operation of the program is through its pointing device interface, not through its keyboard interface.
- process
series of user actions where each action is required in order to complete an activity
Example 1
Successful use of a series of web pages on a shopping site requires users to view alternative products, prices and offers, select products, submit an order, provide shipping information and provide payment information.
Example 2
An account registration page requires successful completion of aTuring test before the registration form can be accessed.