Re: [g-a-devel]What exactly is Visual Focus Indicator.

["Sharon D Snider" <snidersd us ibm com>]

Visual focus indicator for objects provides a focus indicator such as a
caret, or highlighting, that moves among interactive objects as the input
focus changes. This focus indicator must be programmatically exposed to
assistive technology so the information can be read correct and the user
understands where they are and what to do next.

In other words, even if the software provides keyboard access so users can
navigate the software, that isn't enough if you don't know where you are
based on accurate audio information. Keyboard users must be able to hear or
see the current focus point to know what to do. Imagine typing if you could
not see the caret (insertion bar). Assistive technology (e.g., screen
readers, screen magnifiers) needs to know the position and contents of the
visual focus indicator, so it can describe, magnify or manipulate the
object for the user.

When editing, the caret or insertion bar is the visual focus. As a blind
user moves the focus with the arrow keys, a screen reader must know the
position of that focus so that it can echo the current object information,
character, word or line. Similarly, as a user tabs around a dialog, a
screen magnifier needs to follow the visual focus.
There are several techniques that can help you to verify that the visual
focus indicator is accessible.

*Run a screen reader. As you navigate through the software, verify screen
reader provides the correct audio tracking information for the visual focus
indicator.

* Using only the keyboard, navigate through the software, especially menus,
dialogs, forms and property boxes. Verify the visual focus is clearly
visible and easy to identify when you tab or arrow to the next object.

*Run Magnifier. As you navigate through the software, verify Magnifier
tracks the focus indicator and displays it in the Magnifier window.

Regards,
Sharon Snider
Linux Information Development, Accessibility, and Usability
IBM Linux Technology Services
(512) 838-4127, T/L 678-4127



                                                                                          
                    Calum Benson                                                          
                    <calum.benson@       To:     Narayana Pattipati                       
                    sun.com>              <narayana pattipati wipro com>                  
                    Sent by:             cc:     "Padraig O'Briain"                       
                    Calum Benson s        <Padraig Obriain sun com>,                      
                    un.com                gnome-accessibility-devel gnome org, Sharon D   
                                          Snider/Austin/IBM IBMUS                         
                                         Subject:     Re: [g-a-devel]What exactly is      
                    02/15/2002            Visual Focus Indicator.                         
                    06:42 AM                                                              
                                                                                          
                                                                                          



Narayana Pattipati wrote:

> In the accessibility draft, visual focus indicator is said to be an audio
> representation of
> cursor position.
>
> " A visual focus indicator is an audio representation of the cursor
position
> relative to the other objects on the
>   desktop. This allows the user to move among objects interactively as
the focus
> changes. The visual focus must
>   be programatically exposed to assistive technologies."

Hmm, this particular paragraph was written by Sharon Snider, who
reviewed and provided some of the material for the GNOME Accessibility
Guide.

Sharon, can you clarify for us exactly what you mean by the term "visual
focus indicator"? We're not sure we understand the "audio
representation" part.

Thanks,
Calum.

--
CALUM BENSON, Usability Engineer       Sun Microsystems Ireland
mailto:calum benson ireland sun com    Desktop Engineering Group
http://www.sun.ie                      +353 1 819 9771

Any opinions are personal and not necessarily those of Sun Microsystems