In case you haven't noticed, I've tried to make this site more accessible since the revamp last week. I had got everything to AAA/priority 3 standards about a year ago, but I got lazy and started using silly things like "click here" as link text and forgetting my accesskeys.
So, I put the accesskeys back in for this layout. When I went to test them, nothing happened. I know they work, since I was able to use them in IE, but in Firefox and Opera every time I tried the key combinations, a menu would popup, an extension shortcut would get activated, etc. etc. etc. (or in the case of Opera, nothing happened. Eh?) Of course, a solution to this is to do what many others have done and use numbers as accesskeys - but I disagree with doing this. Why? Because it's not symbolic enough (to me, at least), and ... I don't know, I just don't like it. I prefer to use letters if at all possible. Besides, the number thing doesn't solve the shortcut problem - I like to use accesskeys on others' sites because I'm lazy and prefer to use keyboard shortcuts than the mouse, but when I went to press ALT + 0 to go back home (or whatever it was), I was once again presented with some options for an extension. Hmph. Seeing as I never use the keyboard shortcuts for those extensions, I tried disabling them, but apparently that's not possible.
Having said that, the site should conform to priority 3/AAA accessibility levels now. The automatic checker at WebXact doesn't seem to like my previous/next page links though, and tells me they don't make sense out of context... I think they do, but I tried changing them to such things as "View more blog posts" and even more detailed sentences but it didn't like those either. I've manually checked everything else and to me it seems fine, but of course many of the accessibility checkpoints are to do with personal preference and/or opinion. I may think those links make sense out of context (they don't have a context anyway... They're pretty much standalone as it is) but that doesn't mean everyone will.
Just a small layout note: I know about the slow/jerky scrolling - this is caused by the transparent PNG background. I will try and change that, but when I tried a solid background, it didn't really work :\ Likewise, I also know about the fact that this centre column looks odd in high resolution/widescreen monitors, since it is fixed width and the rest of the layout is not. Again, I'll try and fix this when I have a moment.
Jamie
16/11/2006 at 5:41
I love the design Amelie! Its gorgeous! I don't even know what access keys are so I can't implement them in my site quite yet but I'll work on it one day.
Jem
16/11/2006 at 9:42
Access keys are the work of the devil.
Amelie
16/11/2006 at 9:43
The devil obviously likes accessibility then... Or maybe he/she/it just doesn't have a mouse, or can't use one. Hmmm. Things to think about... :P
@Jamie: accesskeys are keyboard shortcuts for links. :)
Vixx
16/11/2006 at 15:44
I did exactly the same re: accessibility. I had all themes at s-c.net Priority 3 and accesskeyified (:P) and started getting lazy too. The stuff I've recently done on FA.com (did I remind you? :)) was seriously overdue!
V xx
Corinne
16/11/2006 at 17:19
I use numbers because that prevents having to jump around the keyboard. Many people still don't know where all the letters are on the keyboard, and it prevents having to spend 5 minutes (which is what my mom would do) to use them.
Then again, you should know how to type if you know what access keys are, but whatever. I have them and never use them so.
Amelie
16/11/2006 at 19:00
@Vixx: Nope, you didn't remind me - I did it all on Saturday/Sunday when I was making this here design. I did then see your post on your site and wondered if perhaps I'd reminded you! Coincidence and great minds thinking alike, I think. :D
Malin
16/11/2006 at 19:40
No worries about spamming my comments ;) I hate that Wordpress does that. But if you would like to, you could send me the code in an email or in a file so I can try it out :) I noticed that the plugin I use for that doesn't validate and that really annoys me :P
I never use accesskeys when surfing but they can be bitchy to apply if I remember it right ;)
Yingna
17/11/2006 at 3:44
Wow...unique...but kind of "annoying" layout, you could say. I mean, I really like the layout, but it's not really great accessible-wise for 800×600 resolutions ;) The header takes up almost half the browser space.
Amelie
17/11/2006 at 10:32
I did test it in 800×600, but since only 1% of my visitors use that, and over 50% use something over 1024×768 (according to my stats), I decided to try and make things a little higher in resolution so it would look better on their screens. :\ I might "unstick" the header though, it's starting to annoy me and if it's obstructing 800×600 browser space, that's not a good thing. Thanks for the feedback :)