Keyboard/Touch Accessibility

Name: Keyboard/Touch Accessibility
Author: Anne Ross

Learn about alternative input devices for keyboard and touch accessibility

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Course: On-Demand

Hi, I'm Dr. Annie Matthew Ross. Upon completion of this lesson, you should be able to identify common input devices and discuss the input device importance for forms. An input device is a tool used to get data into a computer or device for the purpose of processing through a variety of input device types, including but not limited to keyboards, mouse, microphone, and touch screen. The most commonly used input devices are the keyboard and the mouse. But when individuals with impairments are inputting data, some of the alternative input devices are used. The keyboard is an input tool commonly used to enter text or commands into the computer system. It was designed based on the idea of a typewriter. Various types of keyboards are available depending on the type of data being input. In addition to alphanumeric characters available on the keyboard, some modifier keys like Alt or Control and function keys are also available. At times, commands may be issued by pressing some keys simultaneously. A mouse is also one of the most common input types found. This is a small piece of hardware with two buttons and oftentimes a scroll wheel. The mouse serves as an interface between the user and the graphical user interface. The mouse controls the cursor and allows users to select or move text, icons, or files. The cursor shape changes depending on what the user is doing. When making text selections, the pointer shape is that of an I beam. When choosing options from menus, the cursor will appear as an arrow. A microphone is a voice input device used enter audio into the computer or other device. It captures sound waves and translate these sound waves to electrical impulses, which are then encoded and stored. A common device using voice input with the use of a microphone is a cellphone. Many cellphones do voice-to-text which translates the spoken word to characters. Touch screens work by the user touching a spot on a computer, phone, or monitor, giving commands which are then sent to the device processor. Oftentimes disabled users may use touch screen in lieu of a mouse and keyboard if their impairment prevents dexterity. You should now be able to identify common input devices and discuss input device importance for forms.

Beginner Provider : Anne Ross 3 Lessons · 7m in Arabic, German, English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Urdu, Chinese

Course Description

In this course on Keyboard and Touch Accessibility, you will learn about alternative input device functionality on web forms. Forms are a common and often necessary component of many websites, and users of all abilities need to be able to navigate, fill out, and submit them without issue. This course will discuss alternative input devices for forms, including keyboard and touch screen technologies.

The visually and hearing impaired or disabled individuals are not the only ones who face barriers to easy website navigation. Users with limited dexterity or other limited movement impairments are also affected and may need to use alternative input devices to navigate websites and forms. This may include using the keyboard only, using touch screen devices, or using other alternative input devices, such as head pointers, eye trackers, or microphones, depending on the user’s need. Because of this, it is important that web developers and designers keep these input alternatives in mind when coding and developing their websites.

Learning Objectives:

• Discuss input device importance for forms

• Describe keyboard functionality for forms

• Discuss touch screen accessibility for forms

What You'll Learn

Discuss the importance of alternative input devices for web forms
Describe keyboard functionality for navigating and completing forms
Explain touch screen accessibility for web forms
Identify alternative input devices such as head pointers, eye trackers, and microphones
Recognize how users with limited dexterity or movement impairments access websites and forms

Key Takeaways

Forms are a common and often necessary component of many websites, and users of all abilities need to be able to navigate, fill out, and submit them without issue.
Visually and hearing impaired individuals are not the only users who face barriers; users with limited dexterity or other movement impairments are also affected.
Alternative input methods include using the keyboard only, touch screen devices, or other devices such as head pointers, eye trackers, or microphones, depending on the user's need.
Web developers and designers should keep these input alternatives in mind when coding and developing their websites.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is this course for?

It is aimed at web developers and designers who need to keep alternative input methods in mind when coding and developing their websites so users of all abilities can navigate, fill out, and submit forms.

What does this course cover?

It covers alternative input device functionality on web forms, including the importance of input devices for forms, keyboard functionality for forms, and touch screen accessibility for forms.

What alternative input devices does the course address?

The course discusses keyboard-only use, touch screen devices, and other alternative input devices such as head pointers, eye trackers, or microphones, depending on the user's need.

Why is keyboard and touch accessibility important for forms?

Because forms are a common and often necessary component of many websites, and users of all abilities, including those with limited dexterity or movement impairments, need to be able to navigate, fill out, and submit them without issue.