[Sigia-l] Usability of launching new browser window?

[Laura Norvig]

Excellent points - I now have to agree that defaulting to a new 
window takes away the element of choice for the user, and that can't 
be good.

Since this thread started I have been paying closer attention to how 
different websites handle this. Although someone stated that using 
the same window is the standard convention, I have noticed that in 
practice there is no consistency, and many sites do choose a new 
window for links that go to an outside site.

So now I'm curious, how DO screen readers handle a new window? 
Normally this new window becomes the active one, so wouldn't the 
screen reader start right in on reading it?

-Laura


Benjamin Protas <ben at benprotas.com> wrote:
>The worst part is that the back button is STILL there in the new 
>window, it just
>doesn't work anymore.  I often use the example of my dad, who is older and has
>vision problems.  Offset-and-size won't work, because he'll never see it.  It
>will take him hours to realize that there is a new window obscuring 
>his old one,
>and he will mostly likely have started whatever process he was 
>working on over.
>Screen readers are similarly confused by new windows and finding old content.
>In short, although there are things you can do to make automatic
>multiple-window-browsing USABLE, it ends up being an accessibility nightmare.
>
>The best thing to do, in my opinion, is leave the user in control. 
>If your site
>defaults to opening in the same window, the user can learn to force links to
>open in a new window.  If your default is to open in new windows, 
>however, there
>is NO WAY that a user can force the link to open in the same window. 
>Your site
>is rendered inaccessible to that group of users who can't 
>accommodate this mode
>of operation.