Text Links in Lieu of Image Buttons for Comment Commands in the Lynx Site Scheme

Nov 08, 2008 13:02


Title
Text Links in Lieu of Image Buttons for Comment Commands in the Lynx Site Scheme

Short, concise description of the idea
For comment pages on the Lynx site scheme, I would like to have text links instead of the image buttons/icons for the comment commands in the comment headers.

Full description of the ideaBecause of the faster loading speeds, ( Read more... )

site schemes, comment viewing, accessibility, usability, § no status

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Comments 10

koulagirl666 November 24 2008, 12:07:48 UTC
This sounds like a good idea. I wonder if alt text can be used somehow to implement it?

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azurelunatic November 24 2008, 12:39:49 UTC
There is alt text on the icons in the Lynx site scheme, but the screen/unscreen (and freeze/unfreeze) does not change when the comment's status changes, even though obviously something different is done to serve up those comments with the correct image. So that at least should get addressed.

The shade of grey for the comment header for a screened/visible comment changes, but that does not seem like a sufficient difference to me.

Changing the alt text on the buttons to be contextually correct for screened/visible and frozen/unfrozen comments will make a difference to anyone using a screen reader or other browser with no images. I do not think that removing the images would make much of a difference to these users, since they would not be viewing the images in any case.

I would want to make sure to get feedback from sighted but visually impaired people using the Lynx site scheme, to see if a text link would be more helpful than an image, or if the images are helpful.

Thank you for bringing this up!

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lady_angelina November 25 2008, 07:35:42 UTC
Alt text almost never displays on my mobile phone's browser anyway, even when images are disabled. Instead, only the browser's image placeholders show up.

Maybe this could be a toggle-able setting in Viewing Options, so as to take other folks into account who may prefer the icons for the reasons you gave?

Agreed on the shade of gray -- it's a subtle difference... too subtle for me to notice when I'm not paying enough attention. ;)

Hmmm... *Thinks about poking a certain someone on her Friends list about this who just might fit the bill*

Sure thing! :D

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leora November 25 2008, 20:19:21 UTC
That would be me. I'm fine with this change. I kind of like the pictures, but I think mainly because I am used to them more than anything else. However, telling when a comment is screened is very hard to do. I think there are enough advantages to text that having to get used to the change is worth it.

The only real issue I can think of is the general dislike of change and that it's hard to get an idea of the opinion of most lynx users on the matter. But you can't avoid all changes just because someone might prefer things otherwise.

(fine, I'll log in first, since I apparently can't prove that I am human to comment otherwise)

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lady_angelina November 26 2008, 14:40:02 UTC
I don't mind change per se as long as it's something that doesn't impose new inconveniences that are hard to live with. Besides, what if this were simply a toggle option under Viewing Options, where you could opt to have text instead of icons? That would leave it up to the user.

Gotta <3 ReCAPTCHA. XD

Speaking of which, you have reminded me of yet another suggestion I need to submit in the very near future: implementing an alternative (or alternatives) to ReCAPTCHA for devices, etc., that can't support it. Some folks require it even for non-anonymous comments, etc.

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turlough November 24 2008, 17:04:54 UTC
I use format=light mostly because it's easy to read, not for any reasons of speed, but I still think this sounds like a good idea.

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lady_angelina November 25 2008, 07:36:15 UTC
I agree with you on the easier to read, too. =)

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mordyn4 November 24 2008, 18:37:35 UTC
+1

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intrepia December 7 2008, 09:28:11 UTC
Yes, great idea.

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