Hello Jennifer,
I too also signed up for a gmail account and have found the same
problems you mentioned. I'm using JAWS 5, and one of the conflects is
with the JAWS forms-mode when I try to execute a command. I'm putting
together some resources to send to Google for making websites
accessible. Remember this is still in beta and so it is the opportune
time for our feedback. At the very least you should email them outlining
some of the problems you've encountered. I really like Google and feel
they may be responsibe to feedback right now.
Terri Hedgpeth
Disability Research Specialist
Cubic, iCare box 87-8909
Arizona State University
Tempe, AZ 85287-8909
(480) 727-8133 (voice)
(480) 965-2751 (fax)
http://cubic.asu.edu
The positive thinker sees
the invisible, feels the intangible,
and achieves the impossible.
-----Original Message-----
From: VICUG-L: Visually Impaired Computer Users' Group List
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Jennifer Sutton
Sent: Sunday, August 29, 2004 9:07 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: experiences with Google Mail accounts
Hi all:
If there are other lists where this has already been discussed, please
feel
free to let me know.
I just received a free gmail (Google Mail) invitation, and I have been
able
to sign up and access it. I wondered if others besides me have
experimented with it and its interface.
Before I explain further, let me say that I noticed in the help center
that
there is a list of keystrokes that may be used to initiate at least some
of
the functions. I have not tested with them, but I suspect at least some
of
them will conflict with keys already used by screen readers when in IE
(for
example). The keystrokes may help to improve the experience
considerably,
however.
What I did notice are poorly labeled frames which do not help the
surfing
experience of a blind user at all (as far as I can tell).
While I can use the interface, it seems to me that most of the
functionality must be performed with screen reader mouse keys; there are
few buttons or links, and even the combo boxes are a little strange.
This
is unfortunate since the approach could be quite powerful in dealing
with
email.
I am using Window-Eyes 4.5 SP4, Win XP SP1, and IE 6. Honestly, though,
I'd be surprised if JFW users would have an especially different
experience.
I guess I was surprised that this interface did not conform to more
(what
I'd consider to be standard Web interface practices). While Earthlink's
Web-mail interface is not perfect, it's less Mouse-dependent than
Google's is.
If others are working on this issue, have contacted Google, and have
received any feedback, I'd be interested to know. I don't know that I
have
time for a huge advocacy campaign, but I might have time to join one if
there's one already underway.
Best,
Jennifer
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VICUG-L is the Visually Impaired Computer User Group List.
To join or leave the list, send a message to
[log in to unmask] In the body of the message, simply type
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VICUG-L is archived on the World Wide Web at
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