IMHO since the VB4 upgrade the forum has become harder to navigate! On occasions if you click a couple of millimetres above the "Forum" link it will take you to the forum home page, on other ocasions it just pops up the menu as it does if you click directly on the "forum" link. Would it not be a good idea to have an actual text link rather than always having to remember to click on the digital point logo, which many people either forget when in a hurry (are busy) or just don't know to do as many people I know don't? Perhaps an alternative solution could be to have a link like wording in the DP logo near the top that remind or prompt people to click there. Simply >> Home or Forum Home Written in small letters and underlined in the logo to help those I mentioned above and others.
There is one... if you click on the "Forum" tab and get the pop-up list, the first link in that list is "Forum Home". There's also a hotkey for it on every page (it depends on your browser, but try CONTROL+1, ALT+1, or CONTROL+ALT+1). Depending on your browser, one of those should work.
Sure Shawn but that's one click too many (in regard to the dropdown) or a two handed four fingered invite to arthritis (in regard to the hot keys) - would it not be easier to add a direct link or some text in the logo for the thicko's just to make the navigation easier for all?
You know that and I know that but there are a good amount of people who have no clue about that Shawn. Although not relevant as such - take my Mum and my Niece and Nephew and my Mrs for example, none of them knew that was the case when I showed them this on ebay for example. If that's four of the closest people around me how many others would this apply to to? I guess somewhere in your stats how people reached a page and how many clicked the logo would tell you how peeps navigate when not just coming from the SE's to see if what I am saying tallies up.
Thing is though Smyrl many people don't understand icons and images and only note what they read via words and there will be those who really do come to learn and have something to offer who until they learn will continue to use worded things only.
Perfect, they can learn how to get to the home page as their first lesson. Should we make icons for every link for those that don't want to read too?
OK there is that hope, but let's throw the proverbial spanner in the works (possibly). Let's say a blind person came on DP and was using a text reader to navigate. Q - Would that person be able to navigate, and not be able to bring a case for discrimination, with what is presently in place? This is hypothetically of course as even my suggestion above in regards to adding text to the logo would not negate this possibilty. It would of couse take a different alt and/or title text in the logo I presume. I say "presume" as I don't use a text to audio reader and am not sure exactly what they read, but with a forum as busy and large as DP If it we're mine I would rather be safe than sorry when it comes to risking an accessibility suit. This has happened to others like Airlines, where the navigation didn't allow the visually impaired to navigate. So unless the icon the logo the alt text or an added title in the logo is readable by text readers for the visually impaired my question would be why risk it? This is all hypothetical of course, and I am also just bearing in mind the experience I have had with my own family members who would never have known about images and icons and had to be shown hands on by me. That's without the other considerations like the visually impaired or the just plain old newbies. Surely some thoughts worth considering I would have thought.
Yes he could, because text readers for blind people read title tags on images. The home icon is titled "Home", you also have a link "Forum" right next to it that shows on every page when you aren't already on the root. There are FOUR ways to get to the root in the upper left zone... do we really need a 5th? No. That aside, I don't make sites for blind people... if blind people want to use the site, that's fine... but we aren't going to make text 72 point so they can read it. They can use stuff on their end to make it work for them (readers, increase font size, etc.) They can sue for whatever they want, it doesn't mean it's going to change. In fact, I think it would be rather comical if someone wanted to sue because they couldn't use a private website. http://news.cnet.com/2100-1023-962761.html I'd like the US Treasury website to mail me money... it hurts my ability to buy things since they do not. Maybe we should sue them.
LOL OK fair do's if you don't want to worry about such things Shawn I guess that's your perogative and as you say the "text readers" you are aware of allow the "blind" person to navigate and you are not building for blind people. Unfortunately for us in the UK due to the Disability Discrimination Act we are in a different boat and don't have that choice. However even if it is not such a risk RE law suits for you gys in the US to my mind it still makes sense from at least two perspectives to have a direct link to the forum home page (without having to click twice by using the drop down menu) for all users. 1 being for ease of navigation for all , including those with little experience and 2 from the perspective of those that may take some time to cop on to the fact they can't just use text links but can use icons or images. That's not to mention a third reason in regards to search engines and SEO and the two click rule, which is a whole other thing. Apart from the South Pacific Airlines case and the Disability Discrimination Act here in the UK that would worry me, simple ease of access for all no matter their savvy or ability/disibilty would be my own personal approach on such matters tbh. Still it was just a thought/suggestion you might like to consider, not a biggy just a little something I had noticed, as I tend to look at such things from outside the box whilst trying to consider many possibities and thought you may like to think on others perspectives for DP.
There IS a direct text link to the forum home page on every page when you aren't already on the home page. Look to the right of the image.
You and I and Smyrl and others know that Shawn but there will be many who need the text link as they don't know it. Still I don't suppose there is any need to worry as if nothing else it will keep people on site trying to find there way around, so I suppose that is a factor that could be a reason not to have a "Home" text link. Personally I have a preference to give a home text link on all pages of all my sites due to something I learned about five years back RE that. The inexperienced will always appreciate it. Of course this a "webmaster forum" and that may not be a consideration you figure is worth worrying about and I get that, I just think it may be something worth consideration, as even if it helped just two people who turned out it became worth your while somehow that would make it worth adding. EDIT PS The forum link does not show up when in settings Shawn