Mouseless navigation

How do you move between elements

What do you do when you cannot use a mouse, but still need to navigate a web-page?  For this activity, please use ONLY your keyboard to navigate the items on the page.

NOTE for screen readers:  JAWS and Narrator users.  As your screen readers are emulating a mouse click; therefore, you might need to use a couple of commands that you might not use very often.  They allow you to navigate and interact with the page quickly.

JAWS has a  virtual PC cursor that is on to navigate the page.  When it is off, it allows the user to interact with the buttons and links.  The virtual PC cursor is on by default.  To toggle it off and on, press JAWSkey plus Z.

Narrator has a command to allow the computer to interact with the program (browser in this case), as if Narrator were not on, for one command.  You will want to be on the item you want to activate prior to inputting this command.  To have Narrator ignore the next command press Narrator key plus 3.  Remember the narrator key is either the caps lock or insert keys.

NOTE for touchscreen users:  To read all of the information within the accordions, please use your built-in screen reader.  You can select links in the menus.  However, you will not be able to use the links in the main body, as this emulates a keyboard mouse click.  Smart devices would need an external keyboard to navigate the page fully.

Hint

A keyboard was the original way to navigate a computer. If you need instructions, press the Tab key to get to the “How To” accordion.  Then press the Enter key to expand the accordion.

How To Accordion Open

Read through a web page:

To scroll the viewport down, up, left, or right, use the respective arrow keys.

Interact with a page:

  • The Tab key moves from one focusable item to the next focusable item
    • Commonly referred to as “tabbing”
    • Focusable items include links, buttons, form controls, and other interactive elements
  • The Enter key activates links and buttons
    • Includes submitting a completed form within focus
  • The Spacebar
    • Toggles checkboxes
    • Opens or closes combo-boxes and menus
    • Selects items within focus in combo-boxes and menus
  • The Esc key
    • Cancels a prompt
    • Close dialog boxes
    • Closes expanded combo-boxes

Universal design Accordion Closed

Universal Design (UD) is the design of products and environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design. 

The following seven principles of UD may be applied to evaluate existing designs, guide the design process, and consumers about the characteristics of more usable products and environments. 

  • Equitable use 
  • Flexibility in use 
  • Simple and intuitive use 
  • Perceptible information 
  • Tolerance for error 
  • Low physical effort 
  • Size and space for approach and use 

Mouse history Accordion Closed
  • The trackball was invented in 1946 by Ralph Benjamin.
  • The mouse was invented by Douglas Engelbart and Bill English in 1964.
  • Microsoft added the Microsoft Mouse in 1983 as part of a $195 bundle.
  • A mouse did not become mainstream home computing until 1984 with the Macintosh 128K.
  • The Touchpad was invented in 1988 by George E. Gerpheide.


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