Provide the status of all locking or toggle keys visually and either through touch or sound.
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Rationale
Toggle keys, like the Num Lock, Caps Lock and Scroll Lock keys on the keyboard typically provide only a visual indicator of the key state. A user who is blind or visually impaired cannot determine the state of those keys. The status should be provided in redundant ways so a deaf user can see the state and a blind user can hear or feel the state. If the state is available to software, an assistive technology can access the state and announce when the toggle key is on or off.
Required development techniques
Use one or more of the following techniques to meet Checkpoint 2.1 from the IBM Hardware Accessibility Checklist:
- Provide auditory or tactile feedback in addition to visual feedback of the key state.
- Provide keys which remain depressed when activated.
- Provide the key state to software. This information can then be used by an assistive technology or the operating system to provide an audio indication of the state when it changes. The UseToggleKeys setting in Windows Accessibility Options illustrates one method of providing auditory feedback when the key state changes.
Required test techniques
| Action | Result | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Verify the status of locking and toggle keys is visible.
Verify the status is also available through touch or sound. |
Pass:
Fail:
|
| 2 | Verify the status of locking and toggle keys.
Determine that a key remains depressed when activated. |
Pass:
Fail:
|
| 3 | Verify the status of locking and toggle keys.
Determine that the state of the key has been made available to software. |
Pass:
Fail:
|
©2009 IBM Corporation
Last updated July 01, 2009.