[thelist] Accessibility/usability of "Select Option" at top of list
Stephen Rider
evolt_org at striderweb.com
Tue Jan 16 09:27:32 CST 2007
On Jan 15, 2007, at 11:02 AM, Sarah Adams wrote:
> after all, you wouldn't pre-fill a text box with "Type Name" would
> you?
Actually, this type of thing is frequently useful in non-web
applications I use. The most intuitive way to do it (and I've seen
this in non-web apps -- not sure how you might do it in HTML) is to
have the words appear in the field in a different color (gray is
common) and in a way that they don't actually register to the program
as something typed there, and so they disappear as soon as the cursor
is in the field.
I think it's a good way to simplify a crowded form without losing
useability. Again, not sure how one might do it properly in a web
form, but I would be interested to know how. (I suppose it would
require some JavaScript.)
A good example: In the Safari web browser, the search field in the
toolbar says "Google" in it. Tab or click to put the cursor there,
those words disappear. Change the search engine, and the name of the
search engine appears there. It would be a total waste of screen
real estate to have the word "Google" or "Search" or whatever outside
that text field. (Firefox does this too, but adds a redundant icon
next to the search field.)
Steve
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