Assessment for PressReader by Centennial - Module 2: Interface Navigation

Submitted by LindaC@centenn… on
Are user input fields accompanied by clear instructions on what the user needs to do to successfully complete the form?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes: No clear instructions are provided (i.e. 'Sign up with Email' form provides no instructions about the password character requirements. A password with less than six characters will generate an error message at the top of the form rather than near the password field.
Do user input fields contain labels in addition to overall instructions mentioned above?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes: Placeholder text is used to convey an instruction.
Are descriptions for fields and boxes easy to understand?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Intuitive phases rather than descriptions are used.
Are labels placed above the user input fields and clearly associated with each field?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Several unlabeled form controls with title and missing form labels (i.e. 'Add to My Publications' form).
Are text cues for coloured form control labels available?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes:
Are other visual indicators provided consistently, such as an asterisk for required form fields?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes: No visual indicators.
Are user input fields either reversible, checked, or confirmed? One of the three is acceptable.
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Entering incomplete information in a required form field (i.e. incomplete name or email address) generates a notice in red text.
Are alert messages clearly visible to the user, either at the top of the form field, inline, or through a dialog box?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes: Visible below the form field.
Do alert messages clearly indicate the field in which the error has occurred and a description of the error and the fix?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes: Use of NVDA can result in repetition of words which is confusing, but it does read alert messages. (i.e. 'Log in with Email' form).
Is the user able to easily access the user input field to correct the error?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes: Confusing.
Is the user able to resubmit the form and re-validate their submission?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes:
Do error reports follow a logical reading and navigation order?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
When a user spells a word incorrectly, does the search function offer spelling suggestions or synonyms?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: A publication title can be misspelled and sometimes the search results display the correct title; or the search results can display unhelpful results such as an or random newspaper publication.
Are icons such as to save, download, or print consistent across the site?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: No Save, Download, or Print icons in accessibility mode. The Home page has a Search Publications box. Within a Publication, a magnifying glass icon is located beside the Search box. In Search Results, to Refine your Search the magnifying glass icon is used for all fields except Date (button used to select date choice).
Is alternative text clear and consistent for each icon type?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes: Missing alternative text.
Are actions consistently labelled across the site? For example, the “search” button is always labeled “search”.
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Are icons that have adjacent links consistent?
Answer: Not Applicable
Score: -1
Notes:
Can the purpose of each link be determined from the link text alone?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes:
Does the eresource have a consistent layout and navigation across all pages?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Search fields, contact information, and button placement are consistent.
Are search fields located in the same places throughout the website?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Do other features occur in the same place throughout the website?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Are links, buttons, images, and other components that are used repeatedly throughout a website labeled consistently?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: In the Accessibility Mode option, buttons and images are unlabeled but have a title.
Does the electronic resource avoid the use of pop-up windows which open automatically in a new tab if a user clicks on a button?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Does the database avoid launching pop-up windows automatically when the database is loaded?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Where pop-ups occur, are users able to postpone or suppress any pop-ups?
Answer: Not Applicable
Score: -1
Notes:
Does the database avoid launching pages in a new browser window with the usual browser controls missing?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Is page content subdivided hierarchically into appropriate headings and tagged appropriately?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Are headings concise and clear, and accurately reflect the content under that heading?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Do database page menus have a reasonable number of navigation items and drop-down options?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Drop-down menu is long when using filter options (i.e. select the 'Countries' where publications originated, and the 'Categories' of interest. Users do have an alternate way to access filter options (i.e. enter first letters of desired option).
Does the main navigation and drop-downs contain a reasonable number of menu items?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes:
Can all menus and submenus be accessed with screen readers and via keyboard navigation?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Can be confusing.
Does the “results” page or item record view avoid opening in a new tab without a warning?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Enter key required to move forward.
Is there an "update now" button that requests a refresh of content rather than automatically updating the content?
Answer: Not Applicable
Score: -1
Notes:
Does the database avoid automatic redirection?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Does the form refrain from submitting automatically when a component receives focus?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Does the database avoid launching new windows when a component receives focus?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Does the database avoid change of focus when a component receives focus?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Are you able to tab through a page using keyboard navigation without the keyboard focus moving away from the control?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes:
eResource: PressReader
eResource Type: Database
Vendor: Other
Institution: Centennial
Score: D

Key Findings

Strengths

  • The platform’s layout and navigation is consistent across all pages
  • Page content has appropriate headers and is tagged appropriately

Weaknesses

  • Some user input fields contain labels and clear instructions to help users successfully complete the form

Labels and Instructions for Interactive Elements

Question Answer Notes Images
Are user input fields accompanied by clear instructions on what the user needs to do to successfully complete the form? Never No clear instructions are provided (i.e. 'Sign up with Email' form provides no instructions about the password character requirements. A password with less than six characters will generate an error message at the top of the form rather than near the password field.
Do user input fields contain labels in addition to overall instructions mentioned above? Never Placeholder text is used to convey an instruction.
Are descriptions for fields and boxes easy to understand? Sometimes Intuitive phases rather than descriptions are used.
Are labels placed above the user input fields and clearly associated with each field? Sometimes Several unlabeled form controls with title and missing form labels (i.e. 'Add to My Publications' form).
Are text cues for coloured form control labels available? Never
Are other visual indicators provided consistently, such as an asterisk for required form fields? Never No visual indicators.

Error Prevention

Question Answer Notes Images
Are user input fields either reversible, checked, or confirmed? One of the three is acceptable. Sometimes Entering incomplete information in a required form field (i.e. incomplete name or email address) generates a notice in red text.

Error Reports

Question Answer Notes Images
Are alert messages clearly visible to the user, either at the top of the form field, inline, or through a dialog box? Never Visible below the form field.
Do alert messages clearly indicate the field in which the error has occurred and a description of the error and the fix? Never Use of NVDA can result in repetition of words which is confusing, but it does read alert messages. (i.e. 'Log in with Email' form).
Is the user able to easily access the user input field to correct the error? Never Confusing.
Is the user able to resubmit the form and re-validate their submission? Never
Do error reports follow a logical reading and navigation order? Always

Search function spell-check

Question Answer Notes Images
When a user spells a word incorrectly, does the search function offer spelling suggestions or synonyms? Sometimes A publication title can be misspelled and sometimes the search results display the correct title; or the search results can display unhelpful results such as an or random newspaper publication.

Functionality of Interactive Elements

Question Answer Notes Images
Are icons such as to save, download, or print consistent across the site? Sometimes No Save, Download, or Print icons in accessibility mode. The Home page has a Search Publications box. Within a Publication, a magnifying glass icon is located beside the Search box. In Search Results, to Refine your Search the magnifying glass icon is used for all fields except Date (button used to select date choice).
Is alternative text clear and consistent for each icon type? Never Missing alternative text.
Are actions consistently labelled across the site? For example, the “search” button is always labeled “search”. Always
Are icons that have adjacent links consistent? Not Applicable
Can the purpose of each link be determined from the link text alone? Sometimes

Consistent Navigation

Question Answer Notes Images
Does the eresource have a consistent layout and navigation across all pages? Always Search fields, contact information, and button placement are consistent.
Are search fields located in the same places throughout the website? Always
Do other features occur in the same place throughout the website? Always
Are links, buttons, images, and other components that are used repeatedly throughout a website labeled consistently? Sometimes In the Accessibility Mode option, buttons and images are unlabeled but have a title.

Pop-up windows/Interruptions

Question Answer Notes Images
Does the electronic resource avoid the use of pop-up windows which open automatically in a new tab if a user clicks on a button? Always
Does the database avoid launching pop-up windows automatically when the database is loaded? Always
Where pop-ups occur, are users able to postpone or suppress any pop-ups? Not Applicable
Does the database avoid launching pages in a new browser window with the usual browser controls missing? Always

Headers

Question Answer Notes Images
Is page content subdivided hierarchically into appropriate headings and tagged appropriately? Always
Are headings concise and clear, and accurately reflect the content under that heading? Always

Menus

Question Answer Notes Images
Do database page menus have a reasonable number of navigation items and drop-down options? Sometimes Drop-down menu is long when using filter options (i.e. select the 'Countries' where publications originated, and the 'Categories' of interest. Users do have an alternate way to access filter options (i.e. enter first letters of desired option).
Does the main navigation and drop-downs contain a reasonable number of menu items? Sometimes
Can all menus and submenus be accessed with screen readers and via keyboard navigation? Sometimes Can be confusing.

Change of context

Question Answer Notes Images
Does the “results” page or item record view avoid opening in a new tab without a warning? Always Enter key required to move forward.
Is there an "update now" button that requests a refresh of content rather than automatically updating the content? Not Applicable
Does the database avoid automatic redirection? Always

Change of Context: Focus

Question Answer Notes Images
Does the form refrain from submitting automatically when a component receives focus? Always
Does the database avoid launching new windows when a component receives focus? Always
Does the database avoid change of focus when a component receives focus? Always
Are you able to tab through a page using keyboard navigation without the keyboard focus moving away from the control? Sometimes
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