Assessment for ACM Digital Library by Fanshawe - Module 2: Interface Navigation

Submitted by c_forsythe2116… on
Are user input fields accompanied by clear instructions on what the user needs to do to successfully complete the form?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: The search bar field contains placeholder text ('Search') and an aria label ('Search'). Autocomplete for searching appears to be turned off. On the advanced search screen, labels and aria labels are present.
Do user input fields contain labels in addition to overall instructions mentioned above?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: ACM Digital Library has opted for aria labels rather than alt text or form labels.
Are descriptions for fields and boxes easy to understand?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes: There are few form labels within this database; however, aria labels are present.
Are labels placed above the user input fields and clearly associated with each field?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes:
Are text cues for coloured form control labels available?
Answer: Not Applicable
Score: -1
Notes:
Are other visual indicators provided consistently, such as an asterisk for required form fields?
Answer: Not Applicable
Score: -1
Notes:
Are user input fields either reversible, checked, or confirmed? One of the three is acceptable.
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Are alert messages clearly visible to the user, either at the top of the form field, inline, or through a dialog box?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Do alert messages clearly indicate the field in which the error has occurred and a description of the error and the fix?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: When attempting to sign-in, the database indicated that my username or password was incorrect, though this tends to be standard practice.
Is the user able to easily access the user input field to correct the error?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Is the user able to resubmit the form and re-validate their submission?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
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: Never
Score: 0
Notes: There is no spell-check feature present.
Are icons such as to save, download, or print consistent across the site?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Is alternative text clear and consistent for each icon type?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: There appears to be a lack of alt text associated with icons; however, aria labels (e.g., 'Export Citation', 'Save to Binder', 'View online with eReader') are present.
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: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Can the purpose of each link be determined from the link text alone?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: For the most part, link text is descriptive; however, on the database's homepage, there are 'Read More' links associated with each book under ACM Books.
Does the eresource have a consistent layout and navigation across all pages?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: The homepage has slightly different navigation than other pages within the database, and the main navigation bar is located under the search bar as circular buttons. Once into the various pages of this database, the navigation bar is located along the top left-hand side of the page along with a smaller search bar.
Are search fields located in the same places throughout the website?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: On the homepage, the search bar is located in the centre of the page. On other pages of this database, the search bar is situated in the navigation bar and often within each page.
Do other features occur in the same place throughout the website?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: The ACM Digital Library homepage is different than other pages within the database; however, these other pages maintain consistency. The ACM Digital Library logo consistently resides in the same location, as well as the 'Browse', 'About', 'Sign In', and 'Register' buttons.
Are links, buttons, images, and other components that are used repeatedly throughout a website labeled consistently?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
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: Links tend to open in the same tab.
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: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: The only pop-up I have encountered while using the ACM Digital Library is to accept cookies upon my initial visit. The database can still be accessed without interacting with the pop-up.
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: Never
Score: 0
Notes: There are inconsistencies in the application of headings, and the overall structure lacks clarity. Some buttons on the search pages are labeled as h4 headings. Additionally, there are instances of skipped headings, and internal pages (such as Journals and Magazines) use non-consecutive heading levels. Overall, using a screen reader with this database is not a pleasant experience; I have to navigate through various elements extensively before I can locate an article.
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: Always
Score: 2
Notes: There only appears to be one level of navigation items with no dropdown functionality.
Does the main navigation and drop-downs contain a reasonable number of menu items?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Can all menus and submenus be accessed with screen readers and via keyboard navigation?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Does the “results” page or item record view avoid opening in a new tab without a warning?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Is there an "update now" button that requests a refresh of content rather than automatically updating the content?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes: There is no 'Update Now' button; filters are applied automatically when searching.
Does the database avoid automatic redirection?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
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: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
eResource: ACM Digital Library
eResource Type: Database
Vendor: ACM
Institution: Fanshawe
Score: B-

Key Findings

Weaknesses

  • The platform’s layout and navigation is somewhat consistent across all pages
  • Some user input fields contain labels and clear instructions to help users successfully complete the form
  • Page content sometimes has appropriate headers and is tagged appropriately

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? Sometimes The search bar field contains placeholder text ('Search') and an aria label ('Search'). Autocomplete for searching appears to be turned off. On the advanced search screen, labels and aria labels are present.
Do user input fields contain labels in addition to overall instructions mentioned above? Sometimes ACM Digital Library has opted for aria labels rather than alt text or form labels.
Are descriptions for fields and boxes easy to understand? Never There are few form labels within this database; however, aria labels are present.
Are labels placed above the user input fields and clearly associated with each field? Never
Are text cues for coloured form control labels available? Not Applicable
Are other visual indicators provided consistently, such as an asterisk for required form fields? Not Applicable

Error Prevention

Question Answer Notes Images
Are user input fields either reversible, checked, or confirmed? One of the three is acceptable. Always

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? Always
Do alert messages clearly indicate the field in which the error has occurred and a description of the error and the fix? Sometimes When attempting to sign-in, the database indicated that my username or password was incorrect, though this tends to be standard practice.
Is the user able to easily access the user input field to correct the error? Always
Is the user able to resubmit the form and re-validate their submission? Always
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? Never There is no spell-check feature present.

Functionality of Interactive Elements

Question Answer Notes Images
Are icons such as to save, download, or print consistent across the site? Always
Is alternative text clear and consistent for each icon type? Always There appears to be a lack of alt text associated with icons; however, aria labels (e.g., 'Export Citation', 'Save to Binder', 'View online with eReader') are present.
Are actions consistently labelled across the site? For example, the “search” button is always labeled “search”. Always
Are icons that have adjacent links consistent? Always
Can the purpose of each link be determined from the link text alone? Sometimes For the most part, link text is descriptive; however, on the database's homepage, there are 'Read More' links associated with each book under ACM Books.

Consistent Navigation

Question Answer Notes Images
Does the eresource have a consistent layout and navigation across all pages? Sometimes The homepage has slightly different navigation than other pages within the database, and the main navigation bar is located under the search bar as circular buttons. Once into the various pages of this database, the navigation bar is located along the top left-hand side of the page along with a smaller search bar.
Are search fields located in the same places throughout the website? Sometimes On the homepage, the search bar is located in the centre of the page. On other pages of this database, the search bar is situated in the navigation bar and often within each page.
Do other features occur in the same place throughout the website? Sometimes The ACM Digital Library homepage is different than other pages within the database; however, these other pages maintain consistency. The ACM Digital Library logo consistently resides in the same location, as well as the 'Browse', 'About', 'Sign In', and 'Register' buttons.
Are links, buttons, images, and other components that are used repeatedly throughout a website labeled consistently? Always

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 Links tend to open in the same tab.
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? Sometimes The only pop-up I have encountered while using the ACM Digital Library is to accept cookies upon my initial visit. The database can still be accessed without interacting with the pop-up.
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? Never There are inconsistencies in the application of headings, and the overall structure lacks clarity. Some buttons on the search pages are labeled as h4 headings. Additionally, there are instances of skipped headings, and internal pages (such as Journals and Magazines) use non-consecutive heading levels. Overall, using a screen reader with this database is not a pleasant experience; I have to navigate through various elements extensively before I can locate an article.
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? Always There only appears to be one level of navigation items with no dropdown functionality.
Does the main navigation and drop-downs contain a reasonable number of menu items? Always
Can all menus and submenus be accessed with screen readers and via keyboard navigation? Always

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
Is there an "update now" button that requests a refresh of content rather than automatically updating the content? Never There is no 'Update Now' button; filters are applied automatically when searching.
Does the database avoid automatic redirection? Never

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? Always
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