Assessment for Visible Body Web Suite by McMaster University - Module 2: Interface Navigation

Submitted by hsltser@mcmaster.ca 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: Not all fields have instructions. The password field had instructions on the password requirements. These were read outload by screen reader.
Do user input fields contain labels in addition to overall instructions mentioned above?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Are descriptions for fields and boxes easy to understand?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Are labels placed above the user input fields and clearly associated with each field?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Are text cues for coloured form control labels available?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes: There are no coloured control labels.
Are other visual indicators provided consistently, such as an asterisk for required form fields?
Answer: Not Applicable
Score: -1
Notes: There are no other visual indicators used.
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: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: An error popup for the email fields appears when using Edge and Chrome browsers. This did not occur when using Firefox.
Red text explaining password errors appear directly below that field.
A red bar with information appears across the top of the screen when the error is 'account already created'
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: Errors are only visual. NVDA does not read out any of the error messages as described above.
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: It does not offer spelling suggestions or synonyms.

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:
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: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Does the eresource have a consistent layout and navigation across all pages?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Are search fields located in the same places throughout the website?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: The search only seems available from the home screen or the landing page.
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: There are consistent icons and labels, but not all icons have labels. In the Chrome browser the text did appear if hovering over and icon with the mouse cursor.
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: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Popups can be closed using the mouse cursor until the Accessibility features are turned on, then the keyboard navigation will close the popup. When Accessibility feature is turned on, you cannot close popups with the mouse cursor, only with keyboard.
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: Pages do not have heading structure built into the main content of the page. The only headings that are used are for hidden menu items (Cookies, Preferences etc).
Are headings concise and clear, and accurately reflect the content under that heading?
Answer: Not Applicable
Score: -1
Notes: Pages do not have heading structure built into the main content of the page.
Do database page menus have a reasonable number of navigation items and drop-down options?
Answer: Not Applicable
Score: -1
Notes: The database doesn't have traditional drop down menus. There is an information box that opens on the right when looking at 3D models. There are menus that can be expanded and collapsed within that box. The number of items depends on the 3D model.
Does the main navigation and drop-downs contain a reasonable number of menu items?
Answer: Not Applicable
Score: -1
Notes: The number of items depends on the 3D model being displayed at that moment.
Can all menus and submenus be accessed with screen readers and via keyboard navigation?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: The menus within the right hand information box can only be accessed with keyboard navigation when the Accessibility function is turned on.

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 or equivalent. Content is automatically updated when something is selected.
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: Never
Score: 0
Notes: The focus doesn't move away from the control. But the control doesn't move as expected (jumps over icons, or Shift + tab jumps into the main page from a menu)
eResource: Visible Body Web Suite
eResource Type: Database
Vendor: Visible Body
Institution: McMaster University
Score: B

Key Findings

Weaknesses

  • Some user input fields contain labels and clear instructions to help users successfully complete the form
  • The platform’s layout and navigation is somewhat consistent across all pages
  • Page content does not have appropriate headers and is not 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 Not all fields have instructions. The password field had instructions on the password requirements. These were read outload by screen reader. no images
Do user input fields contain labels in addition to overall instructions mentioned above? Always no images
Are descriptions for fields and boxes easy to understand? Always no images
Are labels placed above the user input fields and clearly associated with each field? Always no images
Are text cues for coloured form control labels available? Never There are no coloured control labels. no images
Are other visual indicators provided consistently, such as an asterisk for required form fields? Not Applicable There are no other visual indicators used. no images

Error Prevention

Question Answer Notes Images
Are user input fields either reversible, checked, or confirmed? One of the three is acceptable. Always no images

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? Sometimes An error popup for the email fields appears when using Edge and Chrome browsers. This did not occur when using Firefox. Red text explaining password errors appear directly below that field. A red bar with information appears across the top of the screen when the error is 'account already created' no images
Do alert messages clearly indicate the field in which the error has occurred and a description of the error and the fix? Sometimes Errors are only visual. NVDA does not read out any of the error messages as described above. no images
Is the user able to easily access the user input field to correct the error? Always no images
Is the user able to resubmit the form and re-validate their submission? Always no images
Do error reports follow a logical reading and navigation order? Always no images

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 It does not offer spelling suggestions or synonyms. no images

Functionality of Interactive Elements

Question Answer Notes Images
Are icons such as to save, download, or print consistent across the site? Always no images
Is alternative text clear and consistent for each icon type? Always no images
Are actions consistently labelled across the site? For example, the “search” button is always labeled “search”. Always no images
Are icons that have adjacent links consistent? Always no images
Can the purpose of each link be determined from the link text alone? Always no images

Consistent Navigation

Question Answer Notes Images
Does the eresource have a consistent layout and navigation across all pages? Always no images
Are search fields located in the same places throughout the website? Sometimes The search only seems available from the home screen or the landing page. no images
Do other features occur in the same place throughout the website? Always no images
Are links, buttons, images, and other components that are used repeatedly throughout a website labeled consistently? Sometimes There are consistent icons and labels, but not all icons have labels. In the Chrome browser the text did appear if hovering over and icon with the mouse cursor. no images

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 no images
Does the database avoid launching pop-up windows automatically when the database is loaded? Always no images
Where pop-ups occur, are users able to postpone or suppress any pop-ups? Always Popups can be closed using the mouse cursor until the Accessibility features are turned on, then the keyboard navigation will close the popup. When Accessibility feature is turned on, you cannot close popups with the mouse cursor, only with keyboard. no images
Does the database avoid launching pages in a new browser window with the usual browser controls missing? Always no images

Headers

Question Answer Notes Images
Is page content subdivided hierarchically into appropriate headings and tagged appropriately? Never Pages do not have heading structure built into the main content of the page. The only headings that are used are for hidden menu items (Cookies, Preferences etc). no images
Are headings concise and clear, and accurately reflect the content under that heading? Not Applicable Pages do not have heading structure built into the main content of the page. no images

Menus

Question Answer Notes Images
Do database page menus have a reasonable number of navigation items and drop-down options? Not Applicable The database doesn't have traditional drop down menus. There is an information box that opens on the right when looking at 3D models. There are menus that can be expanded and collapsed within that box. The number of items depends on the 3D model. no images
Does the main navigation and drop-downs contain a reasonable number of menu items? Not Applicable The number of items depends on the 3D model being displayed at that moment. no images
Can all menus and submenus be accessed with screen readers and via keyboard navigation? Sometimes The menus within the right hand information box can only be accessed with keyboard navigation when the Accessibility function is turned on. no images

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 no images
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 or equivalent. Content is automatically updated when something is selected. no images
Does the database avoid automatic redirection? Always no images

Change of Context: Focus

Question Answer Notes Images
Does the form refrain from submitting automatically when a component receives focus? Always no images
Does the database avoid launching new windows when a component receives focus? Always no images
Does the database avoid change of focus when a component receives focus? Always no images
Are you able to tab through a page using keyboard navigation without the keyboard focus moving away from the control? Never The focus doesn't move away from the control. But the control doesn't move as expected (jumps over icons, or Shift + tab jumps into the main page from a menu) no images
Previous1234Next