New Toolbar adds accessible features
Posted by Jonas Klink, Software
Engineer, Accessibility
Last week Google Toolbar for Internet Explorer
launched version 5 as a public beta. This version introduces a
number of exciting features, such as making your Toolbar settings
available from any computer that you log into with your Google
Account, improved suggestions for broken links, as well as
important changes that make Toolbar more accessible for assistive
technology users.
This release adds support for Windows Accessibility APIs (used by
screen readers, etc.) and enables keyboard navigation and access.
From inside a browser with Toolbar installed, the global shortcut
Alt G places your cursor in the Google Toolbar search box. If
you're using a screen reader, you'll hear "Google
Toolbar Search". Pressing the Tab key brings keyboard focus to
the button placed immediately after the search box, and right and
left arrow keys move focus between buttons. More information on
keyboard access is documented in the
Toolbar Help Center (query 'accessibility').
Version 5 comes as a part of our ongoing efforts to enhance
accessibility in our client-side and web applications, which is a
matter I hardly need to mention is very important. Personally, I
see my work that went into the Toolbar as an important step
forward, as the product reaches a very large number of users and
enables everyone to gain quick access to a multitude of useful
features, through a unified UI. Adding keyboard navigation and
other features that enhance the ease of access to these features
benefit everyone.
We look forward to making further improvements to accessibility
(including the installation process) in future releases. You can
download the new Google Toolbar at
Tags: , AccessibilityLast, engineer, Jonas, Klink, Posted, software, week
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