[Trainer-Talk] Question: What Terms Do You Use to Discuss Modals or Overlays on the Web

Thu May 3 21:31:28 UTC 2018

Dave,

You raise a valid point regarding the importance of teaching terms. After all, we do teach them terms such as list box, combo box, tab control, etc. This is partially due to the fact that these are the correct terms and also because screen readers force us to teach them since they use those terms themselves as a user moves focus to a specific control.

This discussion reminds me of a funny story about when I was first learning Windows 3.1. When I first became familiar with the term combo box I remember thinking how strange that term sounded to me because, at that time, KFC was advertising a combination meal that they referred to as a combo box. For a while I couldn't hear the term combo box without thinking of KFC.

David Goldfield, Assistive Technology Specialist WWW.David-Goldfield.Com<http://WWW.David-Goldfield.Com>
On 5/3/2018 4:16 PM, Andrews, David B (DEED) via Trainer-Talk wrote:

I am not a trainer, but use a bunch of software, test too. I would familiarize people with the term Modal as some software uses it on screen. So they should at least know the term, and know to look for close button, or to try escape.

Dave

David Andrews | Chief Technology Officer
Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
State Services for the Blind
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-----Original Message-----
From: Trainer-Talk [mailto:trainer-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Greg Aikens via Trainer-Talk
Sent: Thursday, May 03, 2018 3:08 PM
To: David Goldfield <david.goldfield at outlook.com><mailto:david.goldfield at outlook.com>; List for teachers and trainers of adaptive technology <trainer-talk at nfbnet.org><mailto:trainer-talk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Greg Aikens <gaikens at cviga.org><mailto:gaikens at cviga.org>
Subject: Re: [Trainer-Talk] Question: What Terms Do You Use to Discuss Modals or Overlays on the Web

I typically discuss them in terms of dialog boxes on websites or popup windows. I do not use the term modals. It might make sense to though so clients recognize the term when they do see those labels.

I'll be interested to see what others are doing.

-----Original Message-----
From: Trainer-Talk [mailto:trainer-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of David Goldfield via Trainer-Talk
Sent: Thursday, May 3, 2018 4:04 PM
To: List for teachers and trainers of adaptive technology <trainer-talk at nfbnet.org><mailto:trainer-talk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: David Goldfield <david.goldfield at outlook.com><mailto:david.goldfield at outlook.com>
Subject: [Trainer-Talk] Question: What Terms Do You Use to Discuss Modals or Overlays on the Web

A question came up recently regarding how to phrase the label of a "close" button when a modal or overlay window is displayed. I've read that just labeling it "close" can be problematic as some users might mistakenly assume that pressing this button will close the entire browser window, which is, of course, not the case. Some developers label it "close modal window" or "close overlay" but I find these labels problematic as well as many users won't know what a modal window or overlay is. I always recommend the term "close dialog" if possible, since all users are taught about dialog boxes, even before they are taught how to use a Web browser. Therefore, I'm wondering how some of you handle the concept of modals as far as the terminology you use to actually describe it. Do you teach them the term "modal" or do you just simplify it by treating it like a general Web page.

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