From the web site of a major high street retailer:

<ul>
    <li><a accesskey="c" href="#maincontent">
        Jump to main content [Access key 'C']
    </a></li>
    <li><a accesskey="n" href="#primarynav">
        Jump to primary navigation [Access key 'N']
    </a></li>
    <li><a accesskey="s" href="#maincontent">
        Skip navigation [Access key 'S']
    </a></li>
</ul>

What is the difference between “Jump to main content” and “Skip navigation”? Clearly nothing in this case as they both go to #maincontent. But for added points, there’s no id=maincontent or name=maincontent anywhere in the page, so they both do nothing.

And trying to find a contact form to inform them of this error I instead find a “Generic System Error” page which contains this very user friendly message:

CMN3101E The system is unavailable due to "CMN0420E".

Some days I actually feel quite okay about the work I produce.

No Comments

  1. JackP says:

    Lovely examples there. Perfect for showing the problem when someone has heard a little bit about accessibility but not enough to actually make any of it useful…

  2. Nicola says:

    Do you know the fairy story of the girl who freed herself from a ‘bind’ with a ‘hop, skip and a jump’? I was trying to source the tale when I clicked on your page.

Reply to Nicola


(will not be published unless you behave like a spammer or a troll)