Recommendation 10.1.1 Minimise movement in pages
The New Zealand Web Standards 2.0 were released in March 2009 and replace the previous version, the New Zealand Government Web Standards 1.0 (below). See Meeting the standards for more information.
The Recommendation
Recommendation 10.1.1 Minimise movement in pages
Until user agents allow users to freeze moving content, minimise movement in pages.
Guide to this recommendation
This recommendation covers two principal categories:
- moving content (text), and
- dynamic graphical content.
With dynamic graphical content, there are no clear cut rules for what is acceptable and what is not. In general, small graphical objects that change at a relatively slow rate, and of course have good purpose to be on a web site, can be considered acceptable.
“Small” and “relatively slow rate” are in the context of not causing distraction to readers of other content of the web page.
Related Standard
10.2 - No blinking or scrolling text and flashing objects
This recommendation covers the W3C WAI checkpoint 7.3 for NZ government agencies.
Rationale for this recommendation
Assistive technologies such as screen readers do not cope with dynamic content particularly well. Users who utilise assistive technologies such as screen readers will be disadvantaged.
Users who suffer visual impairments may have difficulties focusing on dynamic content.
Content that has disappeared before a user has had a chance to read it (and furthermore select it, if it is also a navigational object) will become frustrated.
Dynamic graphical content can be distracting when in close proximity to content that is being read.
