slayeroffice - web experiments gone horribly awry

04.06.2006 - so_ticker

I've been sitting on this one for a while (started it in February) because I wasn't sure how I felt about it. I also wasn't sure that it was as accessible as it needed to be (or could be), given its nature.

That said, this is one of those things that clients/product managers/etc want all the time, so there is no reason not to make one available that is as accessible and unobtrusive as possible. I'm still not 100% that it is, so any feedback is greatly appreciated.

Have a look at so_ticker, a horizontal, one-letter-at-a-time news ticker and let me know what you think.

Comments

That's cool. It has the potential to be the new blink tag.
Posted by grant on April 6, 2006 @ 3:10 pm
really? i was hoping <marquee>...
Posted by Steve on April 6, 2006 @ 3:13 pm
Very cool Ticker

Theres is only a problem with it in Safari. If you are with the mouse over it, it goes to the end until its blank again and if you then leave, nothing happens anymore. You will see nothing.
Posted by andreas on April 6, 2006 @ 3:16 pm

Is there a reason this line:

so_ticker = new Object();

is necessary? I've started using object literals when applicable but have never needed it.
Posted by Stephen Clay on April 6, 2006 @ 9:49 pm

Not sure - I was going by the examples in both of the articles linked from the demo page. This is the first thing I've done as an object literal, so I've not played with it too much, honestly.
Posted by Steve on April 6, 2006 @ 9:59 pm
I love the semantics and structure of the markup.

From an accessibility standpoint, you've covered all the bases. About the only thing I think you might consider would be creating the ability to tab through the remaining headlines in the list after focus is applied to to the current headline. Essentially, duplicating the tab order when javascript is turned off.

Great work, man!
Posted by Steve Ganz on April 7, 2006 @ 5:11 pm

Works like a charm in Firefox and I think Grant is right is could be the next tag button.
Posted by Stephanie on April 11, 2006 @ 10:59 pm
Very cool. I also like your color palette creator. You have some pretty nice "magical" stuff.
Posted by Gerry on April 22, 2006 @ 2:34 am
VERY nicely done! Now THAT's how JavaScript is supposed to be written! Keep up the good work man!
Posted by Ara Pehlivanian on May 23, 2006 @ 3:03 pm
Looks like it needs a face lift take a look at ESPN's ticker and CNN's to see what I mean , not that I am dissing your ticker but there are better looking ways to make one.
Posted by Kary on June 16, 2006 @ 5:18 pm
The UI has nothing to do with the functionality or accessibility of it, Kary - you can style the thing however you like. Unless, of course, you're the type that can't be bothered and instead complains about free stuff when it doesn't do exactly the sort of thing they want straight out of the box and leaves unconstructive, uninformed comments littered about the web.

You're not that type, are you?
Posted by Steve on June 16, 2006 @ 5:47 pm

very cool ticker. lightweight and works like a charm. I love the expand option (have to inspire myself to add a contract function to round it off)!

best thing... it introduced me to a whole raft of extra goodness here ;)
Posted by OffBeatMammal on August 21, 2006 @ 2:54 am

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