WebAIR

Is there a time limit on the page (in which a user has to do something within a particular time)? (TIM01)

Why Is This Important?

Websites sometimes include functionality that has to be completed within a certain time (e.g. a ticket booking process where tickets must be booked within a particular time or a banking application where users may be logged out if there has been no activity for a particular time). However, some functionality may take longer for people with disabilities to complete. This may be because they struggle to read and interpret the instructions in time or it may be because they are unable to input information quickly enough.

How To Fix The Problem

To ensure that users have adequate time to complete a transaction, provide a way of allowing them to extend the amount of time available or remove the time limit completely. If for some reason the time limit cannot be removed or extended, then the user should be clearly warned about the time limit both at the start of the transaction and before it is about to expire.

Example

//Providing a checkbox for requesting a time extension

<h2>Form Instructions </h2>
<p id="info">Please input information in all of the following fields, they are all required. There is time limit of 5 minutes to complete the form but if you need additional time, please check the checkbox labelled "I need additional time" at the end of the form.</p>

<form id="login_details" action="processor.php" method="post">
<fieldset>
<legend> Your Details:</legend>
<label for="name">Your Name:</label>
<input type="text" name="name" id="name" required aria-describedby="info" />
<label for="mail">Your Email:</label>
<input type="text" name="mail" id="mail" required />
<label for="check">I need additional time to complete the form</label>
<input type="checkbox" id="check" name="check" />
<input type="submit" value="Enter my information" />
</fieldset>
</form>

Further Information

  1. http://evengrounds.com/wcag-tutorial/enough-time
  2. http://webaim.org/articles/cognitive/cognitive_too_little/
  3. http://www.openajax.org/member/wiki/WCAG_2.0_Principle_2_Operable_Rules#Requirement_2.2.1_Timing_Adjustable