MediaElement.js player & playlist not keyboard accessible

[joedolson]

The controls for MediaElementJS have an option to be always visible. When they are always visible, they are keyboard accessible, allowing keyboard-dependent users to play/pause, adjust volume, and go fullscreen in the video player.

When it is not always visible, there is no means to make it focusable using the keyboard.

This patch changes the setting to make the controls always visible.

[joedolson]

Add default keyboard support to MediaElementJS player

[samuelsidler]

Moving to 3.9 for consideration.

[nacin]

I'd rather not always show controls. It's a significantly degraded experience. Seems to me like the real issue here is ME.js being unable to receive tabbing actions and then show the controls. This is new as of 3.6, not otherwise a regression.

[nacin]

Assigning to wonderboymusic to take a look.

[jorbin]

I have to agree with Nacin. This is something that should be fixed upstream. It is a degraded experience to always show the controls. We also would be changing the way existing videos are displayed, which is something that I can imagine many users wouldn't be happy with.

It does highlight that when we adopt front end libraries, we should make sure to consider if the accessibility standards they hold themselves to are the same ones that we hold for ourselves.

[wonderboymusic]

Will speak to the MEjs people about this

[joedolson]

That would be great. If the hidden controls could simply take :focus and become visible that would easily be the best solution.

[johnbillion]

Upstream issue: ​https://github.com/johndyer/mediaelement/issues/1262

[afercia]

Looks like the controls are now focusable and actionable with Spacebar/arrow keys. Would greatly appreciate someone to confirm this and maybe close this ticket. :)

[rianrietveld]

Checked this in Safari, Chrome and FireFox on Mac. The controls become visible on focus and then the controls can be used with the keyboard.

[afercia]

Controls are now focusable. Also, the MediaElementJS update planned in #39686 will bring in further interaction and accessibility improvements. Closing in favour of #39686.