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but what about things like ctrl-s and ctrl-b in Google Docs? Those are handy and I rarely save a page or create a bookmark by hotkey.


This is an inherent problem with web apps, since they're an app within an app. There are two different contexts fighting each other. Who's to say that Ctrl+S should save the app state or the page? Whatever we choose as the default, the non-default scenario would feel awkward when we need it.

I can think of two ways to solve this: (1) decouple apps from the browser frame or (2) use a special modifier key for app shortcuts (perhaps re-use the Windows key, e.g. Win+Ctrl+S).


(2) That was attempted (sort of)[1] and it failed pretty badly due to poor browser support and lack of understanding amongst users.

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Access_key


Yeah, that's pretty messy. As an Opera user I had no idea that other browsers used Ctrl or Alt for access keys. That's just a recipe for disaster. Opera's Shift+Esc combo guaranteed no clashes with browser shortcuts, but it was really kludgy to use.


See the footnote in the article:

"An exception may be if your site provides specific functionality such as in a drawing application. Even in this case it is best to provide shortcuts as an option the user has to turn on rather than one that is on by default."


Yeah. From a usability point of view, I think it's important to hijack some shortcuts, but only those who are not commonly used for such as the one mentioned in the article. I would also argue that this behaviour of blogger is not what users expect, hence it is not a bad behaviour. Wasn't there a pair of shortcuts commomly used for this purpose, Ctrl-K / Ctrl-J if i'm not mistaken?




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