Chat interface: Accessibility of a reply function implemented as an icon hidden by default

[detlevhfischer]

A chat implementation allows replying to a particular entry in the chat sequence without providing an always visible dedicated reply button. The reply icon can be revealed by swiping right on the chat entry or by a long press on the entry, which opens a context menu with the reply function.

The question I have is whether this can be considered conformant .

I go through several use cases and SCs concerned:

• Pointer users: The reply icon is revealed by swiping right or an equivalent menu is opened by long press. Long press is referenced in the single pointer defintion of the Glossary and may serve as alternative to pointer gestures / dragging movements to meet 2.5.1 / 2.5.7 , but there is no visual affordance indicating that a chat entry is interactive.

• Keyboard users: For keyboard users, the reply icon could theoretically appear only when a chat entry receives keyboard focus, either by revealing the additional icon on focus or after activating the chat entry (e.g., by opening a menu). So I guess this would meet 2.1.1?

• Voice control users: For voice control users, it is also unclear how the reply icon should be addressed or uncovered - the name of the chat participants is repeated several times in the course of the chat and therefore not suitable, and the texts themselves do not give the impression of an element that can be activated. The implementation of each chat entry as a button, which would then allow voice control to activate an entry via “Show numbers” in the next step and consequently expose the reply icon, seems rather obscure and uncommon. Voice control users could then say “tap and hold [6]” to execute a longpress via voice control (if you knew or had learned that such a command exists). There is no specific SC demanding default visibility of all controls. And 2.5.3 does not apply since the control is an icon.

• Screen reader users: Focussing the chat entry, there is an announcement "actions available", vertical swipe then allows the selection of "reply", so this seems sufficient.

What do people think? Am I missing something? Can a chat contextual reply function without a control visible by default be considered conformant?