Robust Keyboard support on Xbox (also Accessibility for PC users.)

Feature Suggestions
1

Since the Xbox app is a Universal Windows App, the benefit of a thoughtful, robust KB navigation model would be significant.

There is tons of documentation on proper UX design for Keyboard users, but in broad strokes it requires:

  • supporting Arrow Keys for navigating in a logical group of content
  • “tab” / “shift+tab” switching between groups of controls
  • “Alt+” keyboard accelerators greatly increase navigation speed. (Pressing “alt” with no modifier should show an underline beneath the letter which activates an on screen text-based button.
  • “backspace” should function as a back button.
  • Rich support for all the standard media playback controls is also sorely needed.
  • Typing at any time should do something logical. If there is a search option on screen, it should start a wordwheel-style search. Else, it should take you to that letter in the alphabet.

I want this on my Xbox, where I’ve attached a wireless keyboard, but the serious need is for users in the Accessibility community who require these optimizations to use your app. (and it earns you good karma points!)

Sincerely,
Tom Alphin

2

I can’t be alone in wanting keyboard support and expecting that the app offers a baseline accessibility experience. I found a few other threads on this, but no progress seems to be happening by the development team.

Please fix! It is blocking my ability to really replace my HTPC with an Xbox.

3

Actually the current Plex app on Xbox One is not a UWP app. Perhaps if/when a UWP app comes out it will have better support for keyboard.

I guess I’m kind of surprised that the arrow keys wouldn’t work since that would act the same as the directional pad. I don’t think I’ve ever really heard of anyone using a keyboard (and honestly didn’t even know that support was there for it).