W3C is pleased to receive the Pointer Events Specification, part of a Member Submission Request from Microsoft Corporation.
The Submission proposes to address the issue of multiple pointer input types, such as mouse, touch device, and pen tablet inputs, with a single underlying event interface with several pointer event types.
The proposed event model described in this specification defines mechanisms for managing multiple concurrent pointer instances simultaneously from one or more input devices, for detecting which pointer event is the primary input, for indentifying which device type produced each pointer, for allowing chorded button inputs to detect all of the buttons which are active during the dispatch of the event, and for allowing pointer events to be targeted at specific elements. This event model includes consideration for devices that do and do not allow for “hover” interaction, a major concern for accessibility.
The specification also defines a CSS property to allow for user-agent specific behaviors for these pointer events, such as zooming and panning. Note that this 'touch-action' CSS property should not be confused with the CSS 'pointer-events' property first defined in SVG, which is unrelated to this proposal.
Finally, this specification defines an algorithm for mapping existing mouse events to this new pointer events model, allowing legacy content to be interpreted in a manner consistent with the model.
The Submission proposes a different and simpler model than the existing work of the Web Events Working Group's Touch Interface v1 specification, and addresses a wider set of use cases and devices. The proposed model builds on existing DOM specifications in a more consistent manner than the current touch interface model, as well.
This Submission comes at a time of significant developer concern about creating content that works well on multiple input modalities, and in light of some disadvantages to the touch event model currently under standardization. This Submission is therefore both timely and well-aligned with the consortium's objectives and priorities, as well as technically sound, with known interest from a broad set of stakeholders, including implementers from the mobile and desktop spaces, script library authors, and content authors.
The Submission proposes a different and simpler model and more consistent with current DOM specifications than the existing work of the Web Events Working Group's Touch Interface v1 specification, and addresses a wider set of use cases and devices. Therefore, the W3C Staff propose moving this work to the Recommendation track.
At this stage, we invite Advisory Committee review of this charter, and Member expression of interest and feedback regarding this Submission.
Please send comments to the public-new-work@w3.org (archive).