Echo360 is a web-based application that uses a browser to view content and as such has certain browser requirements. Beyond ensuring you're using a supported browser, there are also some configuration settings you may need to check or change to successfully use Echo360.
If you access Echo360 directly through the Echo360 URL, you may not need to change any of your browser configurations. However, if you access Echo360 through an LMS such as Canvas or Moodle or Blackboard, and PARTICULARLY if the Echo360 window is opened inside of a browser frame, the below-listed changes to the Safari cookie settings may be necessary in order to view Echo360 class recordings and LIVE streams as provided.
Echo360 is in the process of removing our dependency on third-party cookies when viewing media outside of our platform. Cookies are not required when viewing content in the updated Player embedded within other webpages unless you are viewing it from certain mobile devices, especially those running iOS.
We recommend you continue to allow third-party cookies in your browser, as viewing content within Echo360 through an LMS/VLE (your Library or an Echo360 course) still requires cookies, as may your mobile device. This is because our approach cookie-less presentation requires the use of Media Source Extensions, which are not supported by some iOS browsers at this time. If you are using one of these browsers and Cross-Site Tracking and/or Cookies are not allowed, you will see a message directing you to enable them.
In addition, if you use Keyboard navigation to maneuver through the interface, see the below section on Enabling Tab Key Navigation.
Privacy Settings (allowing cookies) in Safari
Cookies contain some of the current session and authorization information we need to know who you are and to allow you to view content. This is especially important where a main website such as the LMS or your University Portal tries to open Echo360 inside of a frame. In this case, the cookies are necessary for the two authentication mechanisms to talk to each other and open Echo360 content for you.
To configure cookie settings in Safari for macOS:
- Open Safari
- Click the Safari menu and select Preferences.
- Click the Privacy tab.
- DISABLE both the Prevent cross-site tracking option AND the Block all cookies option. Both of these boxes must be unchecked.
- Close the Safari Preferences window and refresh or restart your browser.
If you are using Safari on a mobile device running iOS 11 or later, the Safari necessary configuration options are labeled the same as those in the above procedure and reside in Settings > Safari.
To configure cookie settings in Safari for iOS:
- Open Settings and scroll to Safari.
- Scroll down to the Privacy and Security section of the page
- Review the current setting for Prevent cross-site tracking and Block all cookies. Both of these sliders must be OFF, as shown in the below figure, in order to view Echo360 content through Safari on a mobile iOS device.
Enabling Tab Key Navigation and Scrollbar Options in macOS and Safari
The Mac Operating System (macOS) and Safari both have preferences settings around using the Tab key to navigate an interface that are not enabled by default. These settings are also discussed in this article: https://a11yproject.com/posts/safari-keyboard-navigation/.
You may also want to adjust your scrollbar settings for macOS (also shown below) if you are having problems seeing the scrollbars in Echo360, particularly in Activity/Polling Slides.
To enable full tab-key navigation in the Operating System Preferences:
- Open System Preferences.
- Select Keyboard from the options available.
- Select the Shortcuts tab.
- Enable the Use keyboard navigation checkbox at the bottom of the dialog box, as shown in the below figure.
- For Scrollbar settings, return to the main page of System Preferences options, and click General.
- Under Show Scroll Bars, select Always to ensure the scrollbars in Activity/Polling slides always appear for you. The When scrolling option may also be sufficient, but adjust these as needed.
- When finished, Quit System Preferences.
Safari also does not enable the use of the Tab key to move between all interface controls, so you will need to enable this setting to allow for this type of keyboard navigation
To enable Tab navigation in Safari Preferences:
- Open Safari.
- Select Preferences from the Safari menu.
- Select Advanced from the options at the top.
- In the Accessibility section of the page, enable the checkbox for Press Tab to highlight each item on a webpage, as shown in the below figure.
- When finished, close the Preferences dialog box.
Tabbing through the browser interface should now allow you to access all items on a page.