Apple (and iPhone) Accessibility
Wednesday, 29 July 2009
Here are a few links to the Apple site that documents their commitment to Accessibility.
http://www.apple.com/accessibility/
Like many other User Experience specialists, I am a big Apple fan. I'm always impressed by their sleak design, and intuitive software. Since I spend so much time at my computer, it might as well be as enjoyable as possible!
One thing that I didn't realise was that Apple have introduced screen reader to the iPhone- VoiceOver..."It’s the world’s first gesture-based screen reader, enabling you to enjoy the fun and simplicity of iPhone even if you can’t see the screen."
http://www.apple.com/accessibility/iphone/vision.html
Keep up the good work Apple!
Visit me at : Simplicity User Experience Optimisation
Posted byCharlie M at 05:23 0 comments
New accessibility features in Firefox 3.5
Monday, 27 July 2009
A very quick link post discussing the 'New accessibility features in Firefox 3.5':
http://www.marcozehe.de/2009/06/26/new-accessibility-features-in-firefox-3-5/
http://www.accessfirefox.org/Firefox_3_Accessibility_Features.php
Out of interest, what browser do you use for accessibility testing / browsing / web design?
Visit me at : http://www.simplicityuserexperience.co.uk/
Posted byCharlie M at 13:11 0 comments
Free Accessibility PDF from Jakob Nielsen : "Beyond ALT Text: Making the Web Easy to Use for Users With Disabilities"
Wednesday, 22 July 2009
Jakob Nielsen (the web usability GURU) offered a free accessibility report as a new years gift in 2008. I missed the boat (for some reason...) so have only just got round to reading it. Make sure you read it too!
Here is a summary from the Nielsen Norman Group website:
-----------------------------------
The report contains:
- Results of usability tests of 19 websites with users with several different types of disabilities who are using a range of assistive technology:
- blind users using screen readers
- blind users using Braille readers
- low-vision users using screen magnifiers
- motor-impaired users
- Test data collected mainly in the United States, with some additional studies in Japan to ensure the international applicability of the recommendations
- A total of 104 users participated in the usability studies:
- 84 users with disabilities
- 20 non-disabled users who served as a control group
- 75 detailed design guidelines
This report addresses the usability of websites and intranets. The report should be used together with the standards for technical accessibility of web pages. Obviously, technical accessibility is a pre-condition for usability: if users cannot get at the content of the web pages, they also cannot use the website. Technical accessibility is necessary, but not sufficient for usability of a design. Even if a site is theoretically accessible because it follows the technical accessibility standards to the letter, it can still be very hard to use for people with disabilities.
The fact that technical accessibility is insufficient to guarantee great usability, ease of learning, and high user performance should come as no surprise. After all, countless usability studies of websites and intranets have documented severe usability problems, low success rates, and sub-optimal user performance, even when testing users with no disabilities. Being able to see everything on a webpage certainly doesn't guarantee that you will know what to do on the page or the optimal way to perform your task. This observation holds equally true for users with disabilities: just because a site is technically accessible doesn't mean that it will be easy or fast to perform tasks on the site.
This report addresses the second level in improving the user experience of websites and intranets for people with disabilities. Yes, you must ensure technical accessibility but you should also ensure good usability, ease of use, and high productivity for employees and customers with disabilities.
-----------------------------------Here is the link:
http://www.nngroup.com/reports/accessibility/beyond_ALT_text.pdf
Posted byCharlie M at 03:01 0 comments
Discounted introductory rates - Simplicity User Experience Optimisation
Tuesday, 21 July 2009
Although it this is something I don’t really like to do… here is a little plug for my new business – ‘Simplicity User Experience Optimisation’ based in
To establish a healthy client base, we are offering heavily discounted introductory rates to our new clients…. So why not contact us for a quote : http://www.simplicityuserexperience.co.uk/contact.html
Remember no job is too small!
We look forward to working with you.
Posted byCharlie M at 05:39 0 comments
Web Accessibility Statements- are they required?
Web accessibility statements are common place in websites these days. However, are they really required? Shouldn't the accessibility of the page speak for itself? I would certainly be interested to hear what people think about this topic.
Nomensa, (http://www.nomensa.com) state that there are two basic functions of the Accessibility Statement :
"Firstly, it presents clear information about the target level of web accessibility for the website and the methods used to achieve those targets. It also enables the website owner to acknowledge any areas of the website where accessibility targets have not been met and to outline the proposed plan for resolving any such problem.
Secondly, an accessibility statement is a powerful declaration of commitment. People visiting the website, particularly those with disabilities, will appreciate the open acknowledgement that accessibility is a key driver for the website. A word of caution however, an accessibility statement that makes rash or false claims will only damage the reputation of the website, not enhance it!"
In my experience, Accessibility Statements are often technically complex, and are jam packed with technical jargon- which makes it difficult for average users to understand. This can exclude their use (or purpose?) for average users. Perhaps we need to understand who actually reads the statements, and focus the content accordingly? Are they written with the users or developers in mind? Or both?
Another common question is what we should include in our accessibility statements? Well, in essence there are no hard and set rules. However, Juicy Studio and Nomensa have both written great articles about what makes a good accessibility statement. Please find the hyperlinks to these articles below.
http://juicystudio.com/article/writing-a-good-accessibility-statement.php
http://www.nomensa.com/web-accessibility/create-your-own-accessibility-statement.html
To me, the most important uses of Accessibility Statements are to a) show your personal or corporate commitment to accessibility and b) to provide contact details for feedback. Is it really necessary to include the technical techniques and methods used to achieve accessibility goals?
I would be interested to hear your thoughts!
Visit me at : http://www.simplicityuserexperience.co.uk/
Posted byCharlie M at 05:06 0 comments
The In-accessibility of CAPTCHA
Monday, 20 July 2009
Don't you just hate CAPTCHA... "Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart"? The user experience of using CAPTCHA is terrible, and always a pain. I often get them wrong, and they slow down the browsing experience.
They are also in-accessible.
Recently, I have seen an increase in audio CAPTCHA which is a positive step (at least accessibility is being considered), but an alternative would be better. ..
Here is a detailed spec writing by W3c discussing the possible alternatives to CAPTCHA:
http://www.w3.org/TR/turingtest/
In addition, here is an article from WebAIM discussing the alternatives to 'spam free accessible forms': http://webaim.org/blog/spam_free_accessible_forms/
These articles certainly leave food for thought.
In a future post, I will discuss SAPTCHA (Semi Automatic Public Turing Test to Tell Computers and Humans Apart) which is a proposed solution to the accessibility problems of CAPTCHA.
Let me know if you have any thoughts / comments regarding SAPTCHA, CAPTCHA and it's various alternatives.
Visit me at : http://www.simplicityuserexperience.co.uk/
Posted byCharlie M at 04:58 1 comments
Web accessibility law in other countries
Saturday, 18 July 2009
I recently posted a link to an informative article which discusses in basic terms what is required to make a US web site legal against the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA) from a web accessibility viewpoint.
Here is an another 'beginners guide style ' article which covers accessibility law in other countries...
http://www.practicalecommerce.com/articles/1167-Web-Accessibility-and-the-Law
In addition, please find the extremely informative article about UK accessibility laws from the RNIB. Essential reading:
http://www.rnib.org.uk/xpedio/groups/public/documents/publicwebsite/public_legalcase.hcsp
Visit me at : http://www.simplicityuserexperience.co.uk/
Posted byCharlie M at 09:34 0 comments