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Some of you may find this to be interesting and/or enlightening.<br><br>
Dave Andrews<br><br>
<br><br>
<br><br>
I’m Ilkka Pirttimaa, developer of an iOS app called
<a href="http://itunes.apple.com/app/blindsquare/id500557255">
BlindSquare</a>. Uniquely it uses Open Street Map and Foursquare data to
help people who are blind to navigate in new and familiar environments
and provide them with a world of choices, otherwise veiled. I write this
in the spirit of the intent of the Global Accessibility Awareness Day, to
raise awareness across the globe of the benefits and know-how on making
products accessible. This needs to be done; and is the right thing to do,
it doesn’t need to be difficult. <br><br>
<b>For people who are blind or partially sighted, travelling
independently has always been one of the challenges. </b>While some have
managed to become very confident travellers regardless, others,
especially if they have lost sight only recently, need more time or
assistance to learn how to navigate new environments. Although technology
can never substitute Orientation & Mobility and cane travelling
skills, the right app installed on your iPhone can help blind and
partially sighted users who have mastered the necessary skills to be
safer and more independent when out and about. Having been localized to
25 languages, it is now used by thousands of people in more than 130
countries. <br><br>
<b>I started developing BlindSquare by chance. </b>When I read what
Wikipedia had to say a few years ago about augmented reality, I wanted to
prove that augmented reality should not only include visual, but also
auditory perception. It seemed only logical to me that the traveler who
is blind would benefit the most from that. I managed to find my first
blind tester and when I saw how enthusiastic she was about the prototype
of BlindSquare I had created and about its future potential. I decided to
continue with the project. When I released BlindSquare 3 years ago, it
did not yet include many of the important features available today. But
still, I received very positive feedback and saw how it improved people’s
quality of life. I received a message from someone who had used
BlindSquare at a water park and had been able to find all of the
attractions there using my app. BlindSquare users enjoy being able to
explore their environment on their own and also to be able to help their
sighted friends to locate places in unfamiliar areas. After all, the
friends cannot look around corners, but thanks to GPS, BlindSquare can.
Although BlindSquare is optimized for VoiceOver, it is perfectly usable
for everyone. I have sighted customers who enjoy hearing popular
Foursquare places announced to them while they are riding their bicycles.
<br><br>
<b>My app is geared towards customers who are blind or partially
sighted</b>, but I think that every developer should consider if their
product could be made accessible and whenever possible walk the extra
mile. It is just like app localization, it increases your user base. Let
us just take an example and assume that you develop an app that gives
access to public transport schedules of different companies and in many
cities around the world. Sighted users may have many apps they can choose
from, but your app might be the only one that is VoiceOver accessible.
Sighted users can also just read the schedule at the station, an option
not available to blind or partially sighted users. While your app can be
nice to have for many users, it can be a life-changer for people who are
blind or partially sighted, as it may be the only means to access
information independently. The same is true for many other apps that come
to mind. <br><br>
<b>Examples: <br>
</b>· If a
parcel-tracking app is accessible, Blind users do no longer need help
reading the note left by the postman when they return home, because they
can just go and pick up their parcel from the neighbor whose name they
read in the push message on their phone.<br>
· Accessible banking apps
can help blind clients to monitor their accounts and make transfers
without sighted help, enhancing their privacy and allowing them to be
more independent.<br><br>
<b>The World Health Organization estimates that worldwide 285 million
people are visually impaired</b>, and 39 million of them are blind. 82%
of the visually impaired are 50 years and older. Developing accessible
apps is an important contribution to creating a society where everyone
can live as long as possible independently and in dignity. The screen
reader and the zoom feature integrated into each Apple product make it
accessible to every visually impaired user. The iPhone gives users who
are blind or partially sighted access to information that would not be
available to them otherwise. <br><br>
<b>Apple provides
<a href="https://developer.apple.com/accessibility/ios/">excellent
documentation</a> about iOS’ accessibility features.</b> To learn more
about VoiceOver really quickly, configure your iOS-device so that
VoiceOver turns on when you press the Home button three times, so you can
switch it on and off quickly. If your language is supported by Siri, you
can even tell her to turn VoiceOver on and off. Now you can start to
learn how it works. If you want to make a game of it, you can play
through the VoiceOver tutorial by LookTel. Once you know the basics of
VoiceOver, look at your app and see if it works with VoiceOver. <br><br>
<b>Accessibility is not just an additional feature</b>, but a
best-practice. After all, web developers test for compatibility with
different web browsers, too. When you start developing an app and use
standard elements, accessibility labels and label images, it is most
likely that your app will be accessible as iOS has built accessibility
right in. However, as soon as you want to make it more appealing
visually, you should know how to develop accessibly and make sure that
your app’s facelift does not make it unusable for blind people. <br><br>
<b>Connect with your users</b> and find out how they use your app. Ask
them for examples of apps that work well for them, look at these apps and
learn how and why they are accessible. AppleVis, a site run by blind and
partially sighted iOS users, is an excellent place to get feedback and
find eager beta testers. <br><br>
<b>My wish: </b>I hope many developers will embrace accessibility. It
will not just increase their user base, but it will make a difference in
the quality of life of many people. <br>
· AppleVis resources for
developers:
<a href="http://applevis.com/information-app-developers">
http://applevis.com/information-app-developers</a><br>
· LookTel VoiceOver
Tutorial:
<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/looktel-voiceover-tutorial/id598788231?mt=8">
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/looktel-voiceover-tutorial/id598788231?mt=8</a>
<br>
· Apple Accessibility for
Developers:
<a href="https://developer.apple.com/accessibility/">
https://developer.apple.com/accessibility/</a><br>
· BlindSquare app:
<a href="http://itunes.apple.com/app/blindsquare/id500557255">
http://itunes.apple.com/app/blindsquare/id500557255</a><br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Gary Wunder, Editor<br>
The Braille Monitor<br>
(573) 268-4245<br>
<br>
The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the
characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the
expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles
between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want;
blindness is not what holds you back.<br>
The National Federation of the Blind wishes you a joyous and safe holiday
season. We would appreciate your including the NFB in your end-of-year
giving.
<a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/contribute/transact?reset=1&id=1">
Make your contribution</a> now.<br>
<br>
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