Summary
You may be familiar with desktop screen readers like JAWS, and desktop voice control like Dragon Naturally speaking. You might know about WCAG, and popular automated testing tools for your websites. But what about mobile apps? How do accessibility techniques apply on the touch screen? As the entire world moves mobile first, your accessibility strategy needs to adapt. In this talk, we’ll introduce you to some of the changes that managing mobile-first accessibility correctly requires. We’ll cover some of the most popular assistive technologies on mobile, give you tips for automated and manual testing of your mobile apps, warn you of some of the pitfalls to watch for, and help you bring your mobile accessibility strategy to the next level.
Key Insights
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Mobile accessibility should be prioritized over desktop accessibility in a mobile-first world.
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Mobile platforms have built-in, free screen readers (VoiceOver, TalkBack), unlike desktop, which requires separate installed tools.
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Mobile's smaller screen encourages simplified yet functional interfaces, aiding users with cognitive challenges.
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Mobile hardware features like GPS, biometric authentication, and cameras enhance accessibility beyond desktop capabilities.
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Mobile accessibility tools are integrated with OS updates, providing consistent and replicable experiences for testing developers.
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Many users with disabilities rely solely on mobile devices, making mobile accessibility essential for inclusive design.
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Voice control and live captioning on mobile are mature accessibility features rarely matched on desktop.
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Developers and designers benefit from testing accessibility on mobile since tools are freely available and easier to use immediately.
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Mobile apps provide more detailed and accessible user feedback, including crash metrics, compared to desktop web.
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Starting accessibility work with mobile reduces complexity and improves chances to build accessible products from the start.
Notable Quotes
"If you focus on desktop accessibility, you’re leaving out some of your most important users who may have mobile-only access."
"Apple premiered mobile accessibility in a very exciting way with the iPhone 3GS and VoiceOver announcement at WWDC."
"The smaller screen makes it easier to angle the device for adequate viewing, which computers just can’t replicate."
"Mobile devices not only have built-in screen readers but also pitch-to-zoom and magnification settings out of the box."
"Voice control on mobile goes beyond digital assistants and can fully control the device for users who cannot use touch."
"Mobile live captions can caption any sounds around the user in real time, making it a powerful accessibility tool."
"On mobile, the version of the screen reader matches the OS version, making it easier to test and replicate issues."
"Mobile browsers are typically updated with the OS, reducing variability compared to desktop browser versions."
"You can just pick up your phone and start testing accessibility instantly without procurement or licensing hurdles."
"Accessibility is an ongoing process where we iterate, improve, and expand, and mobile-first makes the journey easier."
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