Video: Understanding Screen Readers on Mobile: How And Why to Learn from Native Users

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Understanding Screen Readers on Mobile: How And Why to Learn from Native Users

Gold

Tuesday, June 6, 2023 • Enterprise UX 2023

Sam Proulx

Accessibility Evangelist, Fable

Summary

As we shift into a mobile first world, are you struggling to conceptualize and design accessible mobile experiences? While screen readers are included on both IOS and Android, it can be difficult and overwhelming for designers to learn about them. This session will help you get started! Samuel Proulx, Fable’s accessibility evangelist and a life-long screen reader user, will guide you through the ins and outs of screen readers on mobile. This interactive live demo will show you what an excellent mobile experience can sound like, give you some ideas of things to keep in mind during design, and help you make the case for bringing the voices of assistive technology users into the training and testing at your organization.

Key Insights

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Native screen reader users have highly refined skills developed over years, which simulations by developers cannot replicate.
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Apple’s VoiceOver is tightly integrated and standardized but offers limited customization.
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Android’s TalkBack screen reader is more customizable and allows multiple screen reader options, offering flexibility at the cost of added complexity.
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Screen reader testing by non-native users often leads to frustration and a mistaken perception that accessibility is overly difficult to implement.
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Screen reader navigation relies heavily on gestures like swiping right or left to move between interface elements, differing from sighted interaction.
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Audio cues (clicks, tones) serve as vital feedback signals to screen reader users, often subconsciously.
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Accessibility is a continuous journey requiring training, testing with real users, and organizational culture change.
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Simulation cannot replace real user involvement in accessibility testing; it risks inaccurate conclusions and stifles empathy.
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Internal accessibility initiatives should integrate into procurement and workflows, not only product development.
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Emotional intelligence and truly listening to users’ experiences are crucial to understanding diverse accessibility needs.

Notable Quotes

"I am a completely blind screen reader user myself, since I was three years old."

"Accessibility is not just a moral necessity and a human right, but a business good because accessible products are better and easier for everyone to use."

"You don’t have any other choice on Apple except to use the built-in VoiceOver with the voices Apple provides."

"Android users often choose it because they want or need the extra customizability."

"When you falsely think that you have the same experience as a native user, you become afraid of accessibility."

"Testing with real users is the only way to build empathy and create appropriate outcomes."

"The little sounds that VoiceOver makes are like bird song – you only notice it when they are gone."

"Screen readers aren’t one-size-fits-all; nobody uses the screen reader with the out-of-the-box settings."

"The triple tap with three fingers turns on screen curtain, not to simulate blindness, but as a privacy feature."

"The most important thing you can do is listen and watch and put your assumptions aside."

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