A few days ago, I had begun to despair that my attempt to bring about more iPhone accessibility would be a long, lonely waste of time. Apple has been unresponsive to my campaign. Few contacted developers responded to my suggestions. I turned to a few iPhone developer forums. At rirst, I had little luck their either. Then I turned to the folks at Ars Technica. After poking around, I started a discussion topic in their forums, iPhone App Accessibility: Quixotic Quest?. I have has some very insightful comments. From these, I have developed four feasible goals for my quest.
To sum up so far, a primary focus should lobby Apple to incorporate low cost accessibility features into the iPhone OS and API. This is the low-hanging fruit. Second, I should ask Apple to produce some simple, straightforward accessibility documentation and guidelines for developers. Third, I should encourage individual app developers to improve their app with specific reviews. Fourth, I should try to leverage the broader low-vision market to help with the lobbying.
In my mind the low-hanging fruit are enabling zoom and landscape mode by default for all apps, including their own. Obviously, there will be some apps where this will not be appropriate, but those developers can disable the relevant options as necessary. Apple could also increase the maximum zoom level and offer larger system font options. Alternate font and color schemes are a bit trickier, I would guess. Possibly, Apple could develop an inverted color scheme mode, similar to the Windows Display option. Beyond that, I do not see any accessibility features that would not require radical changes to the user interface.
As for the documentation, Apple should remind developers of simple things easily overlooked. Someone mentioned issues related to the color blind, so a piece of the documentation would warn developers of poor color scheme choices. Beyond that, the documentation could emphasize the importance of zoom, landscape mode, readable fonts and decent color contrast. Anything else?
Third, I will continue to review apps individually. I will post the reviews to my blog, to iTunes (none of the reviews which I submitted a few days ago have shown up yet), and to that app’s developers. As I review more apps, I will begin to be able to review whole categories, giving apps an accessibility rating compared to others in that category. For fun, I could give AccessApp awards. Somehow, I don’t think anyone would take that seriously.
Fourth, I will encourage everyone I know with an iPhone/Touch to do their own lobbying, both of Apple and of individual developers. I will see about partnering with one of the national organization for the blind and visually impaired. Perhaps one could sponsor the AccessApps awards.
I could use some help with this if you are interested.
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Excellent!
I an a scientist with low vision (20/200 with correction in both eyes and partial color blindness due to a form of congenital macular degeneration called blue cone monochromatism). Just this week, I looked into the possibility of switching to an iPhone, only to figure out that it’s a bit of a pain with low vision.
However, the helper in the Apple store did show me that the iPhone 3G has accessibility features like Mac OS X – you can zoom and invert the colors. More could be done, though… and I place high hopes on individual developers.
I think that having a regular award for apps with good accessibility would be very valuable. Most importantly, to bring these apps to the attention of low vision users. The awards might also bring the issue more to the attention of some developers.
Thanks a lot for your post
- Bill