An Open Letter to Steve Jobs and the iPhone Development Team
Over the last few months, I have dedicated much of my time and blog to thoughts and reviews of the accessibility of the iPhone platform for the visually impaired. Since I am partially sighted with some functional vision, I have been focused on simple, easily-implementable features that would improve the iPhone’s ease of use for users with less than perfect vision rather than for the profoundly blind. Building on the multitouch zoom, landscape mode and the iPhone’s good color screen, I have set out some guidelines for iPhone developers. Additionally, I have begun a series of app reviews based on an accessibility perspective. I now have a single web page bringing together all of these posts: http://www.timobrienphotos.com/large-print-ideas/iphone-accessiphone-access/.
I know that you have had some contact with the American Federation of the Blind on making the iPhone more accessible. I do not know the outcome of these discussions, but I know the AFB’s focus on providing universal accessibility. I am not addressing that here. Rather, I am focusing on access for the visually impaired more than for the more profoundly blind. With the aging of the baby boomers and the fading of their eyesight, this market will only blossom exponentially. The iPhone is already popular among younger users. This type of accessibility that I am addressing here will help Apple tap into the older market, the market wearing reading glasses.
Not being a programmer myself, I felt that I needed to consult some developers to ensure I am not asking for the impossible. The forum participants at Ars Technica have been more that helpful; sharing ideas, support and insights. As you can read in the discussion here http://episteme.arstechnica.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/8300945231/m/189009737931, the consensus is the Apple is key to making the iPhone more accessible. By providing good accessibility documentation and enabling key accessibility features (zoom and landscape mode) by default, Apple could go a long way in a few short steps.
I hope that you can look at my suggestions and consider both implementing them in future iPhone software and recommending all app developers use these design principles in writing their programs. Please visit my iPhone Access page (http://www.timobrienphotos.com/large-print-ideas/iphone-access/) and help me make the iPhone a little more accessible. Please.
If I can be of any assistance, let me know.
Thank you.
Timothy O’Brien
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Hi Tim,
We “spoke” on the iPhone SDK Forums a few weeks back. Might be good to post this in the forums if you haven’t already done so.
No harm in trying to raise awareness and at the least plant the thought of accessibility in some developers minds.
Personally I am now intrigued as to how my apps would measure up to your “accessibility tests”. I imagine 2 would fail straight away, 2 might just be ok with some modifications. Interesting none the less.
Regards Michael (wuf810)
Thanks for the comment. I will post this up on the forum shortly.
P.S. If you would like, I will check out your apps.
Thanks. I’ll send you a private message on the SDK forum with promo codes so you can download and try them at your leisure.
M.
I don’t really agree with the distinction between “visually impaired” and “profoundly blind”. If universal design is to be universal, it has to be universal. Moreover, visual impairment occurs along a gliding scale, it’s not a series of distinct pigeonholes. Do you think that making the iPhone accessible to the “profoundly blind” might be a step to far for apple developers? The issues are not that much different. And people who have functional vision may well find screenreader capabilities a help in using a device.
First, I think that Apple and the general public implicitly make a “distinction between ‘visually impaired’ and ‘profoundly blind’“. Apple has made great strides in audio interface with VoicOver and the new iPod nano and Shuffle. But they have ignored/neglected non-audio accessibility. Apple’s interfaces are low contrast with small or tiny fonts.
So, my distinction is not really between visually impaired and profoundly blind, but on the accessibility approach taken. Accessibility build purely on audio interfaces ignores a large segment of the visuallyimpaired continuum. Universal design needs both visual and audio interface changes.
What I mean with the iPod comes from my guess at the different technical challenges in implementing accessible audio vs accessible visual interfaces. I am arguing that, assuming visual accessibility is easier to implement, this would make a good first step in implementing accessibility.
Hmmm. As usual, you have caused me to think through my ideas more carefully and better articualte my own thinking. Thanks.
iPhone Accessibility: An Open Letter to Steve Jobs & Apple from @oberazzi: http://tinyurl.com/bjqlne
iPhone Accessibility: An Open Letter to Steve Jobs & Apple from @oberazzi: http://tinyurl.com/bjqlne
Regarding with iPhone Accessible. I noticed that I’m trying to see font size in the screen for Text (SMS), email and iChat. I do understand there is not having accessible. I’m be unable to see too smaller font size. That is because I’m Usher Syndrome (Partially Sighted). I suggest that all font sizes would be better up to 18 size if possible. I can see iPhone internet to large – very good.
It would be more helpful.
Regards
Ozzy Gomes