Comments on: iPhone Accessibility: An Open Letter to Steve Jobs & Apple

By: Ozzy Gomes

Ozzy Gomes — Tue, 26 May 2009 18:38:50 +0000

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

By: atmacjournal (Ricky Buchanan)

atmacjournal (Ricky Buchanan) — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 06:41:05 +0000

iPhone Accessibility: An Open Letter to Steve Jobs & Apple from @oberazzi: http://tinyurl.com/bjqlne

By: a11y (a11y)

a11y (a11y) — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 18:13:46 +0000

iPhone Accessibility: An Open Letter to Steve Jobs & Apple from @oberazzi: http://tinyurl.com/bjqlne

By: Tim

Tim — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 15:45:12 +0000

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.

By: lodrorigdzin

lodrorigdzin — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 15:05:44 +0000

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.

By: Michael

Michael — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 14:52:18 +0000

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.

By: Tim

Tim — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 14:43:49 +0000

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.

By: Michael

Michael — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 14:40:54 +0000

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)