Paper Info
Title
Interacting with mobile devices via VoiceOver: usability and accessibility issues
Abstract
In this paper we analyze the interaction of blind users with Apple touchscreen devices iPad, iPhone and iPod touch, accessible to the visually-impaired thanks to their pre-installed VoiceOver screen reader or magnifier. Specifically, we focus on the gestures offered by VoiceOver to simplify interaction for blind users. A usability inspection of the devices' user interfaces has been performed and integrated with user feedback collected via an online survey taken by 55 totally blind users. Results confirm that VoiceOver makes the Apple devices basically accessible to blind users, but there are still some issues related to usability. Users normally believe that accessibility integrated with VoiceOver is an important innovation, but some operations, such as the writing of long text, take too long or are not comfortable. Results suggest that a multimodal approach on mobile touchscreen devices does not offer a simple and satisfactory interaction paradigm for all and it deserves further investigation. Three possible solutions for improving user interface interaction and offering a simpler and more comfortable experience for blind individuals were proposed to the survey participants, gathering their positive feedback.
Year
DOI
Venue
2012
10.1145/2414536.2414591
OZCHI
Keywords
Field
DocType
satisfactory interaction paradigm,blind individual,apple device,user interface,mobile device,blind user,accessibility issue,comfortable experience,apple touchscreen devices ipad,user feedback,pre-installed voiceover screen reader,user interface interaction,usability
Screen reader,Computer science,Gesture,Touchscreen,Usability,Mobile device,Human–computer interaction,Usability inspection,User interface,Multimedia
Conference
Citations 
PageRank 
References 
29
1.12
14
Authors
3
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
Barbara Leporini142846.45
Maria Claudia Buzzi216023.60
Marina Buzzi324233.45