Accessibility of Apps version 1.0 (2018)
Creative Commons License (Creator: Wendy Torres)
*This is for general apps not apps specifically designed to target specific disabilities.*
Name of tool |
Wakelet App version |
Cost |
Free |
Date of review |
1/5/2019 |
1. Does it have synced captioning/transcription option? N/A
Comments: Not a video tool. You can add videos to any wakelet collection that has captions but that is up to the individual user.
2. Does the app use flashy/moving animations? No
Comments: No flashy animations that can trigger seizures.
3. If the app uses flashy/moving animations or flashy backgrounds, does the tool have an option to turn this off? N/A
Comments:
4. Does the app have an option to change the color contrast on the screen?N/A
Comments: The app itself uses a simple black and white interface for easy contrast. When tested on both devices( Android and Apple), the app did not change the display settings on the device. Inverted colors, however, show the text of a collection fine but inverting the colors makes the pictures unclear.
5. Does the app look the same when display settings are changed ( vertical/horizontal) or when display is magnified/enlarged? No
Comments: Yes, this app looks the same when magnified and enlarged using the magnification settings on your device. It, however, does not magnify through the browser and when the device changes from vertical to horizontal, the display does not change to adjust with the screen-even though screen rotation is enabled on devices.
6. Does the app rely on color to convey meaning to the user? No
Comments: The interface is a simply black and white interface. The individual user can add pictures with different colors.
7. Is the app available on any Internet enabled device? Yes
Comments: Works on any Internet enabled device as an app.
8. Does the app have an audio component ( text to speech or read to me feature)? No
Comments: There is no read to me feature within the app, though the voice over(apple) and voice assistant ( Samsung) accessibility features( the screen readers version for the phones) read the content of the collection clearly without jumpiness.
9. Can you add alternative text or captions to pictures using the app or does the app provide text alternatives for any non text content? Yes
Comments: No alternative text but captions can be added for any picture added to collection.
10. Does the app change any personal settings on the user’s personal device? No
Comments:
Any personal or accessibility settings that you have enabled on your device will not be affected or turned off by Wakelet.
11. Does app allow for changing of font and picture sizes? No
Comments: Font and picture sizes are set on the app. Can make the fonts bigger through the accessibility features on your device but not through the app.
12. Does the app permit for sufficient time to read and use content? Yes
Comments: There is no time out feature on the app so you can navigate at your own pace without fear that the screen will change.
13. Does the app include ways to help users navigate and find content easily? Yes
Comments: Button navigation is clear and stay the same on every collection.
14. Does the app include text content that is readable and understandable? Yes
Comments: Fonts sizes are set on the app, but can be magnified with the accessibility feature of your device and can still be read clearly, no fuzziness regardless of magnification.
15. Are the components of the app the same on every page/section of the app? Yes
Comments: The content and navigation within the app is consistent.
16. Does the app change the Assistive Technology settings on the device? (Does it interfere or circumvent the AT settings?) No
Comments: App does not interfere, or change any settings and any accessibility features you enable from your device work with the app.
Score card
Now let’s how your tool rated. Look at the answers you got and assign the number of points listed in the table below. Point values are either 1 or 0. If any items had a N/A applied to it, write N/A.
Criteria |
Point value |
1) If your answer to question 1 was yes, assign one point. (assign 0 points if the answer was no or Don’t know) |
n/a |
2) If your answer to question 2 was no, assign one point.(assign 0 points if the answer was yes or Don’t know) |
1 |
3) If your answer to question 3 was yes, assign one point. (assign 0 points if the answer was no or Don’t know) |
n/a |
4) If your answer to question 4 was yes, assign one point.(assign 0 points if the answer was no or Don’t know) |
n/a |
5) If your answer to question 5 was yes, assign one point. (assign 0 points if the answer was no or Don’t know) |
0 |
6) If your answer to question 6 was no, assign one point.(assign 0 points if the answer was yes or Don’t know) |
1 |
7) If your answer to question 7 was yes, assign one point. (assign 0 points if the answer was no or Don’t know) |
1 |
8) If your answer to question 8 was yes, assign one point. (assign 0 points if the answer was no or Don’t know) |
0* See comment |
9) If your answer to question 9 was yes, assign one point. (assign 0 points if the answer was no or Don’t know) |
1 |
10) If your answer to question 10 was no, assign one point. (assign 0 points if the answer was yes or Don’t know) |
1 |
11) If your answer to question 11 was yes, assign one point.(assign 0 points if the answer was no or Don’t know) |
0 *see comment |
12) If your answer to question 12 was yes, assign one point. (assign 0 points if the answer was no or Don’t know) |
1 |
13) If your answer to question 13 was yes, assign one point. (assign 0 points if the answer no or Don’t know) |
1 |
14) If your answer to question 14 was yes, assign one point.(assign 0 points if the answer was no or Don’t know) |
1 |
15) If your answer to question 15 was yes, assign one point. (assign 0 points if the answer was no or Don’t know) |
1 |
16) If your answer to question 16 was no, assign one point. (assign 0 points is the answer was yes or Don’t know) |
1 |
Total points earned: 11/13
The higher the point value the more accessible the tool is for people with disabilities.
Comments: App version scores a bit better than the web version. App on both the Android and the Apple device, did not magnify within the app. The magnification features within the device worked and the content can easily be seen clearly when using these accessibility features, but you have to enable it on your device.(not part of the app itself. A big plus that the app has over the web version is that the screen readers ( Voice Over on Apple Device) and (Voice Assistant on Samsung) read the content clearly, in logical order and without jumpiness. This makes it much more easier to understand the content.
Clarification of terms by question
1)Captioning/transcription: If the app allows for the use of video or audio components, does it provide a way for captions/transcripts to be provided to the user? Captions/transcripts allow people who are learning disabled, deaf or blind to understand the content being shared. Video, audio and media content and other time based media should have synced up captions for easy understanding.
2-3) Flashy animations are difficult to see and can trigger people who have seizure disorders. If an app has flashy animations or flashy backgrounds, it should have an option to turn this feature off as these can trigger seizures, and be distracting to people with ADHD and Sensory issues.
4)Colors must contrast in order to be understood. People who are color blind or visually impaired may not be able to distinguish between certain colors so colors should not be the only way of conveying information to someone. Apps that use colors should allow within their settings a way for the individual user to change the color options to fit their visual needs.
5) Content in an app should be presented in different ways without losing information and structure. This means when you move your device’s position ( horizontally or vertically) the content of the app can still be seen and understood. This also means that if a user needs to magnify an app to see the content, the words and pictures are still clear after magnification. If it is fuzzy or unclear after magnification it is not accessible.
6) Colors can be used in apps but must contrast. This means the visual presentation of text and images of text has a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1.To test the contrast ratio of text and images use can use a downloadable tool from the Paciello Group. So while color can be used, it cannot be the only way of conveying meaning in an app. Users should be able to understand how an app works, regardless of the colors that are being used.
7) Since people have all kinds of devices, it is important that apps can work on any Internet enabled device to maximize the number of people who can use the tool. So if an app is only available on one platform( ie Apple products only) only people who have those products benefit from using the app.
8) Audio components (example: text to speech) are useful to help visually impaired and learning disabled people understand content. Does the app have a read to me feature or does it work well with built in accessibility features of the device? (For example a screen reader( voice assistant) for android products or voiceover for Apple products.)
9) Alternative text is a word or phrase that can be inserted as an attribute in an HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) document to tell Web site viewers the nature or contents of an image. This helps people who are visually impaired understand what a picture or image is. Captions underneath a picture also can be used if alternative text is not available.
10) Tools should not interfere with any of the other functions, apps or programs that exist on a user’s device. If the tool requires changing of settings in order to use it, it is not accessible.
11) Visually impaired or learning disabled people may need to adjust the screen/font size and color to make sense of the information.
12) Accessible apps do not have timed features which makes it easy for users to read and engage with the content. If the app does have time features, does the app have a setting to adjust the setting to allow for sufficient time to process?
13)Accessible apps must include ways to help users navigate and find content. Button/links are differentiated by noncolor characteristics like bolded letters and underlined text.
14) Apps should use readable fonts that can be understood easily. So fonts that use fancy script or designs are not readable and understood by everyone. If an app has such fonts, does it allow for a way to change the fonts? Some popular San Serif fonts are Helvetica, Arial, Calibri, Century Gothic and Verdana.
15) Components of apps should appear in the same place on each page/section of the app. This makes the app easier to use and understand.
16) Many devices like phones, tablets, laptops and desktops have built in accessibility features that can be turned on by the user. These features can be turned on in the settings menu of the device and include option for switches, hand free use, eye gaze and other features associated with Assistive Technology(AT)-which is used by people with disabilities to engage and make sense of content. Accessible apps must be compatible with these features. The app cannot circumvent or change the AT features of the device.
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wakelet_app2019.pdf |