What is Accessibility?
Accessibility is the process of ensuring that an application is easily accessible and usable by all users, including those with disabilities. Accessibility may depend on users’ physical or mental barriers to using technology. Disabled users access digital content using assistive technologies such as screen readers, magnification tools, or alternative input devices.
Swift application developers can make their applications more accessible to such users. Steps to achieve this include adding support for screen reader technologies like VoiceOver, enhancing the accessibility of text and visuals, and improving navigation through touch and cursor. Apple also provides guiding resources on this matter, such as the iOS Accessibility Guidelines and Web Accessibility Standards developed by the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) like the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).
Why is Accessibility Important?
- Equal Access for Everyone: Accessible applications ensure that everyone can use your application.
- Legal Requirements: Accessibility is a legal requirement for public and commercial entities in most countries.
- Wide User Base: Ensures that everyone, including non-disabled individuals, can comfortably use your application.
- Positive User Experience: Accessibility enables users to have an easier and more enjoyable experience.
- Brand Image and Reputation: Developing accessible applications demonstrates a company’s social responsibility and enhances the brand’s reputation.
- Competitive Advantage: Accessible applications expand the user base, increase customer satisfaction, and provide a competitive advantage.
Screen Reading Technologies and Accessibility for Visually Impaired Users
Screen reading technologies are a type of assistive technology designed especially for visually impaired users. These technologies enable users to audibly read text, buttons, menus, and other elements on a computer screen, allowing visually impaired users to access applications.
Ensuring VoiceOver Compatibility in Swift Applications
Swift developers can make their applications more user-friendly for visually impaired users by making them compatible with VoiceOver. This involves steps such as appropriate text labeling in the application, attention to the screen reading layout, and support for touch or cursor navigation. This way, applications appeal to a broader user base and become more accessible.
Touch and Cursor Navigation: User-Friendly Interaction Methods
Touch and cursor navigation are methods that allow users to interact with applications through touch screens or mice. Swift application developers can make touch gestures and cursor navigation features user-friendly.
Color Blind Support: Color Selection and Contrast Ratios
Color blind support is important to ensure that color blind users can comfortably use the application. Attention to color selection, contrast ratios, and offering alternative color schemes enhances accessibility.
Text and Visual Content Accessibility: Readable Texts and Understandable Graphics
Text and visual content accessibility involves ensuring the readability of texts and the comprehensibility of graphics in the application. Proper text labeling, descriptive visual alternatives, and readable texts enhance accessibility.
Sensitivity and Haptic Feedback: Responding to User Interactions
Sensitivity and haptic feedback involve providing feedback such as vibration or sound in response to user touch or gestures. These features help users confirm their interactions and better understand the application.
Accessibility for Hearing Impaired Users: Captions and Sign Language Videos
Accessibility for hearing impaired users includes features such as captions, sign language videos, and compatibility with hearing aids for sound support.
Accessibility for Motor Skill Impaired Users: Voice Commands and Alternative Input Methods
Accessibility for motor skill impaired users facilitates ease of use with features such as voice commands, expanded touch areas, and alternative input methods.
VoiceOver: Screen Reading Technology in iOS and macOS
VoiceOver is a built-in screen reading technology available in Apple’s iOS and macOS operating systems. VoiceOver responds to user inputs such as touch or cursor navigation and audibly reads elements on the screen, allowing users to interact with applications and devices by listening to on-screen content.
USAGE
When you open an iOS project with Xcode or create a new project, the “Accessibility” section found in the Storyboard is a tool used to configure accessibility settings in the user interface. This section enhances accessibility by making the application compatible with assistive technologies such as screen readers.
To configure these accessibility settings, select the relevant UI element in the storyboard, then navigate to the “Accessibility” section in the “Attributes Inspector” panel. Here, you can define the values of the features mentioned above. Especially on the iOS platform, these settings enable your application to be more easily accessible to visually impaired users.
Accessibility Traits: These properties define the behavior and functionality of a UI element. For example, marking a button as “Button” helps users understand that this element is a button.
Accessibility Label: This label provides a short description of a UI element that will be read aloud. For example, labeling an image button as “Back” will be voiced as “Back” by screen reader software.
Accessibility Hint: This property provides additional explanations or tips about the use of a UI element. For example, in an element labeled “Confirm Cart” for a button, the hint could be “Click to confirm the purchase.”
Accessibility Value: This value specifies the current value of a UI element. For example, the text entered by the user in a text input box could be written in this field.
Accessibility properties can also be provided programmatically.
import UIKit
class ViewController: UIViewController {
@IBOutlet var imageView: UIImageView!
@IBOutlet var nextButton: UIButton!
override func viewDidLoad() {
super.viewDidLoad()
configure()
}
private func configure() {
nextButton.isAccessibilityElement = true
nextButton.accessibilityTraits = .button
nextButton.accessibilityLabel = "Next"
nextButton.accessibilityValue = "There is an image here"
nextButton.accessibilityHint = "Allows to change the image"
}
}
Accessibility Inspector
The Accessibility Inspector is a tool that allows developers to check and test the accessibility status of an application. This tool inspects the user interface of an application and provides a way to examine accessibility features. It is commonly used during the development process and assists developers in detecting and correcting accessibility errors. As a result, necessary steps can be taken to improve the accessibility of the application for disabled users.
Accessibility Inspector, usually found within Apple’s development tool suite, Xcode, allows developers to check and test the accessibility status of an application. To open it, you typically launch Xcode, then navigate to the “Xcode” menu, select “Open Developer Tool,” and choose “Accessibility Inspector.” Once opened, it provides a way to inspect the user interface of an application and examine accessibility features. Developers commonly use it during the development process to detect and correct accessibility errors, thereby improving the application’s accessibility for disabled users.
Selection can be made from the tools listed in the target section to start working. I’m sharing an example with you.
In conclusion, ensuring accessibility in applications is crucial for providing equal access to all users, including those with disabilities. By implementing accessibility features and utilizing tools like the Accessibility Inspector in Xcode, developers can enhance the usability and inclusivity of their applications, leading to a more positive user experience and better serving diverse user needs.
