accessibility for silver users - 7-128
TRANSCRIPT
Accessibility for Silver Users
Eleanor Robinson, COO
7-128 Software LLC
www.7128.com
Who are “Silver Users”?
People age 65 and older who use:
Computers
Smart Phones
Pads or other hand held devices
Statistics about Silver Users
Over 40 million 65+ in the 2010 census
42% of them use computers – up from 12% in 1995
Smartphone use by them ranges from 16% to 42% depending on income level
90% of those with internet access use Email
Computer literacy
Most people who are 65 – 70 have used computers in their jobs
They have played computer games with family members over the years
Social media use by 65+ doubled between 2009 and 2010
Computer-phobia is less evident
How do 65+ use technology
Play games
Shop online
Join Blogs, ListServs in areas of interest
Social media sites
Access travel, health and finance information
Why is accessibility needed?
In the 65+ population, almost 50% have one or more disability
The older you are, the more likely you are to have a disability
Older people, even without chronic disease, have reduced vision, hearing and motor function
Memory and cognition problems may occur
Accessibility features needed
Visual adaptations
Auditory adaptations
Motor function adaptations
Cognitive adaptations
Visual adaptations
Large default text size
Non-ornate fonts
Good contrast
No background clutter under text
Enough white space for easy reading
Sized to fit where possible
Normal Type
Big Type
Visual adaptations - more
All graphics should have Alt text
All text should be in screen reader friendly format or,
Provide self-voicing for all text
Provide a separate volume control for background sounds and music
Use logical tab order, skip nav and full access to lists and tables
Auditory adaptations
Separate volume control for music, sounds and speech
Information given in visual as well as auditory form
Subtitles or captions available for any video or movie
Captions
Auditory adaptations - more
Closed captioning should be used for all auditory events, not just speech
Make sure any communication is not voice only but has a visual component
Make sure no action is based on auditory clues alone such as directional sound
Motor adaptations
No multiple key/button controls
Keep target areas such as buttons large and well spaced
Where possible allow multiple input methods (key, mouse, touch, etc.)
Make response speed adjustable
Controls should be adjustable and as simple as possible
Controls
Cognitive adaptations
Reduce complexity
Include a tutorial for navigation or any other common activity
Use in-context helpful hints
Keep language simple and clear
Make response speed adjustable
Use self-voicing for text
In-context hint
Complexity solutions
Multiple versions
Configurable display that allows user control over what is displayed
Display by common tasks
Examples of problem text
Lack of contrast
Size of text
Obscured by graphics
Text Problems
Silver User design benefits ALL users
Less complex user interface
Easier reading text
More control over the way you interact with the device
More logical organization of material
Alternative ways of getting information
Economics
Silver users are a largely overlooked market segment
If only one percent of them bought a product that is still over four hundred thousand sales
This carrot might make it more probable that a developer would include accessibility in a new product
New resources
Accessibility Handbook by Katie Cunningham (O’Reilly) Copyright 2012 ISBN 978-1-449-32285-4
Game Accessibility Guidelines http://www.gameaccessibilityguidelines.com/guidelines/
Resources continued
Includification – Game Accessibility Guidelines http://www.includification.com
A “46 page fully illustrated guide”
Guidelines for blind accessibility
http://www.blindcomputergames.com/
Contact information
Eleanor Robinson
7-128 Software LLC
www.7128.com