Accessibility testing. Testing special opportunities

Accessibility testing is one of the usability testing types, where users are the people with special needs. The ultimate goal of this testing is simplicity and usability of site using.

Examples of such software:

• Speech Recognition Software - transforming told word to a text with help of which the logging in to PC is completing;
• Screen Reader Software - used for reading displayed text on the screen;
• Screen Magnification Software - used for increasing text scale and making the text easier to read for people with weak vision.

Why test accessibility?

This testing is performed for the software to be accessible for a wide range of users with impaired speech, vision, hearing, as well as mental and musculoskeletal systems and others.

How to use it on Android?

General availability functions on Android can be turned on via Settings → Accessibility.

TalkBack

It is a default reading app from the Android screen. After activation the app reads anything from the screen. In apps it reads all buttons, images, forms, elements, static text, etc. In the mobile browser it includes all the web-content (text, image alterations, links, tables, etc.).

TalkBack users are blind and visually impaired users and also users with some cognitive or learning difficulties.

Main TalkBack commands

Turn on/off TalkBack

Tap and hold the Power button, after vibration tap and hold the screen with two fingers

The «Speak» element

One tap.

Relocate (scroll)

Scroll with two fingers.

Go to the first element on the screen   

Move the finger up and then down.

Last app                                             

Move the finger left and then up.

The «Back» button                                          

Move the finger down and then left.

Zoom in

Triple tap with one finger

The «Home» button

Move the finger up and then left.

Switching the access

The access switch allows to manage the device using customizable keys combinations with an external keyboard. For using a switch the keyboard is necessary with the tablet or smartphone. After that the keys for actions should be appointed via Settings → Accessibility → Dexterity and interaction → Universal Switch → Settings. Choose «Actions» under the label «Switches» to combine key with action.

Zoom-In gestures

Turned on, it allows users to zoom-in and zoom-out the image using three taps.

To turn on Zoom, it’s required to follow these steps:  «Settings» → «Accessibility» → «Magnification gestures».

When the gestures are turned on, the screen can be scaled, user can move around the screen and relocate the elements:

Stretch or pinch with two or more fingers to adjust the zoom.

Move with two fingers to relocate on the screen.

Grayscale

When this parameter is turned on, it removes all colors from the display, which makes reading easier for people with impaired vision such as color blindness.

To turn on the grayscale on Android, it’s required to turn on the developer mode on the device.

After that you can turn on the grayscale on Android using Settings → Developer options → Simulate color space. This function is available for the OS version starting from Lollipop 5.0 and later.

During the turned on option the device colors are changed to the grayscale.

The grayscale applies to all screens until this function will be turned off. 

The Android grayscale can be used simultaneously with any other modes or apps for Android including TalkBack and Shadow.