The document outlines methods for implementing inclusive interfaces in iOS to enhance accessibility for users with disabilities. Key features discussed include VoiceOver, braille support, and various accessibility APIs used to create and optimize user interactions. Best practices and resources for testing accessibility in iOS applications are also provided.

1. Implementing
Inclusive
Interfaces in iOS
Sally Shepard // @mostgood

2. Implementing
Inclusive
Interfaces in iOS

3. accessible |əkˈsɛsɪb(ə)l|
adjective
able to be reached, entered, or used
by people who have a disability.

4. disability?

5. inclusive |ɪnˈkluːsɪv|
adjective
not excluding any section of society
or any party involved in something.

6. Implementing
Inclusive
Interfaces in iOS

7. interface |ˈɪntəәfeɪs|
noun
a device or program enabling a user
to communicate with a computer.

8. interface != GUI

9. Vision

10. VoiceOver
Zoom
Invert Colors
Greyscale
Larger Text
Bold Text
Button Shapes
Increase Contrast
Reduce Motion
On/Off Labels

11. VoiceOver replicates
the GUI by speaking it.

12. VoiceOver speaks more
than 30 languages

13. Available on
iOS, OS X, Apple TV
& Apple Watch

14. To extend VoiceOver,
users can also use braille.

15. Braille displays

16. Braille Keyboards

17. That’s amazing!

18. Demo: Using VoiceOver

19. Physical /
Motor skills

20. Assistive Touch

21. Switch Control

23. Demo: Switch Control

24. Learning
Difficulties

25. Guided Access

26. How does Guided
Access work?

27. Hearing

28. Hearing Aids
LED Flash
Mono Audio
Noise Cancellation
Audio Balance
Subtitles & Captioning

29. Implementing
Inclusive
Interfaces in iOS

30. Basics of the
Accessibility APIs

31. isAccessibilityElement
sendButton.isAccessibliltyElement = YES;

32. accessibilityLabel
- Label that identifies the accessibility element
- UIKit control: uses title
- Image-based controls definitely need to
specify this!
- Don’t include the control type

33. accessibilityHint
- Describes the outcome of performing an action
- Don’t make it sound like a command
- Start with verb describing result
- Keep it brief
Note: can be disabled by user
“Sends the message”

34. accessibilityTraits
- Combination of traits that best characterise
the accessibility element
- UIKit controls: defaults to standard traits
- Combine traits with an OR operator
- (UIAccessibilityTraits)accessibilityTraits
{
return [super accessibilityTraits] | UIAccessibilityTraitButton;
}

35. UIAccessibilityTraitNone;
UIAccessibilityTraitButton;
UIAccessibilityTraitLink;
UIAccessibilityTraitSearchField;
UIAccessibilityTraitImage;
UIAccessibilityTraitSelected;
UIAccessibilityTraitPlaysSound;
UIAccessibilityTraitKeyboardKey;
UIAccessibilityTraitStaticText;
UIAccessibilityTraitSummaryElement;
UIAccessibilityTraitNotEnabled;
UIAccessibilityTraitUpdatesFrequently;
UIAccessibilityTraitStartsMediaSession;
UIAccessibilityTraitAdjustable;
UIAccessibilityTraitAllowsDirectInteraction;
UIAccessibilityTraitCausesPageTurn;
UIAccessibilityTraitHeader;

36. accessibilityValue
- Used when a element
has a dynamic value

37. - Enable accessibility
- Fill out Label and Hint
- Add traits

38. Testing

39. Accessibility Inspector

40. Testing VoiceOver
on a device

41. Siri - turn VoiceOver on

42. Screen curtain
Three-finger triple-tap on the screen

43. Accessibility shortcut
Triple-tap the home button

44. Testing Switch Control
on a device

45. Inclusive User Experience

47. Book a flight
Home - button
Book a flight - heading
Menu - button
Selected - Plan a trip - button - 1 of 3
My searches - button - 2 of 3
Cheapest fares - button - 3 of 3
From LHR London United Kingdom - button
To SFO San Francisco CA United States - button
Depart 17 May 2015 - button
Return 22 May 2015 - button
Adults 1 - button
Children 0 - button
Infants 0 - button
Class economy - button
Ticket type lowest price - button
Find flights - button
Original Simplified

48. Adding polish

49. Find out if user has
VoiceOver on
BOOL isVoiceOverOn =
UIAccessiblityIsVoiceOverRunning():

50. Moving VoiceOver focus
UIAccessibilityPostNotification(UIAccessibilityScreenChangedNotification,
self.goButton);

51. Ignore an
accessibility element
UIButton *notThisButton = [UIButton ... ];
[notThisButton setAccessibilityTraits:UIAccessibilityTraitNone];

52. Direct Interaction
- (UIAccessibilityTraits)accessibilityTraits
{
return UIAccessibilityTraitAllowsDirectInteraction;
}

53. Localization and
VoiceOver
- (NSString *)accessibilityLabel {
return NSLocalizedString(@"titleLabelText", nil);
}
titleLabel.accessibilityLabel =
NSLocalizedString(@"titleLabelText", nil);
//OR

54. Accessibility notifications
UIAccessibilityPostNotification(NAME, PARAMETER);
(UIAccessibilityPageScrolledNotification, @”Top of list”)
(UIAccessibilityAnnouncementNotification, @”New message”)
(UIAccessbilityLayoutChangedNotification, NSString or UIView)
etc...

55. Find out when VoiceOver is
finished speaking
Listen out for: UIAccessibilityAnnouncementDidFinishNotification
To find out if VoiceOver had finished reading or was interrupted, check
the userInfo:
UIAccessibilityAnnouncementKeyStringValue
UIAccessibilityAnnouncementKeyWasSuccessful

56. Magic Tap
Two-finger double-tap
- (BOOL)accessibilityPerformMagicTap
{
[self doAwesomeThing];
return YES;
}

57. Getting back
two-finger, scrub back and forth
- (BOOL)accessibilityPerformEscape
{
// Dismiss your view
return YES;
}

58. Modal presentation
@property(nonatomic) BOOL accessibilityViewIsModal

59. Adding support for
Switch Control
UIAccessibilityNotificationSwitchControlIdentifier
New in iOS 8:

60. Pause and Resume
SwitchControl:
UIAccessibilityPauseAssistiveTechnologyNotification
UIAccessibilityResumeAssistiveTechnologyNotification

61. Adding Guided
Access support
UIGuidedAccessRestrictionDelegate

62. Things to do:

63. Spend a whole day
with VoiceOver or
Switch Control
#1

64. I want you to feel
frustrated.
😧

65. Don’t make
assumptions.
#2

66. Where should you start?
Label and enable all
elements.
#3

67. Iterate & polish
#4

68. Make it a requirement,
not a feature.
#5

69. Resources
Testing Accessibility on iOS:
developer.apple.com/library/ios/technotes/TestingAccessibilityOfiOSApps
Sample code for non-UIKit:
developer.apple.com/library/ios/samplecode/sc2216
Accessibility programming guide for iOS:
developer.apple.com/library/ios/documentation/UserExperience/
Conceptual/iPhoneAccessibility
Impairment Simulator Software:
www.inclusivedesigntoolkit.com

70. bit.ly/inclusivetools

71. Thank you!
Sally Shepard // @mostgood
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Please text @T08 to 39242