The needs of screen magnifier users are overlooked when implementing web accessibility on to a website. Screen magnifiers are used by partially sighted web users to increase the size of on-screen elements. Some users will magnify the screen so that only three to four words are able to appear on the screen at any one time. You can try using a screen magnifier yourself by downloading the Zoomtext screen magnifier from http://www.aisquared.com/Products/ZoomText8_mag/FreeTrial/Z8FreeTrial.htm for a free 30 day trial.
The good news is that some of the basic principles for improving accessibility and usability for screen magnifiers users, also increase usability for everyone. To help, we've listed six ways to improve accessibility and usability for screen magnifier users:
1. Don't embed text within images
Text embedded within images can become blurry and pixelated when viewed in screen magnifiers, and therefore completely illegible. This is especially true when the image text is rather poor quality, so if you absolutely have to embed text within images then make sure the image is of high quality. Many screen magnifier users can find it quite difficult to read text at the best of times, so when it appears fuzzy to them it can become difficult to impossible to read.
It's not usually necessary to embed text within images anymore, as most presentational effects can now be achieved with CSS. By embedding text within images the download time of each page can become significantly greater due to the weight of these images - for users on dial-up modems it can be a real pain waiting for these images to download and render.
If you're not sure if a piece of text on the page is embedded within an image or not, try highlighting the text. If you can highlight each letter individually then the text is real text and isn't embedded within an image.
2. Clearly separate sections of the page
Different sections of each web page should be clearly separated through the use of borders and different background colours. Screen magnifiers users can only see one tiny section of a web page at any one time so it can sometimes be hard for these users to orientate themselves within the page.
By using a blue background colour for the navigation, for example, screen magnifier users can quickly move through the page and when they see a blue background they instantly know that the content are has finished and the navigation area begun.
Likewise, by separating different sections of the page with borders, when a screen magnifier user moves over that border they know they're moving into a different section. One especially common form of this, is using a vertical bar to separate horizontal navigation items.
Separating different sections of the page with background colours and borders doesn't only increase usability for screen magnifier users - it increases usability for everyone. When regularly sighted users scan through a web page, if the content, footer and navigation are all effectively differentiated it's very easy to quickly gain an understanding of the on-page layout.
3. Use clear and descriptive headings often
When screen magnifier users move their magnifier across the screen one of the items that stand out to them is headings. By ensuring heading text is large, and perhaps by differentiating it through the use of colour, it will stand out to these users.
Screen magnifier users usually have to stop the movement of the magnifier when they want to read a piece of text, so when they see a heading, they can stop and read it. Because headings (in theory at least!) describe the content contained beneath them, screen magnifier users can read a heading, gain an understanding of the content beneath it, and decide whether they want to read that content or not. If not, they can simply move the magnifier down the screen and stop at the next heading.
Headings are incredibly useful for fully sighted users too for essentially the same reason. When you scan through a web page, headings are one of the items that stand out to you. Again, you can read the heading (or listen to it for a screen reader user), and provided its descriptive, instantly gain an understanding of the content beneath it. You can then keep reading or skip on to the next heading down the page.
4. Ensure link text is descriptive of its destination
Link text such as 'click here' and 'more' should be avoided and replaced with link text that adequately describes the link destination. Link text, along with headings, is one of the items that stands out to screen magnifier users (and all users for that matter) when browsing a web page. If 'click here' is used then these users (and in fact all users) will have to search through the text before and after the link in order to work out its destination.
5. Avoid scrolling or flashing text
Scrolling or flashing text is generally known for offering poor usability, as it means that users can't read the text in their own time. This is doubly true for screen magnifier users who read web pages at a slower rate - chances are that they won't have time to read the text at all before it disappears.
6. Front-load paragraph content
By front-loading paragraph content, screen magnifier users can access the main point of each paragraph immediately. Front-loading means placing the conclusion first, followed by the what, why, when, where and how. By placing the conclusion first, screen magnifier users can read the conclusion of the paragraph straightaway and then decide whether they are interested in reading the rest of the paragraph or not.
If screen magnifier users aren't interested in the content of a paragraph, they can move the magnifier down the screen and when they see white space they know that the paragraph has ended and the next paragraph begun.
This rule about front-loading paragraph content actually benefits absolutely everyone. By putting the conclusion at the start of the paragraph, all users can instantly gain an understanding of the point of the paragraph and decide whether they want to keep reading it (or skip to the next paragraph).
Conclusion
All-in-all, there are quite a few things that can be done to improve usability and accessibility for screen magnifier users. The good news though is that all of them improve usability for absolutely everyone.
This article was written by Trenton Moss. He's crazy about web usability and accessibility - so crazy that he went and started his own web usability and accessibility consultancy (Webcredible - http://www.webcredible.co.uk) to help make the Internet a better place for everyone.
Revenues are often lost because many business owners don't see... Read More
Mini Websites are the most powerful and cost effective solution... Read More
How can we add Word Rich Content to our Websites... Read More
"If you build it, they will come"; is an age... Read More
If you are developing your website on a host that... Read More
Why do some sites succeed while the vast majority of... Read More
There are millions and millions of websites on the Internet.... Read More
Installment 1Developing State-enabled Applications With PHPWhen a user is browsing... Read More
QUESTION: Should I build and maintain my business Web... Read More
If you are looking for creating your online presence you... Read More
For years now I've been looking to start my own... Read More
A while ago one of my clients approached me and... Read More
Many small businesses have the misconception that their business can... Read More
If you ever want to create a state directory, article... Read More
Part of the success of most home-based businesses is their... Read More
1. The first page appears quickly.It's a good way to... Read More
Web sites are an Ongoing Part of Business.All too many... Read More
There are hundreds of millions of Web surfers today. Each... Read More
There are many different traffic analysis tools, ranging from simple... Read More
So your prospect, Mary, is sitting at the computer reading... Read More
Many of site owners still don't realize all advantages of... Read More
It is an undeniable fact that not everybody is keen... Read More
It never ceases to amaze me how many people set-up... Read More
If you are living in a country that its native... Read More
I talk with so many people who have small businesses... Read More
I recently helped my mom to launch a website (www.mom2me.com)... Read More
2 Golden Rules for an Engaging Website35% of visitors fail... Read More
Below, I have listed 8 simple steps that you can... Read More
Knowledge is power.And undoubtedly, it is the key to making... Read More
Think up a name and check if yourname.com is available.... Read More
1. Many people are not getting good or complete advice.... Read More
More and more non-profit organizations are developing websites to help... Read More
There was a time not long ago when setting up... Read More
Affiliate programs are a great way to earn an income... Read More
What is the point of having a website, you may... Read More
D.zigns dzignerwebs The Basics Before starting on... Read More
This is a growing concern amongst many business owners. Does... Read More
An automated accessibility tool is a piece of software which... Read More
80% of your Web site is Maintenance!Once your Web site... Read More
To the starting internet entrepreneur, there is nothing more discouraging... Read More
A company must earn and keep trust or sales don't... Read More
Are you aware that 90% of the websites on the... Read More
Often time I've browsed sites and seen the same thing... Read More
"How do I improve web site sales figures?" The CEO... Read More
If you're anything like most small business owners, you probably... Read More
In about the Time it takes to Watch a Reality... Read More
Can you imagine the hypocrisy of spending thousands of dollars,... Read More
When I started my company in 2002, I knew I... Read More
In the time that I have been using the Internet,... Read More
#5 User Satisfaction: Learn what your visitors and site users... Read More
When most people build a web site, they think one... Read More
After having decided to start a business, the next thing... Read More
Most interactive websites nowadays would require a user to log... Read More
How do you decide on the content, products and or... Read More
Mini Websites are the most powerful and cost effective solution... Read More
"Don't Sell the Steak, Sell the Sizzle."Have you heard of... Read More
Q1.Why would I need a web site? A1.- Improve my... Read More
Did you know that hosting companies overcrowd their servers despite... Read More
An accessible Web site is easily approached, easily understood, and... Read More
When building a relationship, listening is more important than talking.A... Read More
Recently I was reviewing the keyword specific conversion rate data... Read More
No matter the size of your business, having a web... Read More
What to do if you are an artist after you... Read More
More and more businesses are recognizing the importance of content... Read More
So you finally decided to invest in a web presence... Read More
Fresh website content for your visitors can be of real... Read More
Web Development |