It was the introduction of Enhanced Web Access, the injection of self-voicing java scripts that make web views accessible. The Middle YearsĪ significant accessibility improvement was released with 3.0 (Honeycomb), the OS version for tablets. Despite general improvements partially brought about through apps that took advantage of accessibility API’s, blind and low-vision users continued to choose devices that sported a hardware keyboard (strongly recommended) and a joystick (required) that could be located by touch (e.g., 4 arrow keys, a D-pad, a Trackball, or a trackpad). They were needed to deal with unlabeled buttons and edit fields, unfocusable objects, inaccessible web views, and the disruptions caused by device manufacturer overlays. Though devices were quite usable in Donut through Gingerbread, creativity and workarounds were part of the eyes-free Android adventure. So did aural text review in edit fields and use of a virtual D-pad. Over time (by 2.2 as Darilek, Code Factory, and Google developed virtual keyboards), however, on-screen typing and voice input became available.

Initially (1.6) text input was possible only with a hardware keyboard, and text review involved moving focus away from then returning to an edit field, listening to the entire block of text, and counting presses of the arrow keys or deleting to a desired point. With them, blind and low-vision Androidites could use their D-pads or trackballs to navigate to all focusable items and activate buttons, checkboxes, and other objects. MobileAccessibility (2011) by Code Factory, which combines a screen reader with a suite of simplified apps.Īll three screen readers offered roughly the same level of accessibility.TalkBack (2009) by Google’s Eyes-Free Project.The first level of accessibility was delivered by screen readers: The Early Yearsīasic accessibility was introduced in Donut (1.6), expanding gradually through Gingerbread (2.3). If anyone has corrections or additions to make, feel free to post them to the comments. This is a rough outline of changes to Android accessibility.

It had no accessibility, and that was not good.Īll had accessibility, and that was good. In the beginning (okay, 2009), there was Android.

Android accessibility screen reader