Apps should not be released in the App Store without being tested for accessibility

By blinky321, 10 December, 2012

Forum
Accessibility Advocacy
I think all apps should be tested first for accessibility before relest in the store. and this should also be written in the discription that says assable with voice over. I understand that blind or vision Impaired people are not the only ones that us e a apple device well then in that case they can tern off voice over if they don't need it. I'm not sure how to sujest and app for your directory but i am using an app called talking tuner witch i use to tune my guitar and ukulele. the accass is good with voice over its just the app need to be ina quiet room

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Comments

By frank perry on Tuesday, December 4, 2012 - 08:48

I don't know where to begin with this one, I really don't. Literally billions of apps made for IOS devices and apple macs every day, and now somebody wants every single one of them tested for accessibility. Let me see, I've got a game it's called space invaders. But unless I make every single graphic label fully accessible and the sound of the game doesn't interrupt voice over and voice over doesn't interrupt the sound and assuming I the app developer has absolutely any idea of what voice over does, and how to make an IOS application work or accessible with voice over. And then, I've got to insure my app works in every country, in every language. I mean after all, why should I only provide an accessible application in English, I should provide one in French Spanish and so on as well. I hope this person isn't serious. Why would totally blind people want a space invaders game with voice over but no sounds of the shooting of the aliens. Better still, why would a totally blind person want a fully accessible camera application? A sighted person would still have to tell the totally blind person if they were lined up correctly and with the correct angle to actually take the photo. I'm sorry editors, I know I sound condescending I don't mean to be so, I'm trying to get people to see and use common sense. There are many applications which should be accessible, I for one would love the new Australian Broadcasting Corporations ABC Government Network Radio application to be accessible, sadly, it's not. Are the developers aware of it? Yes, and previously, they had provided accessible applications but it's taking them a while to fix their new one.

While it would be nice if all apps were accessible, there's no requirements or laws that state that they have to be. So while I can understand why you may feel that way, I don't think they should force developers to make them accessible.

By Cory K on Tuesday, December 4, 2012 - 08:48

*laughs*

I do not work for apple but I do take time to get to know hat products are capable of, which people have the capability of using such products and as for being blind and vision impaired. I'm partially blind, which means I can use either zoom or voice over. And, the only reason I answered these inquiries is to explain in a common sense manner that what you ask for is impossible. I test many apps myself, some free some paid, to ask every other blind person to do this knowing that some of them can't afford to do it, knowing some of them don't know what the technical issues are is something I would never ask even the most qualified apple experts for advice. I know what is possible and what isn't possible. I'm a realist, I support accessibility, but people need to be practical about it.

By cjsims on Tuesday, December 4, 2012 - 08:48

While I realise that there are lots of apps out there, here is what I believe should happen. Something needs to be put in to the Appstore T's and C's to this effect. This would apply to all updated apps, and newly written apps. In due course, everything would become accessible.

In my earlier days of using Apple products, I too wanted everything to be accessibility tested. I even think I drafted an article a couple years ago for a blindness blog to that affect. I read an article where a former Apple employee described the App Store review process. From what I remember, the review team is only made up of around 10 or so people. So, to expect Apple to accessibility-test every app is unrealistic at best.

Hello all. I've been using Apple stuff since around 2009 phone, Pod, Pad and now, Mac. I agree 100% with what Frank so well thought out put here. I normally don't want to test a paid app for acessibility, but i'm a cheap woman lol. Seriously though,there's an app called Get crocking, al about crockpot cooking. It was almost down to zero in terms of the accessibility and cost around $3 I emailed the comapny asking if they knew about accessibility, and why i was asking for a refund. Not only did the person have the capibility to redo the app so I could use it, in the meantime, he thoughtfully sentme all the rcipes that was in the app. Good luck with someone getting every single app test. I see it as you paid for it, if it's not accessible, you'll know better in the future. if you're so oh god i want itnow, email the developer and hope for the best. Siobhan

By Riley on Tuesday, December 4, 2012 - 08:48

I don't agree with this post, because app developers have enough to worry about as it is, and we cannot force them to make their apps accessible. If you want to have an accessible app, talk to the developer yourself, and advocate for accessibility.

I hope we don't end up royally pissing off Apple one day with all our begging for the moon after all Apple has done to make all their products absolutely amazing. When I want to know if an app is accessible, I check appleVis because by golly gee wiz the beta testers are here, if you think about it. All it takes is some research about an app before you buy it. If you can't find out if it's accessible and don't want to risk it, don't. If Apple were the only company making apps, there might be more accessibility. But look at third party developers as you would your average blog site, or sports site or magazine site. Most of those sites don't even know about accessibility and when they do, we smile, right? Do we go on forums saying every sports site should be beta tested before it's put up? Oh, thanks to the editorial team for correcting the spelling in the original subject so all the Twitter posts don't sound like nails on a chalkboard. ;)

By Anna Beige on Tuesday, December 4, 2012 - 08:48

I've used iOS devices for a year and a half now (not nearly as long as some users, but still...) and the idea that every single app (not just iOS apps) should be tested for accessibility is highly unrealistic and selfish. As much as we might not like it, we're the minority here. Think of it this way, at least we can use the device! And, also, a lot of apps are accessible (or at least free), and there are sites just like this one that are dedicated to finding and archiving accessible apps. Also, proofread your posts before submitting them, please. I know it can be annoying, but the original forum post was just horrible.

Enforcing accessibility testing of every single app released may indeed sound a bit selfish… but what if app profile in App Store contained explicit accessibility rating to let the user know specifically that some VO user has downloaded and tested it it… I mean, if the app doesn’t have “accessibility” tag that doesn’t imply that this particular app is not accessible. It may just be that no one has yet tested and/or rated it from the accessibility perspective. I’d assume, accessibility tag like this might save both developers and users at list some time: the devs would know that VO users not only exist, but even download and rate the app, while the second VO user would get some kind of warning. …just a wild idea… :-)

By AnonyMouse on Tuesday, December 4, 2012 - 08:48

Member of the AppleVis Editorial Team
Well, a perfect world would be quite different if that could happen. In reality, Apple has done an outstanding job in terms of making sure thier products are accessible. No one has the man power nor the time unfortunetly to make sure all apps are accessible. So that brings the point of AppleVis. Welcome to AppleVis. I believe that is why AppleVis came in to existance because of the fact that not all apps are treated equally. So we have AppleVis for the community to come and find out if an app is accessible or not otherwise we be lost. I know there are many apps that are still not posted on here to please everyone but I do hope that everyone please do post your findings. Your findings will benefit everyone in this community. I know there are many apps that all of us have tried and have not taken the time to post them on here. So I challenge everyone to post their finding right here. The more people that submit the more that will benefit. Plus, I'm in total agreement. Not all developers are aware of the Voice Over accessiblity that we use on a day to day basis. Contacting them just might get them to consider in their updates to make it accessible. Just as any other things in life. You should ask nicely and be considerate when addressing any developers. I do know we do rant from here and there on this site on a variety of things that might upset people. Sometimes we just blow steam and don't mean to offend anyone including the developers. After all, we are only humans. Thanks!

By blinky321 on Tuesday, December 4, 2012 - 08:48

i would like say sorry to all i have used apple products for one year now i will not Leave any more post great job to apples

As others have said it's unrealistic of Apple to keep track of the accessibility of thousands upon thousands of apps. Here's something nobody has mentioned. The word "accessible" is a subjective thing. If you've learned how to use an app, even if the buttons and elements are not very clearly labeled, then to you, the person using that app, it could be labeled as accessible. Someone else may download the app and not be clued in to how it works so to them it might be a complete nightmare. Imagine trying to manage thousands upon thousands of apps? Plus you don't see anyone else doing that sort of thing, nowhere i've found has an accessible rating. In theory it's a fantastic, supurb idea, but because we as blind folks are a minority, we have to find ways of adapting, and applevis does that very well. If you want to know if an app is "accessible", then Applevis is the best game in town for that. it's great especially for new folks jumping int the fray. They can look and if an app they want to use isn't usable, there's usually another one that does a very similar thing and that one might be more voiceover friendly. So I say, let's let Applevis be a guide to accessible apps, and let apple be the company that lets us download all this stuff like we do now. Problem solved.

By Sunspot5 on Sunday, August 4, 2013 - 08:48

I can't believe that ffellow blind people are basically giving up in a better Apple App Store for us. I don't think its unrealistic for a voiceover/accessibility tab on the review site for ratings or ranks for disabled people to consider. What about a automated internal program that could check automatically for voiceover compliance or functionality? Seems to me this or a way to get free trial limited day testing periods on accessibility is in ordder at the minimum. Lastly, I firmly believe in software should be treated like public provisions or necessities for a bare minimum, so Apple should lead the charge in products that would aid health-care and related app products in the future. Not speaking for anyone else here but I'll never ever give up in a more optimistic future and settle for less like the vast majority on here already have.

Adding accessibility rating to the App Store and letting voiceover users rate the product according to accessibility wouldn't waste a lot of apple's time. I think it's an awesome idea.

I must say that after reading the comments on this topic, I must agree with the whole unrealistic part of every single app being tested for accessibility. That'd be like me trying to tune 200000 grand pianos in five minutes. Sorry folks, ain't gonna happen. Also, I think that having an "accessibility rating" on the app store would be neet, but like a few other posters have said, you can use this site. it's got a wealth of info on this kind of thing. Hell, that's what i did before I ever got ferrari sound. And I did a podcast on the app, even though it may not have been totally accessible. At least, for me, it was useable, and that made me happy. Thirdly, contacting devs about accessibility is all well and good, but there will always be those devs who will just say, for lack of a better phrase, "**** off, we don't care about it". If that happens, just find another app that does a similar thing and you're good to go. If you can't do that, learn to live with it and accept things for what they are. This ain't a perfect world, y'all. The truth of the matter is that no matter what situation you're faced with, there will always be a negative side, even though you might not see it from your angle. Learn to role with the punches that the world, and indeed, the punches and things the life in general throws at you, and you'll be fine. But I digress. I've made my point as best I can, and if I don't shut up now, the editors will end up deleting this post or something. lol

By charles on Wednesday, December 4, 2013 - 08:48

One thing's for sure; you've got to work on your spelling, typing, or both. I had to go through your article a few times to understand it. As the demand that all app developers cater to our needs, why should they? We're not the only minority who can benefit from apps if they are developed for everyone. Some games depend on graphically written maps or colored tiles, marbles, and so on. These would not be able to be played by a blind people. Some apps to produce artwork cannot be appreciated by a blind person, so why should they be made accessible to blind people? That's my take on your article for now. I just think that you are too demanding. It's sort of like asking music apps to be made accessible to the deaf. Most deaf people are not able to appreciate or use such apps.

Charles, While I agree with you that certain apps do not lend themselves well to being made accessible, I think anyone who could benefit from an app being made accessible has every wright to ask the developer to make it so. Whether the developer chooses to try to make the app accessible is another issue entirely. But to suggest that an artwork-creation app should not be made accessible simply because a majority of people who are blind wouldn't be able to use it...well, I really disagree with that. If an app can be made accessible, it should be accessible. If 9 out of 10 people who are blind wouldn't be able to benefit from an artwork-creation app, but one person could, should that 1 person be denied access simply because the other 9 people would not benefit from it? I am talking in hypothetical terms, of course. The reality is that a lot of developers do not realize the benefits of making their apps accessible. But does that make it okay simply because we are a small market?

we may have doubled it sales, but I don't see how that fits in with us not being sucha small market. If you look at it from a statistical/mathamatical point of view, there are more sighted peope out there then those of us who are blind. Yes, a lot of blind people may use apple devices, and there also those that use android and other platforms. But, I digress.

The way the author wrote the original article was extremely demanding, which is what I objected to. It sounded like he was saying that every single app should be made accessible to the blind, which is what I disagree with from the viewpoint of practicality. There are so many different disabilities that apps cannot be made accessible to every single one. The more the better, but let's be realistic.

By The blind warrior on Sunday, June 4, 2017 - 08:48

I have been reading through this forum. Now, maybe they can't make every app accessible. It just isn't anywhere near logical or possible. However I do think that some apps do need to become accessible. Take sports manager games for example. I love soccer, and I love baseball, but there are no huge well-known manager apps for this on the App Store. Games like FIFA ultimate team should be made accessible. It's possible. Most of it is just words and the graphics don't matter. And also, well-known apps and big popular apps should have a note in the description saying whether or not it's accessible. Or, the ones that make sense anyway. I agree and disagree with stuff in this forum. I'm done ranting. See ya guys

By tunmi13 on Sunday, June 4, 2017 - 08:48

Hey,
Like Frank was saying, not every app can be made accessible, and Apple can't demand/force developers to go back and implement accessibility.
Following up to what I just said, not every developer uses a coding applicaiton that supports VoiceOver's codes/graphic label options for VoiceOver.
Also, there are many apps out there that just can't be made accessible.
Pokemon Go is working on accessibility, but who knows, they may have not been able to do it.
The only thing I rely on now is the iOS App Directory, and Marty Schultz's Blindfold Games.
So, other than that, and a few other card, word, puzzle and roleplaying games that are accessible, there is no chance that all the other inaccessible apps can just become accessible with a forceful/demandful action from Apple.
Sorry for the long post, but it's just what I think.

By JeffB on Sunday, June 4, 2017 - 08:48

@Tunmi Jubril is Pokemon Go really working on accessibility? I haven't heard anything on this and just thought it as a lost cause. I think a better alternative to this would be rewarding developers that make their apps accessible.