The Russian app store RuStore has become accessible to blind users. Now they can choose applications themselves, download and install them, buy a subscription - all functionality is available. The solution was presented at RuStore Mobile Conf.
Alexander Epaneshnikov, a blind developer from Sardina Systems, demonstrated how the store works in an inclusive format on stage.
Epaneshnikov noted that application developers who want to make the product accessible to a wider audience should take into account the existing inclusive presets on devices, for example, Talk Back on Android. Such presets have a standard set of actions, more custom elements are prescribed by the developers.
A screen reader helps a blind user to use any operating system. It translates what is displayed on the screen into speech. Thus, the phone or computer "talks" to the user. The person relies on them when interacting with the interface by pressing a finger or swiping. This is how he moves through applications on the phone.
In RuStore, the screen reader also "tells" how to move the user by touching or swiping. For example, it helps to find the search box, pronounces letter by letter everything that the user enters in the search bar, and suggests what actions need to be taken to download the application. The accessibility of both the mobile version of the app store and the web version is the same.
Why is this important?
Digital accessibility and inclusiveness are important not only for the adaptation of users with disabilities, but also for all users.
Firstly, no one is immune from temporary health problems that affect how to use technology. For example, from laryngitis, an inflamed eye, a broken arm or a broken finger.
Secondly, there are situational difficulties of limited opportunities. For example, if a person forgets his headphones on the way from home to work in the subway, then he is temporarily conditionally limited in hearing and cannot watch any video without subtitles. And if the user has problems with sleep or a riotous night, then in the morning when using some application, he may have cognitive distortions.
Finally, there are also permanent health restrictions. But they are officially outside of any disability group.
Every 10th person in the world is a person with a disability. But, for example, those who have color blindness or dyslexia are not given a disability, and digital accessibility is also important for them
Thinking about digital accessibility, business shows care for the user and increases its audience. However, in Russia it is not yet so popular to take into account the characteristics and needs of a wider audience.
How to make an app inclusive?
Drogichinskaya, speaking at RuStore Mobile Conf, shared her experience of how VK solved the issue of inclusion.
Since 2022, VK service has been trying to work with the most diverse audience. Mail.ru Mail on IoS and Android has already become available to users with visual impairments. VK itself also has developments in inclusion.
Users were conditionally divided into seven categories: blind and visually impaired users, users with visual perception features, deaf and hard of hearing users, users with impaired motor functions, mental characteristics and cognitive characteristics. Each representative of these categories needs an individual approach to how to use applications, mail, social networks.
In order for the service to be accessible to all users - from neurodiverse and hard of hearing - experts divided users into two more groups. Some need visualization of functionality, others do not care about its visualization, but other parameters are more important.
Then, in each group, testing is carried out to identify problems, prioritize and fix problems, eliminate them, re-test, and, finally, certify the product.