What are the most effective mobile accessibility and usability technologies for businesses?

2 Screen readers and magnifiers

Another important technology for mobile accessibility and usability is screen readers and magnifiers. Screen readers are software applications that convert text and images on the screen into speech or braille output, while screen magnifiers are software applications that enlarge the content on the screen for users with low vision. These technologies can help users who are blind or have vision loss to access and navigate mobile devices. Some examples of screen readers and magnifiers are VoiceOver, TalkBack, ZoomText, and Magnifier.

3 Haptic and audio feedback

Haptic and audio feedback are technologies that provide tactile and auditory cues to users when they interact with mobile devices. Haptic feedback is the vibration or force feedback that users feel when they touch the screen or press a button, while audio feedback is the sound or speech that users hear when they perform an action or receive a notification. These technologies can enhance the mobile accessibility and usability for users who have visual, hearing, or attention impairments, as well as users who want to confirm their input or output. Some examples of haptic and audio feedback are Taptic Engine, Vibration API, Text-to-Speech, and Sound Feedback.

4 Responsive and adaptive design

Responsive and adaptive design are web design approaches that aim to create websites that work well on different devices, screen sizes, and orientations. Responsive design uses flexible layouts and images that adjust to the available space, while adaptive design uses predefined layouts and images that change based on the device type or features. These design approaches can improve the mobile accessibility and usability for users who have different preferences, needs, and contexts. Some examples of responsive and adaptive design are Bootstrap, Foundation, Media Queries, and Feature Detection.

5 Keyboard and touch support

Keyboard and touch support are technologies that enable users to interact with mobile devices using physical or virtual keyboards and touchscreens. Keyboard support allows users to enter text, navigate menus, and perform shortcuts using keys or buttons, while touch support allows users to tap, swipe, pinch, and zoom using fingers or styluses. These technologies can increase the mobile accessibility and usability for users who have different input methods, abilities, and devices. Some examples of keyboard and touch support are Bluetooth Keyboard, On-Screen Keyboard, Touch Events, and Pointer Events.

6 Accessibility and usability testing

Accessibility and usability testing are methods that help businesses evaluate and improve their mobile products and services. Accessibility testing is the process of checking whether a mobile product or service meets the standards and guidelines for accessibility, such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) or the Mobile Accessibility Testing Guidelines (MATG). Usability testing is the process of observing and measuring how users interact with a mobile product or service, and identifying any problems or opportunities for improvement. These methods can help businesses ensure that their mobile products and services are accessible and usable for all users. Some examples of accessibility and usability testing tools are Accessibility Scanner, WAVE, UserTesting, and UsabilityHub.