Evaluating Web Accessibility on iDevices
If you have an iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch, you have a screen reader. VoiceOver comes built-in to all modern Apple touchscreen devices. VoiceOver can be enabled in the device Settings, or by quickly pressing the Home button three times. The following core functions are available:
- Read the entire page: Swipe two fingers upward
- Stop reading: Tap with two fingers
- Read through page elements: Swipe left or right
- Open or modify the rotor (a list of elements which can be navigated): Twist two fingers on the screen
- Select from multiple rotor element by twisting
- Once selected, swipe up or down to cycle through the selected rotor element
- Read from current location: Swipe downward with two fingers
- Select an element: Press and drag finger to an item, or navigate to an item using another navigation gesture
- Activate an item: Double tap
- Zoom: Triple tap
Basic web accessibility evaluation (checking alternative text, form labels, heading structure, reading and navigation order, etc.) can easily be performed on any Apple touchscreen device.
