websites and mobile applications
A few months ago, we at Everland published the first part research non-visual accessibility of websites and applications in the Russian segment of the Internet. Many services from six areas, from retail to banks, were checked for their accessibility for users of screen readers or otherwise screen access programs (special programs that are primarily used by blind and visually impaired people to access information and various online services on an equal basis with everyone else).
But 6 areas, although the most popular and important, are still not enough to get a full understanding of the level of accessibility of most services needed by a blind user. That is why the research continues, and this time our attention was drawn to such an area as bulletin boards.
Why them?
Bulletin boards have been gaining popularity since a significant part of the population got some kind of access to the Internet. After all, previously, ads had to be placed in newspapers, in special programs on radio or television, in general, using methods that were not always convenient. Moreover, this pleasure was not free.
Internet platforms have allowed those who wish to quickly publish their ad, and those who may be interested in this ad, to find it and contact the author. And this is only a small part of the advantages that bulletin boards have. Let's not forget about the many search and filtering options, people's reviews, the ability to find the desired product or service in another city. In general, any newspaper from the nearest kiosk turns out to be simply beyond competition.
Today, bulletin boards are actively developing, adding new functions and opportunities for users. And users, in turn, can be very different. Let's not forget that blind and visually impaired people may also need to find some product or service, and sometimes even offer something to others. Having asked the question: “How comfortable will it be for them to do this?” – we decided to test the non-visual accessibility of several services in this area.
About the process
An interesting feature of the bulletin boards is that most of the services are presented exclusively as websites. Only two of them have mobile applications for Android and iOS.
To be more specific, we tested:
1. Avito: Android, iOS, Web
2. “Yula”: Android, iOS, Web
3. Flea Market: Web
4. “Doski.ru”: Web
5. “From hand to hand”: Web
7 user scenarios were tested. From authorization and working with the catalog, to publishing your own ads and reviews. Each scenario was assigned a score from 1 to 5, where 5 is excellent accessibility, and 1 is the lack of accessibility as such, often the impossibility of completing the scenario without the help of a sighted person. In addition, the testers identified several of the most interesting or noticeable problems that were discovered during the testing process.
I suggest taking a look at each service separately and understanding what difficulties screen reader users face when trying to use each of them.
More about services
“Avito”
In Russia and neighboring countries, it seems quite difficult to find a person who has not heard of Avito at least once. And it is not surprising, because this is a service that in November 2021 became the most visited site in the world for posting ads. It seems to have everything: cars, real estate, furniture, various services, and much more.
In the case of Avito, we have a choice of what to use: the website, Android or iOS app. All of these options have been tested for non-visual accessibility.
The site turned out to be generally accessible quite well. The main problems arise for the user during registration and interaction with the seller. In case of registration, a window intended for this purpose appears at the bottom of the page. However, to understand that such a window has appeared, you will have to study the page. The ideal option from the point of view of accessibility is when the focus of the screen access program is automatically transferred to the opened window.
As for the dialogue with the seller, the problem is quite simple, which at the same time does not make it less critical. Several buttons, responsible for sending voice messages and attaching photos, do not have a text label. That is, the screen reader user, when placing the cursor on such a button, will hear only that it is a button. Of course, you can try to guess the meaning of each one by clicking on them in turn. But it is unlikely that anyone wants to accidentally send a voice message to the seller. That is why all elements on the site or in the application must be correctly labeled.
The Android app turned out to be a surprise in a good sense, showing a fairly high level of accessibility. The main problems are related to the not always convenient display of certain elements. For example, the screen reader simply pronounces the number of reviews for an ad as a number, without any explanation of what this number refers to.
The iOS app, in turn, did not please with such good accessibility. Its biggest problem is the buttons. Some are not labeled, and some are simply not activated by the screen access program, which is why the user does not have the opportunity to use the functionality of this button. There are enough other problems, such as, for example, the lack of text labels for filters.
“Yula”
The Yula service not only allows you to post and view ads, but also synchronizes the database with the VK social network, which increases the number of people who can potentially notice the published ad. As in the case of Avito, users can choose between the site or mobile applications.
The site's accessibility turned out to be quite good. There are things that could be improved in terms of accessibility, such as redesigning the filters as checkboxes so that a screen reader user could better understand whether a filter is selected or not. There is also the previously mentioned issue of missing text labels for elements in the seller dialogue.
The Android app has an accessibility level close to average. Among the problems, one can highlight the seemingly habitual lack of button labels, and not just anywhere, but in the dialogue with the seller. At the same time, the button for adding a photo in the screen reader view is duplicated several times for some reason, which makes it even more difficult to understand what functionality it has. Another interesting problem is that when entering a phone number at the authorization stage, the screen reader can pronounce some random symbols instead of the numbers from the entered phone number. This can seriously mislead, especially less experienced users who do not always understand well what is happening.
The iOS app again turned out to be less accessible than the same one for Android. The problems are quite typical, but there are many of them. These are mostly unsigned elements, for example, in the same dialogue with the seller. There is also no indication of the selected state of the filters. So, for example, if a screen reader user specifies whether there should be a washing machine in the apartment, the option chosen by him will not be marked in any way. Whereas there can be many such filters, and users are forced to simply remember what they selected there earlier.
“Flea market”
The site's accessibility is average. One of the most noticeable problems is the lack of convenient navigation by headings and landmarks. The better the page is marked up, which is done with headings and dividing it into areas, the easier it is for a screen reader user to navigate it, finding the content they need. If the navigation weren't so bad, it would be much more convenient for a blind person to use “Barakholk”.
“Doski.ru”
The accessibility of this site can be described as below average. Along with the page layout problem already mentioned above, this site also has one that causes a lot of trouble for blind and visually impaired users all over the world – captcha!
Captcha is a useful thing. It helps protect services from automatic registrations, but at the same time, it creates serious problems for users with visual impairments who simply cannot see what is depicted in the picture. Because of this, a blind user has to either recognize a picture with a code using special services (but not everyone has access to them and not always), or ask for help from a sighted person.
The solution to the problem is actually quite obvious. Add an alternative way to solve the captcha, for example, its audio version.
“From hand to hand”
This is an online version of a previously published newspaper with the same name.
The accessibility of the site “From Hand to Hand” can be described as close to low. For example, the element designed to open the menu is not activated using the keyboard. And users of screen access programs in the vast majority of cases use the keyboard, so actions that can only be performed using a mouse cause serious difficulties for them. This creates difficulties not only for blind people, but also for everyone who, for one reason or another, uses only the keyboard.
Another problem with this site is the lack of ability for a screen reader user to attach a photo when creating an ad. Considering that very often an ad simply cannot do without a photo, such a shortcoming makes the service even less accessible.
Conclusion
The accessibility level of the tested services can be described as close to average. An experienced blind user can view ads, communicate with sellers and place their own, but the process is often not simple. An inexperienced user may need the help of a sighted person.
Accessibility, including non-visual, is something that service owners should think about in order to attract clients of different categories. Blind people also “buy sofas on Avito,” look for apartments or manicurist services, and put their things up for sale. data According to the analytical bureau GxP News, there are about 6 million people with visual impairments in Russia! This is a very large audience! And accessibility is also a matter of fairness – everyone has the right to equal access to certain services, regardless of health limitations.
Author: Alexander Pashkevich, Head of the Non-Visual Accessibility Department at the Everland inclusive project
