Happy Birthday VoiceOver

<div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ets.berkeley.edu/sites/default/files/images/accessibility.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" src="http://ets.berkeley.edu/sites/default/files/images/accessibility.jpg" title="Apple Accessibility icon" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Five years ago, <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2014/04/apple-announces-wwdc-2014-will.html">Apple</a> did what seemed impossible; making the smooth glass of the iPhone touch screen accessible to the blind. A seemingly impossible task made possible by one of Apple's greatest software innovations; at least in my mind and the minds of millions of others with disabilities. Apple's solution was <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2011/07/ios-voiceover-overview.html">VoiceOver</a>, a screen reader like no other before. <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2011/07/ios-voiceover-overview.html">VoiceOver</a>uses touch gestures instead of keyboard shortcuts and other more desktop friendly inputs that had been used before. Simply put, VoiceOver allowed millions of blind and visually impaired users to experience the magic that was iPhone. In some ways, <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2011/07/ios-voiceover-overview.html">VoiceOver</a> is to accessibility as the Model T was to transportation: both brought new opportunities to the masses.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">VoiceOver has come preinstalled on every iPhone, <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2014/04/ipad-mini-nexus-7-or-kindle-fire-hdx.html">iPad</a>, and iPod touch for the past five years. Blind and visually impaired users can purchase a device off the shelf and have access almost immediately. Apple often says “built-in, not bolted on” when talking about accessibility which is </span>definitely accurate in respect to VoiceOver<span style="font-family: inherit;">. Thanks to VoiceOver blind and visually impaired users were as much a part of the smartphone revolution as any other user group. Over the past five years Apple has refined and updated VoiceOver and has added new accessibility features to help users with a wide variety of disabilities. Apple devices pushed the entire smartphone and tablet market to become more accessibile to more people.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The inclusion of VoiceOver and other built-in accessibility features has allowed the App Store to boom with assistive apps to help the needs of people with disabilities. Not only did VoiceOver show that accessibility was possible on a touch screen phone, it gave developers a foundation to build great accessible apps. Basically, VoiceOver created a customer base for apps that helped the blind, which drove demand and increased the supply of great accessible apps. Another app gold-rush of sorts, but this time with apps tailored to people with disabilities. These apps are opening up new possibilities for disabled iOS users.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">On this fifth birthday of VoiceOver, Apple continues improve its accessibility offerings. Apple Keynote events routinely focus on a person with a disability being aided by an Apple product; it is clear that Apple cares about accessibility. New accessibility features come with every release of iOS, allowing users with different needs to get the most out of their device. However, no software is bug free and users are encouraged to email <a href="mailto:accessibility@apple.com">accessibility@apple.com</a> with suggestions or comments. And a many developers still do not support accessibility features in their apps. It can go a long way for users to tweet or email a developer asking for enhanced accessibility features. With Apple releasing “new product categories” within the year as CEO Tim Cook is often heard saying, hopefully accessibility remains at the forefront. VoiceOver has opened doors for millions of blind and low vision users, what other five-year-old can say that?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Happy birthday VoiceOver!</span><o:p></o:p></div>

Diposting oleh Abdullah Syafii