[gps-talkusers] Re: Mobile Accessibility for Android
- From: Mike Arrigo <n0oxy@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 16 Jun 2011 20:53:17 -0500
I would say over all this review is accurate. However, while mobile
accessibility can make some things easier, especially for new users, it's not
required. Talkback and Spiel will provide access as well, and they are free.
On Jun 16, 2011, at 12:13 PM, Baracco, Andrew W wrote:
> The info below comes from the NFB Access Technology Blog.
> Andy
> Impressions of Mobile Accessibility
>
> 6/1/2011
>
> This post describes my experiences with Code Factory’s Mobile Accessibility.
> The Code Factory web site is:
> http://www.codefactory.es/en
> Mobile Accessibility is a package for phones running the Android 2 operating
> system. The package contains ten applications which can be launched from the
> home screen. The phone used to evaluate Mobile Accessibility was an HTC G2
> phone. Mobile Accessibility does make Android phones accessible. Potential
> users should be aware however that practice with the phone will be necessary
> for efficient usage.
>
> A brief description of the HTC G2 phone is in order. The HTC G2 phone has a
> touch screen, track pad and a small keyboard. The HTC G2 phone’s physical
> keyboard is accessed by means of lifting the screen contained in the upper
> half of the phone and swinging it open. The keyboard is a QWERTY style
> keyboard containing 35 keys. The HTC G2 phone also has volume up and down
> keys along its left edge, a power button on the top edge, a camera button on
> the right edge and a USB connector on the lower left edge.
>
> Getting Started
>
> Mobile Accessibility is available as a free demo that will run for thirty
> days. The HTC G2 phone must be linked with a Google account. This linking
> allows applications to be downloaded to it. T-Mobile service was used as the
> carrier. The Code Factory site has a page for Mobile
> Accessibility:http://www.codefactory.es/en/products.asp?id=415
> This page provides more information and most importantly a set of links for
> the User Guide, Quick Start guide etc. Follow the instructions in the User
> Guide with care. Sighted assistance may be necessary to get the applications
> installed. See the user guide section on installation.
>
> Another essential site is Android Access. This site seeks to list all the
> accessible applications for Android. From the tools section, you can download
> a demo for Mobile Accessibility and other useful applications. There are four
> applications that are needed. These are Accessibility settings, Talkback,
> Soundback and Kickback. The last three are found when clicking on the link
> for Talkback. Note that there is a demo version of Mobile Accessibility for
> both the UK and US. If you decide to purchase Mobile Accessibility, you must
> uninstall the demo package before installing the purchased package.
>
> For those not acquainted with touch screen phones, use of these devices will
> require some time and effort to learn. This is not the type of phone to just
> pick up and start making calls with. The documentation uses the term button.
> In this case, button is a spot on a touch screen and not a physical button.
> The terms portrait and landscape are also used. These refer to the
> orientation of the phone. The phone is in portrait mode when the phone is
> being used as a phone for making calls. The phone is in landscape mode when
> it is open and the keyboard is in use. This is critical to understand because
> the buttons on the screen change locations relative to the edges of the
> phone. There is a setting to lock the buttons in place.
>
> Mobile Accessibility has a home screen that lists 10 applications. These are:
> 1. Phone
> 2. Contacts
> 3. SMS messaging
> 4. Alarm Clock
> 5. Calendar
> 6. Email
> 7. Web browser
> 8. Where am I
> 9. Applications
> 10. Settings
>
> Using the track pad, the user can scroll through the applications. Pressing
> the track pad will select the desired application. Space does not permit a
> full description of all the applications.
>
> The phone has the usual controls associated with a phone. The user can with
> practice touch the buttons on the screen or use the track pad to select a
> button to make calls.
>
> A note about the keyboard is in order.
> The top row contains the at-sign, Q to P, and ends with backspace.
> The second row contains the .com/www key, A to L, and ends with enter. The F
> and J keys have nibs on the lower middle edges.
> The bottom row starts with alt, menu, Z to M, and ends with question mark,
> Search, and alt.
> Below the typing keys is the spacebar row. From left to right, the keys are
> shift, Quick Key- 1, comma, spacebar, period, Quick Key-2, Quick Key-3, and
> shift.
> The Shift and Alt keys allow for entering punctuation and numbers. For
> example, holding down the Alt key turns the keys q, w, e, r…p into the
> numbers 1, 2, 3, 4…0.
> The keyboard is not usable when making a phone call unless the Alt key is
> held down.
>
> Web Browser
>
> The Web Browser allows users to browse the web. Navigating the web is
> accomplished by one of the following actions: swiping one finger left to
> right, swiping two fingers up or down, using the menu key, double tapping the
> screen and triple tapping the screen. Swiping one finger from left to right
> advances the page by link, table, heading, paragraph etc. You change the
> effect of swiping by repeatedly pressing the menu key which sequences through
> a list of options. Double tapping the screen selects a link. Triple tapping
> the screen activates a menu giving more options for adding favorites,
> selecting from a favorite, reading etc.
>
> Were Am I?
>
> This simple application will tell you roughly where you are within a block.
> No points of interest are indicated.
> Applications
>
> Applications
>
> The applications button on the home screen opens a list of all the
> applications available on the phone. Swiping two fingers down the screen goes
> to the end of the list while swiping two fingers goes to the beginning of the
> list. A quick swipe down with one finger moves to the next application in the
> list. The applications are visually listed in columns, so swiping to the
> right or left with one finger moves to different sections of the list. Double
> tapping the screen selects the application. Mobile Accessibility will
> announce that you are about to leave Mobile Accessibility and that the
> application you have selected may not speak. Swipe left to select the ok
> button. The list of applications depends on what you have installed. It
> should be noted that within this list of applications is an application name
> settings. This accesses the phone settings, so use care when in this
> application. Two interesting applications are the Talking Compass which
> announces the direction the phone is facing every two seconds. The other
> application is TuneIn Radio. TuneIn Radio is an Internet radio application
> for tuning in a wide variety of stations.
>
> Conclusion
>
> If you want an Android phone, then Mobile Accessibility will make it
> accessible. If at all possible, try a phone with Mobile Accessibility before
> buying it.
>
> Robert Jaquiss
>
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>
> ©2011 All Rights Reserved - Copyright 2011 NFB
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