Accessibility Testing: concept, tools, and examples
Accessibility Testing is a modern approach to the ethical use of digital technologies. According to the UN, 20% of the world population are people with disabilities, which is 650 million of the total population. 5 % of them have visual disorders. Consequently, they cannot distinguish the new design shade and the graphics’ colorfulness. Therefore, the new development generation adheres to the concepts of ethics and inclusiveness, as the resources should be available to everyone. This article considers modern resource testing tools and shows how to use them.
What is Accessibility Testing?
Accessibility testing is a subspecies of usability testing. The main concept of inclusivity is taking into account the interests and capabilities of all users. The United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Ireland were the first countries to implement the requirements for equal development accessibility. Accordingly, when a site or application stands designed according to the requirements, all users have access to the content, regardless of perception.
Web Accessibility Initiative as a basis for inclusive development.
The International Internet Standard Web Accessibility Initiative, the standards which concern people with disabilities, age, and temporary difficulties, is dedicated to the accessibility of content. Furthermore, on that site, you will find tests, manuals, and recommendations for designers and layout designers, which can help with accessibility parameters. The main development principles according to the International Internet Standard include 4 requirements for the content, interface, and navigation:
Depending on the conditions met, we can divide the sites into 3 levels of accessibility:
A-minimum;
AA-medium;
AAA-high.
Advantages and disadvantages of Accessibility Testing
High-quality and timely testing will help to identify the points that will make the software product more accessible to all users. Moreover, a broadside approach to accessibility testing brings financial benefits to the business. It expands the target audience segments, increases brand awareness, stimulates innovation, and increases user loyalty. However, the disadvantages of testing include time costs. Therefore, if QA engineers start accessibility testing untimely, you can miss the deadlines, and the client will have to wait longer for the work results.
Accessibility Testing Tools
Generally, to test the public accessibility of a resource, you can use browser extensions like WAVE Evaluation Tool, Lighthouse, and axe Dev Tools. The tools are created by Google and allow us to conduct a performance, accessibility, and SEO audit quickly. Let’s analyze which criteria can help to increase the accessibility indicator.
The contrast ratio provides adequate text and visual content visibility for people with color blindness and poor eyesight.
Excluding elements that distract attention will help people with cognitive impairments to perceive information. Therefore, we do not recommend using animation that pops up or flashes more than 3 times per second.
Readability will help you understand the meaning of what is written faster. It includes a sans-serif font and transcriptions of abbreviations.
Help with data entry, for example, automatic suggestions will simplify typing with amendments.
Implement screenreaders – applications that voice what is written on the screen. Examples of free screen readers: NVDA, Microsoft Narrator, Voiceover.
Accessibility Testing using examples of well-known companies
In conclusion, we will give examples of companies that certainly reached new heights with the help of accessibility testing.
Skype.
Voice conferences on the social network help people with visual impairments to communicate, and video chats – for people with hearing problems.
Tesco.
The British retailer increased its revenue by 13 million pounds when it simplified the navigation and design of the website. Moreover, the simplified version also succeeded among all users, not just those with disabilities or peculiar features.
Apple.
Watch the video to see how the functions of new gadgets and development help people with disabilities.
So, as you can see, where there is development, there will be testing. There is no other way. Therefore, for the software product to be executed with care for each potential client, you must schedule time for accessibility testing in advance. Eventually, to be valid, you need something more than just a completed development task: you need empathy.
Contact the ProArea specialists for a detailed consultation or your solution testing.
