Janaki Konar / Switch Control in Action: Enhancing Accessibility #id24 2024

Most mouse users can quickly understand the need to make a website accessible by keyboard, for users who do not use a mouse due to a motor disability or other reasons. But what if a user also does not have the use of a keyboard?

Janaki Konar just finished a presentation on the technology named Switch Control in iOS, or Switch Access in Android, which allows users to use their device using a single motion or small number of motions. This can include sipping and puffing into a mouthpiece, or tapping a pillow. The speaker describes how a user can customize these systems to be more efficient (for example, binding a second action to a long press, or grouping a set of actions into a "recipe" that can be repeated.) And the presentation introduces what makes software easy to use, and how user interfaces can be designed poorly to slow down and frustrate users of Switch Control and Switch Access.

This presentation and many more are part of the free Inclusive Design 24 event going on right now. Follow @[email protected] for more information.