Considerations from international standards for mobile accessibility

Examples of widely used considerations, techniques and technical properties that determine accessibility of web content on smartphones and mobile content are listed here (see table 12).

Table 12: Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 considerations and techniques for mobile content

Principle Consideration Description
Perceivable Small screen size Make it easy to optimize content for small screens.
Zoom/magnification Methods for users to control text size on mobile devices.
Contrast Contrast for varied environments, especially outdoors.
Operable Keyboard control Support external keyboards for various disabilities.
Touch Target Size and Spacing Make interactive elements touch- accessible with sufficient size.
Touchscreen gestures Design for ease of use, considering screen reader users.
Device manipulation gestures Provide alternatives for device manipulation gestures.
Placing buttons where easy to access Consider ease of access for different user preferences and needs.
32
Principle Consideration Description
Understandable Changing screen orientation Support both orientations and notify users of changes programmatically (Portrait/Landscape).
Consistent layout Maintain consistent layouts across pages / screen sizes.
Positioning page elements before scroll Ensure vital information is visible without scrolling (for users with low vision).
Grouping operable elements Improve touch target size and reduce redundancy for better usability.
Provide indication on actionable elements Visually distinguish actionable elements for all users, especially those with vision impairments.
Provide instructions for touchscreen and device manipulation Offer clear instructions for gestures, aiding discoverability, and usability.
Robust Virtual keyboard for the type of data entry required Setting the type of keyboard helps prevent errors and ensures formats are correct but they can be confusing for people who are using a screen reader.
Easy data entry methods Users can enter information on mobile devices in multiple ways such as on-screen keyboard, Bluetooth keyboard, touch, and speech. Minimize text entry.
Support the properties of the platform Examine internal and external (with apps) consistency of mobile device features especially with Android OS as it allows external apps through Play Store.