ACCESS-IT@Web 2.0 - Accessible Twitter
Presented by Meera Tank, London, 23 September 2009.
Summary
Accessible Twitter provides a web-accessible and standards-compliant version of the Twitter web site, a very popular micro-blogging web service.
Issues with Twitter.com
- Many web accessibility issues including:
- Some core functionality is not keyboard accessible.
- Poor use of headings.
- Much core functionality requires JavaScript.
Keyboard Accessible
- Keyboard cannot access Favorite, Reply, and Delete links.
- ALL links are keyboard accessible.
Use of Headings
Poor use of headings
- Where are the tweets?
- Can you find the menu?
- What site is this?
- What account is this?
- Also:
- Why is the footer under Following?
- "Saved Searches" is a primary heading but doesn’t display on the page.
Ideal use of headings
- Where are the tweets?
- Can you find the menu?
- What site is this?
- What account is this?
- *Names of Tweet authors are headings which greatly improves navigation for screen readers.
JavaScript
Twitter.com requires JavaScript.
Without it, the user is:
- Unable to Favorite a tweet.
- Unable to Delete a tweet.
- Unable to access the content under Trending Topics & Followers.
- Unable to perform Actions on Followers and Following pages.
Accessible Twitter is fully functional without JavaScript.
Other issues with Twitter.com that Accessible Twitter addresses
- Sidebar navigation is inconsistent.
- Links unclear (underlined removed, colors).
- Custom colors may not be readable.
- Code doesn't validate.
- Code could use better semantics.
- Form fields are missing labels.
- Fieldset tags used without legends.
- Layout width is static not flexible.
Other Benefits
- Works in text-only user-agents such as Lynx (thanks to progress enhancement).
- Keyboard accessibility opens gate for many other types of input devices.
- Providing clear, consistent content and navigation benefits those with cognitive impairments (and is more usable in general).
- Use with a mobile device is possible.
Where it is currently offered
Accessible Twitter is free to use.
www.AccessibleTwitter.com
Quotes from Users
"Wow! You have really made my day, and I am smiling once again. I am so excited that I found your Accessible Twitter. Now I feel that I can be in the cutting edge of everything that is happening in the Twitter Universe." - Jacqueline
"You can easily navigate by several methods; skip links, form fields, headings. Very effective with a screen reader."
"really easy with a Braille Display to use"
"From now on my default web interface for Twitter! Keyboard accessible == touch accessible!"
"…seems to work nicely in Lynx. Main Twitter won't let me login and mobile site won't show followers."
"Liking it more than twitter.com! Cleaner, easier, fun!"
"Love this! So clear & Easy #dyslexia"
"Good to see somebody doing Twitter’s job for them..." –Paul Boag
Read more:
http://accessibletwitter.com/articles.php
Promote Web Accessibility for Twitter
Use Accessible Twitter
Will be listed under "source" of status/tweet
Discuss Accessible Twitter
Benefits, drawbacks, other applications
Donate to Accessible Twitter
Via PayPal
Future Enhancements
Many enhancements and features are planned including:
- Caching on Trends and Popular Links pages.
- Better error handling.
- Implement ARIA live regions.
- Functionality to upload photos via Twitpic and/or yFrog.
- Open Authentication.
Attend the Session
"Twitter & Web Accessibility" presented by Dennis Lembree.
12th Annual Accessing Higher Ground near Denver, Colorado.
"Accessible Media, Web and Technology Conference"
10-14 Nov 2009 (Tue-Sat).
Session is scheduled at 9:15am Thu, 12 Nov.
Web Accessibility Podcast & Blog
The author of Accessible Twitter is also the founder of Web Axe, a podcast and blog focused on web accessibility.
http://webaxe.blogspot.com
Since Sept 2005
Approximately 3,000 RSS subscribers
Contact Details
On Twitter
- @AccessibleTwitr
- @WebAxe
- @DennisL