Useful or Frustrating Websites
By Ingber, Janet; Access World, Vol. 11, No. 5Publication Date: September 2010
Review assesses the accessibility to blind users of six websites listed in an article in the June 2010 issue of PC World magazine entitled “52 Incredibly Useful Sites” (http://www.pcworld.com/article/194735/52). A PC running Windows XP, the latest version of Internet Explorer, and Window-Eyes 7.2 screen reader was used to access the sites. Websites reviewed were (1) RetailMeNot (http://www.retailmenot.com/), a site providing access to electronic coupons or discount codes that can be used to save money with online retailers, which the reviewer found to be the source of an extraordinary number and variety of coupons and relatively easy to navigate with the use of Window-Eyes’ Find command; (2) Eventful (http://eventful.com/), a site listing local events in the user’s geographic area, which was found to be difficult for any user to navigate, let alone one using a screen reader; (3) Teux Deux (http://teuxdeux.com/), a site for organizing and maintaining a “to do” list which can be accessed from any computer, which had features including unlabeled graphics that made some tasks inaccessible; (4) Speed Test (http://www.speedtest.net/), a site allowing users to test their computer’s upload and download speeds to discern problems with the computer or Internet service provider, which was found completely inaccessible as results are presented as an unlabeled graphic; (5) Nutrition Data (http://nutritiondata.self.com/) providing nutritional information on a wide variety of foods, which the reviewer found easy to access, although the information was sometimes difficult to read; and (6) Sit or Squat (http://www.sitorsquat.com/sitorsquat/home/map), used to locate the public bathrooms closest to the user, which displays search results as unlabeled graphics inaccessible to the screen reader.
Assistive Products Discussed: WINDOW-EYES PROFESSIONAL
Published by: AFB Press (Website:http://www.afb.org/Section.asp?SectionID=46)
American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) (Web Site: http://www.afb.org )
Link to text: http://www.afb.org/afbpress/pub.asp?DocID=aw110506
