Making Cell Phones Accessible: Computers in Our Pockets Must Talk
By Chong, Curtis; Braille Monitor, Vol. 54, No. 1, pp. 31-34Publication Date: January 2011
Article discusses efforts by Microsoft to make its Windows Phone 7 mobile phone accessible to blind users. The author reports on a Mobile Accessibility Roundtable he attended with a number of blindness organizations regarding non-visual access to Windows Phone 7. Issues discussed included the incompatibility of the Mobile Speak and Talks screen reading program with the new phone, although these programs had worked on the previous operating system, Windows Mobile 6.5. The company’s explanation for the incompatibility cited is that building the infrastructure needed to support screen reading software into the new operating system was not feasible. The author’s recommendations to Microsoft for making its mobile phone operating system accessible to blind users include building accessibility into its products directly instead of relying on outside parties to furnish the solution. However, in so doing, it should not shut out companies such as Nuance and Code Factory which can develop add-on products that will enable blind users to operate Microsoft Mobile products. The role of consumers in pressuring Microsoft for non-visual access to its products is also emphasized.
Assistive Products Discussed: NUANCE TALKS
MOBILE SPEAK
MOBILE SPEAK SMARTPHONE
MOBILE SPEAK POCKET
Published by: National Federation of the Blind (Website:http://www.nfb.org)
Link to text: http://www.nfb.org/images/nfb/Publications/bm/bm11/bm1101/bm110107.htm
Link to audio: https://www.nfb.org/images/nfb/Audio/Braille_Monitor/2011/January/08_Making_Cell_Phones_Accessible.mp3
