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Hugo Slabbert ⚠️

@robfielding @Gargron what has been your experience of Mastodon and fediverse apps in general? Accessible to braille terminals?

5 Nov 2022 at 3:36 | Wall-to-wall | Open on social.treehouse.systems
11 comments
Rob

@hugo @Gargron

I literally got here a few hours ago. I will have a real opinion using my braille terminal from my iPhone.

But I am working on a 16-key keyboard that is based on computer-braille layout; and it can do EVERYTHING that a US qwerty keyboard can do. I can't figure out how to nav between Home/Notifications/LocalTimeline/Input yet.

On Twitter, I managed to figure it out without Googling, because I found a place to pop up the shortcuts. Mouseless navigation is everything.

5 Nov 2022 at 3:39 | Open on awscommunity.social
Rob

@hugo @Gargron

A challenge: get through the weekend with no mouse at all. It's so so hard. And that's before you try to rely on braille output, and spoken Voiceover only. Some blind users just rely on audio output and qwerty most of the time.

5 Nov 2022 at 3:40 | Open on awscommunity.social
Rob

@hugo @Gargron

"Hey Elon, Accessibility isn't just for blind people. How can I blast through my Twitter feed while driving a Tesla; unless I can ask Siri to turn on VoiceOver mode so that I am hands-free with eyes on the road?"

5 Nov 2022 at 3:43 | Open on awscommunity.social
Hugo Slabbert ⚠️

@robfielding @Gargron I've only done tiny bits of text based nav when e.g. working on headless servers with text based browsers, in a pinch before mass availability of smart phones or when in poorly connected areas. I can only imagine.

I'm not personally familiar with the screen reader experience or if there are specific instances geared to the blind community. I did come across a guide geared towards screen reader users for Mastodon, with a focus on keyboard navigation. I'm not sure of that's a helpful starting resource? There are several chapters in the guide as a whole, but this one is geared towards interaction and timeline navigation specifically:

starshipchangeling.net/changel

@robfielding @Gargron I've only done tiny bits of text based nav when e.g. working on headless servers with text based browsers, in a pinch before mass availability of smart phones or when in poorly connected areas. I can only imagine.

I'm not personally familiar with the screen reader experience or if there are specific instances geared to the blind community. I did come across a guide geared towards screen reader users for Mastodon, with a focus on keyboard navigation. I'm not sure of that's a...

5 Nov 2022 at 4:02 | Open on social.treehouse.systems
Rob

@hugo @Gargron

I think the whole problem with most Accessibility approaches is that... You have government people threatening you with fines if you don't follow the government guidelines. And you get people that need it, reminding people of such laws on Twitter; constantly.

Instead, think about use cases such as devices without good screens. Up/Down/Left/Right/Select and voice into your headphones. Tweeting while walking. Use cases for everyone.

5 Nov 2022 at 4:09 | Open on awscommunity.social
Rob

@hugo

I'm building a tiny keyboard with only 16 keys so that it fits onto the backside of an iPhone case (with thumbs on glass). I'm not even thinking about blind people. I'm deliberately ignoring them for now, because contracted (expert-level) braille is too hard for general use.

5 Nov 2022 at 4:11 | Open on awscommunity.social
Hugo Slabbert ⚠️

@robfielding that sounds like an awesome project. Do you have info on that somewhere?

5 Nov 2022 at 4:15 | Open on social.treehouse.systems
Rob

@hugo

Play around with learning Computer Braille by just typing side-by-side (kind of needs a desktop screen right now):

rfielding.github.io/editor.htm

Random code in github for 3D printing iPhone cases, 8-dot computer braille styluses, translating ASCII to computer-braille, and turning a keybow2040 4x4 mechanical key keyboard into a braille keyboard, etc.

github.com/rfielding/teeny

With a more expert than me keyboard-building collaborator. @scarlettibach (twitter)

My first video post.

@hugo

Play around with learning Computer Braille by just typing side-by-side (kind of needs a desktop screen right now):

rfielding.github.io/editor.htm

Random code in github for 3D printing iPhone cases, 8-dot computer braille styluses, translating ASCII to computer-braille, and turning a keybow2040 4x4 mechanical key keyboard into a braille keyboard, etc.

5 Nov 2022 at 4:21 | Open on awscommunity.social
Rob

@hugo @Gargron

this link to starshipchangeling for instance. it says "g" and "N" to go to Notifications tab. I don't use JAWS on here, because the keyboard is braille layout to make it small... but it's not specifically for blind people; so it looks like a totally normal keyboard, in no specific Accessibility mode turned on. it's in Braille to make this mechanical keyboard with chonky keys fit in my pocket.

5 Nov 2022 at 4:31 | Open on awscommunity.social
Rob

@hugo @Gargron

ie: I am betting that a lot of people would learn a chorded keyboard layout if the keyboard is on the back of an iPhone case; and braille is amazing for that task. but the keyboard appears US qwerty to the OS.

5 Nov 2022 at 4:34 | Open on awscommunity.social
Rob

@hugo @Gargron

When I first got it working, I tried to get through days of computer use with no actual qwerty keyboard or mouse. Too much stuff doesn't do good mouseless navigation though. It's step 1 to accessibility; before you even imagine that blind people exist.

5 Nov 2022 at 4:35 | Open on awscommunity.social
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