A Complete Guide on iOS Accessibility Testing Tools

Technology in today’s time has reached almost every individual all across the world. Today, almost everyone owns mobile phones, laptops, and other digital products. For a few, it is a necessity, and for a few, it’s a luxury. Now, although these gadgets are easily available, not all are easily accessible. Hence, here, iOS accessibility testing tools show how user-friendly these gadgets are. 

Accessibility testing pertains to various methods employed during product development. Furthermore, it makes the software accessible to people with different abilities. As a result, it allows them to effectively interact with technology. 

What’s more?

Moreover, accessibility testing tools meet the needs of diverse user communities, support equal opportunity programs, and develop digital experiences where all individuals feel they are important.

So, here with this, let us get onto the basics!

What Are iOS Accessibility Testing Tools?

iOS accessibility tools are ones that come with many accessories features, and they are built on Apple’s iOS operating system. Since these tools are mobile-friendly, they become more handy for disabling people.

In the context of iOS app accessibility testing, these tools aim towards better experiences for people with visual, auditory, motor, and cognitive disabilities. We are confident that you might want to learn more about the characteristics. Therefore, the following points outline some of the vital characteristics of iOS accessibility tools.

Were you aware of the statement by US Census Bureau data 2021 that, in total, there are approximately 42.5 million people with disabilities, which is an overall percentage of up to 13% of civilian non-institutionalized Americans?

What Are the Features of iOS Accessibility Testing Tools?

There are many functions that aim at enhancing the accessibility and usability for persons with disabilities. In addition, offshore iOS development has a number of features and tools for this. So, here are some essential resources and techniques for assessing iOS accessibility testing:

VoiceOver

Location: Settings > Accessibility > VoiceOver

A screen reader called VoiceOver reads what's on the screen aloud. This functionality, which comes standard with iOS devices, is essentially crucial for ensuring that your software is accessible to all users. Turn on VoiceOver so that people who use screen readers can see your program from their point of view.

Color Filters

Location: Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size > Color Filters

By altering the colors shown on the screen, color filters assist users who have problems with their color vision. Make sure that the information can still be distinguished by testing your app with various color filter settings.

Switch Control

Location: Settings > Accessibility > Switch Control

Switch Control makes use of adaptive switches to let persons with mobility problems operate their iOS devices. By using Switch Control to test your app, you can even make sure that people who might use switches or other adaptive devices to interface with the device can use it.

Accessibility Inspector

Location: Xcode > Open Developer Tool > Accessibility Inspector

Accessibility inspector, in turn, helps developers and testers explore the accessibility options of user interface elements clearly and easily. Also, it provides information on site availability and accessibility and identifies potential issues.

Guided Access

Location: Settings > Accessibility > Guided Access

Guided Access helps you out by letting you choose which functions are available and keeping your device to one single app. This can also be convenient for your app’s targeted usability testing, especially when you have users who may need to strive toward a particular goal.

What Are Other Features of iOS Accessibility Testing Tools?

Other than the above-mentioned iOS accessibility testing tools, here are a few more features to see: 

Display Accommodations

With the use of this tool, persons with visual impairments can read material more easily by modifying the display settings. Thus, to improve the screen viewing experience, users can activate features like grayscale, inverted colors, and other color filters.

iOS Magnifier

The Magnifier feature turns the iOS device into a magnifying glass, allowing users to zoom in on items using its camera. The Magnifier also has a shortcut and settings that users can use to use it. It also provides options to modify the contrast, brightness, and zoom ratio.

Subtitles and Captioning

iOS makes multimedia content more accessible to users with hearing problems through captions and subtitles. Therefore, for apps that allow them, users can enable closed captions and alter the appearance of the subtitles.

With this impeccable feature set, let us now have a look at its importance. Though we know that these tools help with impairment, there are more benefits as well.

Why Are the iOS Accessibility Testing Tools Necessary?

iOS accessibility testing tools are important for a number of reasons. Chief among them is the need to guarantee that mobile applications are suitable for people with impairments. Since iOS devices—such as iPhones and iPads—are used by many people worldwide, it is critical to design inclusive user experiences. Hence, the following justifies the importance of iOS accessibility tools:

User Experience and Inclusivity

People with disabilities—including those with visual, auditory, motor, and cognitive impairments—can use iOS apps. Thanks to iOS accessibility testing tools. Additionally, developing an inclusive user experience improves the app's use. As a result, it makes the app reach a wider audience.

Adherence to the Law

Many nations have laws and guidelines (such as the Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA, in the US) requiring mobile applications to be accessible. Adherence to these standards is crucial in order to prevent legal complications.

Market Coverage

Developers can reach a wider audience, including individuals with impairments, by developing and testing apps for accessibility with the help of iOS automated accessibility testing. This is a potentially important but frequently disregarded market niche.

Name Recognition

Businesses that put iOS accessibility testing tools on top essentially show that they care about the community. Furthermore, it improves the reputation of the brand and may result in favorable PR. 

App Store Acceptance

iOS software products value accessibility. Therefore, throughout the App Store review process, applications that don't adhere to fundamental accessibility guidelines may get rejected. Hence, for an app to be approved, accessibility compliance must be guaranteed.

What Does the Future Hold for iOS Accessibility Tools?

The area of iOS accessibility testing tools has been developing rapidly, aiming at making Apple products more accessible and engaging for the disabled. So, the potential future developments in iOS accessibility include the following:

AI-Driven Accessibility Features

iOS accessibility testing tools now include artificial intelligence-powered features. Additionally, machine learning algorithms help in understanding user behavior and tailoring the interface to serve each particular user.

Advanced Gesture Controls

Gesture controls have become a crucial part of iOS accessibility following the incorporation of face ID and touch gestures. Therefore, with the help of such advanced gesture detection technology, it will be possible for people to operate with just a few gestures.

Better Haptic Feedback

Some of the individuals are blind or visually challenged and hence require haptic feedback. This would mean that future iOS accessibility testing tools may include sophisticated haptic feedback systems as well. That could result in more refined and multi-sensorial tangible feedback for user input.

Improved Voice Control

Natural language processing and voice recognition technology are developing. This means the industry will be able to apply voice control more advanced. For instance, software apps may have better language voice support with the inclusion of more accurate and extra.

Interface Customization

Using accessibility testing tools, iOS apps can also help improve interface usability and flexibility to meet the user’s preference. In addition, it offers options to change the location of UI elements, color schemes, and font size as well.

Conclusion

Test tools of iOS accessibility fill a big gap, thus making various iOS users feel at home and easy. Hence, using these tools, the developers can minimize any obstacles. In addition, it enables them to evaluate as well as improve the attributes of iOS Apps. So, we can finally be sure and say that iOS accessibility testing tools help the software meet all the users’ needs without considering any disabilities.