Accessibility Trend

We're all used to verifying our human identity by entering a combination of alphanumeric soup-like characters displayed on the screen into a text field when registering for an account on many high-trafficked, B2C web sites. Its a common and acceptable practice that on web forms requiring users to input their personal information, that there is a visual verification system in place geared at determining whether the user is human or a computer program. Unwanted spamming and other programs can affect the user experience both in terms of service quality and information security.

But there's a new trend upping the ante on that feature and making it more accessible to users with disabilities - particularly, those with low-vision or blindness. Google, including Blogger, and Hotmail have added an auditory capability to the verification process so that users can opt to listen to the verification code being read to them versus being required to see and read it only. This feature is usually identified by a loudspeaker or wheelchair icon. I found Hotmail's implementation of this feature to be the most elaborate allowing users to toggle between the picture and audio version, request a new CAPTCHA picture, instructionally intensive, and multi-stepped as once the user clicks on the audio icon, they don't get audio as expected until they click another button to play the audio. At one point, an error message was painted on the screen that the audio was temporarily unavailable. In the case of Google and Blogger, I received an error message when I clicked on the wheelchair icon that there was no software update available from Real to support the content.

On a somewhat tangential note, only some sites explain why this verification step is important to the predominantly account creation or transaction process. Although most users have probably encountered this step in their web-past, it is still one of those things that can still warrant some explanation for first-time users. This is possibly a good example of where your web system needs to be able to cater to everyone, at their level, i.e. the more experienced as well as new users (either to the web or your site) and as well as to less able-bodied users.

It's somewhat surprising that it has taken as long as it has for many of these sites but I commend their efforts in this direction and hope others follow suit. It may not yet be perfection; but, it's an example of innovation and growth in our industry towards universal design and greater overall user experience for all.