Web 2.0: Twitter and the blind

The latest Internet phenomenon is Twitter, a micro-blogging platform that in just a few years has attracted millions of users. With short messages (tweets), following and followers, Twitter is reshaping ways of interacting online. Thus, its accessibility is very important for social interaction as well as for work. In this paper we discuss the accessibility of Twitter for blind users interacting via screen reader and voice synthesizer. First, basic functions such as registration, login, posting and reading tweets have been analyzed highlighting accessibility issues, then a discussion is based on the analyzed case study, offering suggestions for designers. Categories and Subject Descriptors H.5.2 [Information Interfaces and Presentation]: User Interfaces – Graphical user interfaces (GUI). K.4.2 [Social Issues]: Handicapped persons/special needs. General Terms Design, Human Factors. Keywords Accessibility, usability, Web 2.0, social network, blind, screen reader.

• Type: Journal
• Year: 2011
• Where: CHITALY
• Authors: Maria Claudia Buzzi, Marina Buzzi, Barbara Leporini
• Keywords: CHITALY 2011, Graphical User Interfaces, Internet Phenomenon, Voice Synthesizer