Resources

The Android Ally

About

The Android Ally is a companion tool for developers and testers to have quick access to Android accessibility tools and settings. I wrote my own version of TalkBack, called, TalkBack for Developers, which is feature complete with the open source version of TalkBack. The Android Ally allows devs to install TalkBack on emulators and devices from the plugin, and can be controlled via keyboard, the Android Debug Bridge and user interface controls.

Installation

Android Studio

  1. Open Android Studio
  2. Open the settings dialog
  3. Navigate to plugins
  4. Search for Android Ally in the marketplace
  5. Click on "Install"

Desktop

  1. Install the Android Debug Bridge on your computer
  2. Download the desktop installation file
  3. (Mac) You may need to right click and select open a few times

Downloads

Accessibility in Android Jetpack Compose

In the Accessibility in Android Jetpack Compose course, I have constructed a framework for Android developers how to think about accessibility from the ground up. The focus is creating a sustainble practice of accessible development, without need of any tools other than those at hand.

The topics covered are:

  1. Accessibility and its benefits
  2. Using Jetpack Compose previews and Espresso for accessibility testing
  3. Creating accessible user interface components
  4. Accessible input validation
  5. How software impacts disability
  6. How to test with:
    • TalkBack
    • Switch Access
    • Voice Access
    • System Magnification
    • An external (physical) keyboard
    • Google's accessibility scanner
  7. Working with settings like animations, font scale and color

Accessibility in Android Jetpack Compose. Users are by far the most important aspect of the applications we write, and ensuring that they have the best experience can feel like a monumental task. Accessibility is about ensuring that the widest range of users can use our apps effectively. It has been proven that by doing accessibility correctly, we can create higher quality, easier to maintain applications. In this course, you will be introduced to the different aspects of Android accessibility and how to implement solutions in Jetpack compose. You will journey through the guiding principles of accessibility, using accepted standards and guidelines, without having to rely on feelings or personal opinions. More Info

Ally Keys (Beta)

Ally Keys is a mobile keyboard testing solution for iPhone and Android. It requires a small element of hardware to act as a bluetooth hardware interface device (keyboard).

The software runs on a host machine from a serial-enabled browser and allows users to control the keyboard from the web page. It also allows for simplistic use of screen readers via virtual macro keypads.

If you want to order the hardware from me, it costs around £20 excluding postage and packaging. It's very informal at this point and will have to be arranged via email, however you can also build one yourself

Android and iPhone Screen Reader Cheat Sheets

Downloads

TalkBack

GESTURES
Next element
A single finger with a left to right arrow underneath
Single finger swipe
left to right

ALT + →
Previous element
A single finger with a right to left arrow underneath
Single finger swipe
right to left

ALT + ←
Tap or activate
A single finger indicating the tap action with ripple like circles around the fingertip
Single finger
double tap

ALT + ENTER
Scroll down
Two fingers with arrows indicating both are moving up
Two finger swipe
lower to higher

↓
Scroll up
Two fingers with arrows indicating both are moving down
Two finger swipe
higher to lower

↑
Back
A single finger with an arrow indicating down and right
Single finger swipe
down then left

ALT + BACKSPACE
Choose granularity
A single finger indicating a diagonal up left and then down left
Single finger swipe
"V" or "^" shape

ALT + SHIFT + ↓
Next at granularity
A single finger with an arrow moving from higher to lower
Single finger swipe
lower to higher

ALT + ↓
Previous at granularity
A single finger with an arrow moving from lower to higher
Single finger swipe
higher to lower

ALT + ↑
Open menu
A single finger with an arrow moving up and then right
Single finger swipe
Up and right

ALT + SPACE

VoiceOver

GESTURES
Next element
A single finger with a left to right arrow underneath
Single finger swipe
left to right

VO + →
Previous element
A single finger with a right to left arrow underneath
Single finger swipe
right to left

VO + ←
Tap or activate
A single finger indicating the tap action with ripple like circles around the fingertip
Single finger
double tap

VO + SPACEBAR
Select reading control (rotor)
Image with thumb and finger rwisting clockwise
Two fingers
bottle cap "twist"

VO + CMD + →
Next reading control
A single finger with an arrow moving from higher to lower
Single finger swipe
higher to lower

VO + ↓
Previous reading control
A single finger with an arrow moving from lower to higher
Single finger swipe
lower to higher

VO + ↑
Back
Two fingers draw a Z shape moving left to right, diagonally down and left, then to the right
Two finger swipe
"Z" shape

ESCAPE
Scroll down
Three fingers moving up
Three finger swipe
lower to higher

OPTION + ↓
Scroll up
Three fingers moving down
Three finger swipe
higher to lower

OPTION + ↑
Switch apps
Four fingers moving from right to left
Four finger swipe
horizontal swipe

VO + SHIFT + [
Use actions
Three hands. The first does a bottle cap twist, the next swipes down, the last dowble taps
Open rotor, select action reading control
double tap

VO + CMD + →, ↑, VO + SPACEBAR
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