Re: Screen Reader Survey for User Research Class

But you see your question in my case illustrates my point.
Your focus is which of the dozens of screen readers, used by what segment 
of the population to access what types of web sites in which environment?
The "do you have a vision impairment," question alone reduces what you can 
learn.
Why not ask instead why a person chooses   to use a screen reader for 
their internet needs?
why not ask if they use this in combination with other tools?
Personally I have 7 different screen readers on  the computer I am using 
right now, and am combining two different operating systems...but this is 
me.
what I use does not reflect what others may be using.
Does this make sense?
A screen reader is not like a fork or a pencil. It may be simply a 
monitor, it may be  more than this.
Your survey failed for me because none of your choices were designed to 
work  with a keyboard in a low graphics environment..no active links, no 
questions to answer, just the words.  This is a problem that can happen 
with google forms.    For others because 
the  elements in your form did not respond well with a keyboard 
either...but for totally different reasons, bleeding check boxes.
I am unsure how my individual situation can be projected  on to anyone 
else.
   I am very certain the problems others are having do not apply to me.

That may be one critical factor here.  If you are not prepared to 
say include those with learning disabilities who use screen readers into 
your population, or blend screen reading with Braille displays,  or 
magnification, or 
incorporate it in a low graphics environment or  one say where 
a keyboard is not used at all, your research will not present much that can be 
applied.  It may, regardless of your intentions, fortify stereotypes and I 
feel sure that is not your goal.
Really I am not intending to be hard on you.  Still there are rather a few 
who find access a challenge because one well meaning researcher spoke to 
a handful of people and decided their use reflects everyone.  The 
suggestion that all those in the  copulation using a screen reader  are 
interchangeable educates  no one if that makes sense.
Karen


On Tue, 17 May 2016, Anh Hua wrote:

> Hi Karen,
>
> Thank you for your feedback!
>
> For the scope of this class, my focus is screen readers and the internet.
> The purpose is to understand how people use screen reader to access content
> on websites, identify common patterns and learn about what can be done to
> improve the web browsing experience. I understand it is limited in scope
> and doesn't cover all of the use cases of other assistive technology as
> well as different ways people access content on the web. However, with the
> time and resources, I can't dive deeper into this topic as I would like to.
>
> May I ask what is the operating system, screen reader, and browser that you
> use?
> I'll be sure to include this issue in the report!
>
> Thanks again!
>
> *ANH HUA*
> College of Engineering
> University of Washington | Class of 2017
> Human Centered Design and Engineering
> anhhua@uw.edu
>
> On Tue, May 17, 2016 at 3:04 PM, Karen Lewellen <klewellen@shellworld.net>
> wrote:
>
>> One more point then.
>> Your institution has  Human centered design in its name.    may I suggest
>> that you treat this subject if you can of course, with the individual human
>> respect that title mandates.
>> Just as DNA sets individuals apart in unique but human ways, the factors
>> behind the  choices of adaptive tools may be governed by human individual
>> choices.  Choices that regardless of a shared label, may be as different as
>> DNA.
>> Off my soapbox smiles.
>> Karen
>>
>>
>> On Tue, 17 May 2016, Anh Hua wrote:
>>
>> I'm also taking notes of all of the opinions! Thank you for taking the time
>>> to give feedback!
>>>
>>> Best wishes!
>>>
>>> *ANH HUA*
>>> College of Engineering
>>> University of Washington | Class of 2017
>>> Human Centered Design and Engineering
>>> anhhua@uw.edu
>>>
>>> On Tue, May 17, 2016 at 1:36 PM, Anh Hua <anhhua@uw.edu> wrote:
>>>
>>> I'm terribly sorry to hear that it wasn't accessible for you. I'm a
>>>> student and am just starting to learn about accessibility, therefore I
>>>> don't entirely have the hang of it yet. I consulted a few people who use
>>>> screen readers to see which survey tool was accessible to use before
>>>> starting the project. At the end I went with Google Form because it
>>>> allowed
>>>> anyone to access, as opposed to Catalyst, a survey tool my school
>>>> provide.
>>>> However it seems like it is not accessible for everyone.
>>>>
>>>> So I have a few questions regarding the feedback:
>>>>
>>>>    1. Can you tell me what was inaccessible about it so I can make sure
>>>>    it doesn't happen again?
>>>>    2. What survey tools do you usually use that are accessible?
>>>>    3. For the problems you encountered, have that happened with Google
>>>>    Form before?
>>>>
>>>> Thank you!
>>>>
>>>> *ANH HUA*
>>>> College of Engineering
>>>> University of Washington | Class of 2017
>>>> Human Centered Design and Engineering
>>>> anhhua@uw.edu
>>>>
>>>> On Tue, May 17, 2016 at 9:54 AM, <accessys@smart.net> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> agree with all you have said and I probably would have said similar if I
>>>>> wasn't so dang PO'd after my first attempt. then got busy with work.
>>>>>
>>>>> let me just add
>>>>>
>>>>> Amen!!
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Bob
>>>>>
>>>>> On Tue, 17 May 2016, Karen Lewellen wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> Date: Tue, 17 May 2016 11:51:02 -0400 (EDT)
>>>>>
>>>>>> From: Karen Lewellen <klewellen@shellworld.net>
>>>>>> To: accessys@smart.net
>>>>>> Cc: Anh Hua <anhhua@uw.edu>, w3c-wai-ig@w3.org
>>>>>> Subject: Re: Screen Reader Survey for User Research Class
>>>>>> Resent-Date: Tue, 17 May 2016 15:51:34 +0000
>>>>>> Resent-From: w3c-wai-ig@w3.org
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> ...Actually rather a few issues here.
>>>>>> If this survey is to have choices, it is not constructed towards that
>>>>>> end. instead at least for me, the entire survey is one long text entry
>>>>>> field. Was that intended?
>>>>>> Further, your questions suggest that the tool, somehow changes the
>>>>>> object on which that tool is used, rather than individual choices and
>>>>>> goals
>>>>>> influencing how a tool is used. Some screen readers do just that read,
>>>>>> think of our monitor, some allow a person to interact, some work
>>>>>> better in
>>>>>> different computer environments.
>>>>>> Additionally many populations besides those experiencing vision issues
>>>>>> can and often do make use of screen readers.
>>>>>> I have read more than once that  the human brain processes faster with
>>>>>> verbal input, so  that can translate to a person with another reading
>>>>>> uniqueness benefiting as well.
>>>>>> lastly since screen readers can be used in combination with other
>>>>>> technology, you may be missing some applications of your research.
>>>>>> Speaking only for myself the stereotypes associated with adaptive
>>>>>> technology do a great deal of damage.  Your questions seem rooted in
>>>>>> more
>>>>>> stereotypes as I read it, suggesting that only one population should
>>>>>> enjoy
>>>>>> inclusive web experiences.  that has me wondering what your survey will
>>>>>> contribute to the inclusiveness field?
>>>>>> Karen
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On Tue, 17 May 2016, accessys@smart.net wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> survey doesn't work with all screen readers
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> nothing like a survey about screen readers that won't work with
>>>>>>> them......
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Bob
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On Mon, 16 May 2016, Anh Hua wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>  Date: Mon, 16 May 2016 19:56:50 -0700
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>  From: Anh Hua <anhhua@uw.edu>
>>>>>>>>  To: w3c-wai-ig@w3.org
>>>>>>>>  Subject: Screen Reader Survey for User Research Class
>>>>>>>>  Resent-Date: Tue, 17 May 2016 02:57:24 +0000
>>>>>>>>  Resent-From: w3c-wai-ig@w3.org
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>  Hi everyone,
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>  My name is Anh Hua. I am a student at the University of Washington
>>>>>>>>  studying
>>>>>>>>  Human Centered Design and Engineering. This quarter I'm taking a
>>>>>>>> class in
>>>>>>>>  user research. I'm really interested in accessibility, therefore I
>>>>>>>> am
>>>>>>>>  learning about web accessibility and screen reader usage. I would
>>>>>>>> really
>>>>>>>>  appreciate it if you can help me with this survey. The survey is
>>>>>>>> only
>>>>>>>> 5
>>>>>>>>  minute long, and it would help solidify my findings from previous
>>>>>>>> projects
>>>>>>>>  as well as provide insights for my final reports.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>  The link to the survey is listed below:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>  Link to Survey <http://goo.gl/forms/M7fUC8HKpg>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>  Thank you all! I would also really appreciate it if you have friends
>>>>>>>> or
>>>>>>>>  acquaintances who use screen readers and would have great insights
>>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>>> add.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>  Best wishes,
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>  *ANH HUA*
>>>>>>>>  College of Engineering
>>>>>>>>  University of Washington | Class of 2017
>>>>>>>>  Human Centered Design and Engineering
>>>>>>>>  anhhua@uw.edu
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>

Received on Wednesday, 18 May 2016 01:16:22 UTC