|
by Jeffrey Bennett 'The users of screen reading software, like everyone else, are interested in social networking websites. Sites such as Myspace.com and Facebook.com are quite challenging for the screen reading user. The social networking site which is the most promising for screen reading users is Twitter found on the web at http://www.twitter.com. The Twitter website is quite accessible for screen reading users. There is a skip navigation link at the top of the page, and all graphics and links are appropriately labeled. The only problem that the user of screen reading users will encounter is the signup process. This site uses Recapcha. The screen reading user must be able to enter a series of words in to an edit box. These words cannot be read by screen reading software. There is an alternative, the screen reading user can listen to a phrase, and enter what is heard. This can be rather challenging. If you use Firefox, there is an addin from a company called Webvisum found on the web at http://www.webvisum.com. This addin will capture the Capcha image, and place that image in the user’s clipboard. The user will paste that image in to the edit field. Once this has been accomplished, the user can successfully accomplish the task of signing on to Twitter.
Twitter has an open source API, which allows the creation of Twitter applications. One of these applications is McTwit. This application allows the screen reading user the ability to use Twitter without entering the Twitter website. The program produced by Jamal Mazrui, can be found at the following link http://empowermentzone.mtsetup.exe. This program has been designed for the screen reading user, with full keyboard support. The program is well documented, with the documentation easy to read and understand. If you use the registered version of Microsoft Outlook, another program that screen reading software users can use is Twinbox. This program allows the user to use twitter within the Outlook client. Another website for Twitter users is Accessible Twitter found on the web at http://www.accessibletwitter.com. This site is fully accessible, and has even more accessibility features than the Twitter website. This is just a brief look at the Twitter social networking site.' Accessible Social Networking This article was originally printed in the NYS Forum IT Accessibility Committee June 2009 Newsletter: http://www.nysforum.org/committees/itaccessibility/newsletters/june09-access-newsletter.aspx Reprinted in full with Jeffrey (Jeff) Bennett's approval. -- August 9, 2009 About the Author - Jeffrey Bennett Jeff Bennett is an active Twitter user. His twitter id is jbb1260. -- https://twitter.com/jbb1260 Jeff is blind and uses JAWS as his screen reading software. Jeff has been very active in website accessibility for many years. His interests are radio broadcasting, and what's happening in the radio industry. According to Jeff, "Most of my postings are about radio broadcasting news. The Twitter website is very useable, and there are other apps that work with twitter. Facebook can be used, however, this social networking site is a bit more difficult for the screen reading user."
|
