Voice interface as a new challenge: how to test applications for users with screen readers
Nikita Klimov , Senior QA / QC Engineer in ADP inc. Miami, United StatesAbstract
The article identifies and describes testing methods that take into account the specifics of perception and orientation in the interface of such users. Interaction with voice interfaces creates a number of difficulties for users who use screen readers, as it requires the development of special approaches to create an accessible and user-friendly interface. Throughout the course of this work, the functional and cognitive aspects of voice interaction were investigated, compatibility with screen readers was evaluated, and synchronization of audio streams was studied.
Scientific articles were used as methodological sources, and for the practical part of the work, data contained in open access on the Internet was used, which made it possible to widely consider the chosen topic and form one's own position on the topic under consideration.
The results of the analysis showed that improved audio stream management and command settings reduce the burden on information perception and make it easier to interact with the interface. The conclusion of the work emphasizes the necessity of conducting tests in real-world conditions, considering the characteristics of the target audience.
The information presented in this article will be valuable to developers, designers, and testers who are interested in creating inclusive applications for visually impaired users.
Keywords
Voice interface, screen reader, accessibility
References
Vanukuru R. Accessible spatial audio interfaces: A pilot study into screen readers with concurrent speech //Extended Abstracts of the 2020 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. – 2020. – pp. 1-6.
Abdolrahmani A. et al. Blind people are power users: An argument for centering blind users in the design of voice interfaces //UMBC Student Collection. – 2020.
Phutane M. et al. Speaking with My Screen Reader: Using Audio Fictions to Explore Conversational Access to Interfaces //Proceedings of the 25th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility. – 2023. – pp. 1-18.
Yoshimura K. KaraokeVUI: Utilizing Karaoke Subtitles for Voice User Interfaces to Navigate Users What They Would Say //CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems Extended Abstracts. – 2022. – pp. 1-4.
Iniguez-Carrillo A. L. et al. Usability questionnaires to evaluate voice user interfaces //IEEE Latin America Transactions. – 2021. – Vol. 19. – No. 9. – pp. 1468-1477.
Guglielmi E. et al. Sorry, I don’t Understand: Improving Voice User Interface Testing //Proceedings of the 37th IEEE/ACM International Conference on Automated Software Engineering. - 2022. – pp. 1-12.
Bridging the disability divide: Microsoft’s ongoing accessibility and inclusion journey. [Electronic resource] Access mode: https://news.microsoft.com/en-au/features/bridging-the-disability-divide-microsofts-ongoing-accessibility-and-inclusion-journey / (accessed 07.11.2024).
VoiceOver. [Electronic resource] Access mode:https://developer.apple.com/documentation/accessibility/voiceover?language=objc (accessed 07.11.2024).
What special features are available on Android devices. [Electronic resource] Access mode: https://support.google.com/accessibility/answer/6006564 ?hl=ru-ru (accessed 07.11.2024).
Article Statistics
Copyright License
Copyright (c) 2025 Nikita Klimov
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors retain the copyright of their manuscripts, and all Open Access articles are disseminated under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0 (CC-BY), which licenses unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided that the original work is appropriately cited. The use of general descriptive names, trade names, trademarks, and so forth in this publication, even if not specifically identified, does not imply that these names are not protected by the relevant laws and regulations.