iPad Accessibility an Unknown
Like everything Apple these days, the iPad appears to be well designed and “sexy”. Besides having an expensive 3G data plan and a minimal e-book selection, there was no mention of the accessibility features of the product by Steve Jobs. Many questions remain to be answered by Apple.
- Will the iPad have text-to-speach support? This is especially needed for any e-book reader application. The Kindle has this feature and it makes the Kindle a very valuable resource to the visually impaired.
- When will the iPad support Flash video? Flash video support is needed for DigitalChalk and other video streaming e-learning applications.
- Are there any keyboard shortcuts for navigation? This would make the iPad easier to use for low vision users.
- Is there plans for a “screen reader” applicaiton for the iPad? Mac OS X Snow Leopard has this feature and it is very competitive with the Windows only JAWS screen reader.
- Does the iPad OS support a magnifier? Again, this is available on Mac OS X and it would help make the iPad accessible to low vision users.
- How does the iPad perform in bright light situations? The Kindle handles bright light very well. Contrast for daytime usage is important for mobile devices.
- What support is available in the iPad SDK for accessibility? Can applications be written with accessibility in mind?
My first response is that the iPad is expensive, content challenged and not accessible. Perhaps time will change my assessment.