Magnifiers Need More Focus
Originally posted August 27, 2008
Both Mac OS/X and Windows Vista have magnifiers for their low vision users. Microsoft has added features that help the user place the magnified content into context. With limited resources, both Apple and Microsoft have moved the magnifier to the bottom of their list of upgraded feature requirements. They get their “ticky marks” for having a magnifier, however some focus is required. I would add this list of requirements to their development plans.
- Provide Text smoothing. – Apple provides image smoothing but not text smoothing. When text is magnified beyond 4x, the user can see “digital jag”. The text has raged edges where the magnifier shows individual pixels. This could be resolved. Performance issues will have to be overcome. Commercial magnifiers have this feature.
- Enable the magnifier to follow cursor movement. – OS/X has this. This should be provided by all magnifiers. The user should be able to turn this feature on/off quickly.
- Provide a magnification spotlight. – This will allow the user to only magnify a small area of the screen. This helps with context. Windows allows the user to determine the size of the magnification rectangle. All magnifiers need this feature. The user should be able to toggle between full screen and spotlight quickly.
- Do not use an on-screen preferences window. – Some commercial magnifiers have an on-screen magnifier preference window. This is annoying and requires the user to have to find it or worse, move it out of the way. Mac OS/X uses the System Preferences menu option to set magnifier options. Shortcut keys could remove the need for an on-screen window.
- Provide keyboard shortcuts. – Shortcuts should be one-handed. Shortcuts are needed for; toggling magnification on/off, moving the magnification focus up/down/left/right, switching from full screen/spotlight and increasing/decreasing magnification. This would help with keeping magnified information in context. Sighted users who are working with visually impaired users would GREATLY APPRECIATE this support!
- Provide navigation assistance. Shortcut keys are needed to move the magnification focus to vertical/horizontal areas of the screen as well as the next data entry control or default button. Scrolling shortcuts are needed as well. IBM OS/2 had this feature with their magnifier. IBM used the numeric keypad to move magnification and the mouse pointer to one of nine areas of the screen. What a help!
- Provide individual window magnification. – Magnifying individual windows on the desktop allows the desktop context to be maintained. The user does not have to turn magnification off/on or navigate long distances to find another application icon on the desktop. This is especially helpful to sighted users who are working with visually impaired users on their machine.
Assistive technology needs to keep up with the OS. Investment in assistive technology should be continuous. Apple and Microsoft have magnifiers. They need to be encouraged to do more.