Hi Everyone!
I'm a software developer who for many years has built free apps to explore how I can build the most accessible experiences possible using today's technology, and to share my learnings with other developers to help them consider the accessibility of their own apps.
My latest app is a solitaire game, and while the app is very much a work in progress, it has already received some encouraging feedback from players who are blind. One player has told me that he's been able to complete a game of solitaire for the first time in his life using the app.
Importantly, I've made a number of updates to the app based on suggestions from players, including options for the following:
- VoiceOver can announce moves that are currently available in the game.
- VoiceOver can announce the current state of the game, including optionally having the rank and suit of face-down cards announced.
- VoiceOver can announce the lowest face-up card in a dealt card pile when VoiceOver moves to the top-most card in the pile.
- Extend the width of the top-most card in the dealt card piles all the way across the screen, to allow players to simply move their finger up and down the right edge of the screen to encounter the cards.
Next Steps
While the app has got off to a very exciting start, I'm keen to have more feedback from players to help me learn how I can enhance the game-playing experience further, and to help me understand where I should be focusing my efforts.
The app itself is freely available at the Apple App Store, Accessible Solitaire. If anyone has any thoughts on how I can make the game more usable and more enjoyable, I'd really value your advice, and I'll add your ideas to the list of things I need to concentrate on.
And any suggestions you might have would ultimately help other developers learn too, as I'll be discussing and demonstrating the app again with developers next month. For anyone interested in some of the more technical aspects of the app, I've shared some thoughts on its development at Guy Barker's Articles.
I'd be happy to provide more details on the app if that would help.
Thanks!
Guy