Zoom lets the user magnify the screen if the user needs to zoom in a region to be able to see any details a bit closer. It is useful to know the gestures that let you zoom in, back out, move around the screen, adjust zoom level or show its menu.
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I used to think of Zoom as an accessibility feature that didn't need support from developers. But actually, testing with Zoom might unveil some issues and bad practices. Watch out for buttons that change something far away on the screen. Using a snackbar is usually not a good idea. Especially if it lets you do/undo something. Because they're ephemeral, they're difficult to spot and/or reach with Zoom, VoiceOver, Switch, Keyboard... Confirming a destructive action with a dialog might be better.
Manual testing is crucial. And therefore, reducing friction to let you start your testing process can be a huge help. Selecting some accessibility shortcuts will do that, putting most of iOS' accessibility features at a triple-click of a button.
Today I want to share something I use a lot. You can convert any article into a “podcast” by enabling Speak Screen in Accessibility Settings, switching to Safari’s Reader Mode and swiping down with two fingers from the top of the screen. I think it is a good example of how if we all knew more about how to use the assistive tech available in iOS, we would find ourselves using more of them, more often, exemplifying quite well that accessibility benefits everyone.
Content © Daniel Devesa Derksen-Staats on Accessibility up to 11! is licensed under CC BY 4.0. License details
