4x benefits digitally accessible app
We arrange more and more things through apps on your phone. But apps are also important for fun, to buy tickets for a nice day out and to connect with friends. That is why it is important that apps are also easily digitally accessible. These are 4x benefits digitally accessible app.
Apps and digital accessibility
The word app is short for application, or application. They are basically programmes that you install on, say, your smartphone and use to perform various actions. Just think how many apps you use in a day. For example, to do your banking or to log in with DigiD. The use of apps for social media has also become indispensable for many people.
Governments are also required by law to make efforts to make their apps accessible.
Teun Gielen, app specialist at Cardan Technobility
As apps are playing an increasingly important role in our daily lives, it is important that apps are also digitally accessible. This is especially important with apps that you use to arrange things with the government. Think, for example, of the Belastingdienst Aangifte app that you can use to do your tax return. It is important that as many people as possible can simply use these apps.
Apps have also been covered by the legislation of the Government Digital Accessibility Decree since 23 June 2021. Thus, governments must also make efforts to make their apps accessible according to the law. Examining apps, like websites, is done according to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. We have a WCAG-EM survey for iOS and Android.
Benefits digitally accessible app: these are them
So, besides being a legal requirement for governments to pay attention to digital accessibility for apps as well, a digitally accessible app also brings all kinds of benefits:
1. Information available to all
If an app is digitally accessible, the information in it is also available to as many people as possible. Currently, this does not always go well. Users with motor disabilities, for example, often cannot use apps that rely on swiping properly.
Consider, for example, a news app, in which you have to scroll vertically to read an article. This often includes swiping to navigate between different articles. If you want to scroll, but you accidentally move to the left or right first when touching, it is no longer possible to scroll with that touch. As a result, using the app takes much more effort. This can even result in that user not being able to use the app at all and thus not being able to access all the information.
2. Managing matters independently
As mentioned earlier, we increasingly use apps to arrange all kinds of things. If an app is not digitally accessible, some users cannot do this independently. They are then dependent on their environment, for example, or on help from the organisation providing the app. A digitally accessible app can be used by many more people and also supports if something goes wrong with a user. An accessible app thus contributes to the independence of all kinds of people. As a result, they also need to contact the organisation less often.
3. Other perspectives
The WCAG success criteria require you to think about more than just the average user when designing and building your app. You need to think about different user groups and what they need to use your app properly. This will make you look at your apps differently and become more aware of what people might encounter. In this way, you can not only make your app more accessible, but also more user-friendly, for example.
4. Benefits for all
Making apps digitally accessible is especially important for people with disabilities. But by dealing with accessibility, you make your app better to use for everyone. For example, people also often use apps when the sun is shining. The screen is not always easy to see then. An accessible app has enough contrast so that texts and, for example, icons are still clearly visible even in sunny conditions.
The bank's app changes regularly. Usually something goes wrong in terms of accessibility.
Elma Gelens (55), is completely blind
Furthermore, many apps, for example, can only be used in a certain orientation (portrait or landscape). A digitally accessible app should be usable in both orientations. This can also benefit other users in different situations.
How accessible are your apps?
So with a digitally accessible app, you help everyone! Want to know more about how to make your app digitally accessible? Then get in touch with us.
