Google tests search for the blind
The new version of the Google search site was created for use by the blind as well as people with visual impairments. The system called Google Accessible Search differs from the usual search engine page ranking algorithm. Here, among the search results above are sites that are easier to read using speech synthesizers (the so-called screen readers).
Simple text pages, at least extraneous text, HTML with clear formatting, easy text navigation are what blind people need. Distracting visual elements, vivid pictures and animation prevent people with visual impairments. The highest places in the Google Accessible Search search results are pages without any graphics, banners, javascript scripts or other technological stuff.
Google Accessible Search’s site filtering algorithm is based on the GoogleCo-op platform, which incorporates various filters into search results. One of the main developers of the system is the blind programmer T.V. Raman (TV Raman), who previously worked at IBM Research, and now works on Google.
Usability specialists, including guru Jacob Nielsen, have repeatedly drawn attention to the fact that web designers are obliged to take into account the interests of these people when developing websites. Jacob Nielsen wrote about this whole book, which lists 75 principles of competent design.
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According to Jacob Nielsen, compliance with these principles will improve the accessibility of the site not only for people with visual impairments, but also for all other users. After all, they too often have to work, for example, in poor lighting conditions or on a low-quality monitor, or in a hurry. In any of these cases, it is very difficult to hit the tiny button with the cursor or to read the font written in the ninth size.
Ideally, all websites on the Internet should be created using style sheets so that the design is separated from the content and the text is easily read by a screen reader. If the formatting uses columns, then they must be entitled, and all photos must be labeled.
Simple text pages, at least extraneous text, HTML with clear formatting, easy text navigation are what blind people need. Distracting visual elements, vivid pictures and animation prevent people with visual impairments. The highest places in the Google Accessible Search search results are pages without any graphics, banners, javascript scripts or other technological stuff.
Google Accessible Search’s site filtering algorithm is based on the Google
Usability specialists, including guru Jacob Nielsen, have repeatedly drawn attention to the fact that web designers are obliged to take into account the interests of these people when developing websites. Jacob Nielsen wrote about this whole book, which lists 75 principles of competent design.
')
According to Jacob Nielsen, compliance with these principles will improve the accessibility of the site not only for people with visual impairments, but also for all other users. After all, they too often have to work, for example, in poor lighting conditions or on a low-quality monitor, or in a hurry. In any of these cases, it is very difficult to hit the tiny button with the cursor or to read the font written in the ninth size.
Ideally, all websites on the Internet should be created using style sheets so that the design is separated from the content and the text is easily read by a screen reader. If the formatting uses columns, then they must be entitled, and all photos must be labeled.
Source: https://habr.com/ru/post/4195/
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