An Introduction to Widgets
The demand for easy and efficient access to online information increases rapidly over time. Innovative, network-enabled devices such as mobile phones and tablets facilitate access via browsers at any time and any place. However, while mobile browsers are designed to display most websites, a large percentage fail to provide a rich user experience for individuals with limiting conditions such as visual impairments and similar disabilities.
Mobile widgets offer an effective method of delivering customized web content to mobile devices. As more than half of internet users search for information and complete purchases online, more developers move toward developing widgets that address the various challenges of different types of internet users. Accessibility widgets is a prime example of a mobile widget as it is designed to promote a rich user experience for a select group of users. Let’s take a closer look at how they work.
What are accessibility widgets?
Essentially, an accessibility widget creates overlays integrated into existing websites that aims to resolve prevailing accessibility issues in adherence to comply with prevailing compliance rules of the ADA and WCAG. A standard accessibility widget is made up of two essential components:
Toolbar
A toolbar allows site visitors to open and select from a list of options, allowing them to make changes in site styling features. Changes include increasing or decreasing contracts, stopping moving elements, changing text size, and transforming texts into voice, to name a few.
Automated changes
Automatic changes enable users to apply text label alternatives to images that lack structuring site navigation elements. This is done to achieve uniformity and alignment with a site’s standard design practices that assistive tools and technologies depend on.
Keep in mind that installing an accessibility widget is only one of the many ways to adhere to ADA compliance rules. Additionally, these tools do not guarantee full protection against litigation, nor can they offer a full guarantee that a website will be free from accessibility issues.
Support other web optimizations
To make your website optimized, compliant, and robust, it is crucial to use accessibility widgets as part of a comprehensive web design optimization strategy. It is never enough to install a widget. Here are standard optimization activities that you can do on your own.
- Make sure to adhere to standard web designing rules.
- Pay close attention to your site to create sufficient contrasts.
- Implement the two senses principle by adding alternative texts to images.
- Upload video with subtitles or transcriptions of spoken content.
- Incorporate audio descriptions into videos content.
Advantages of accessibility widgets
To get the most value for money, one must research the different accessibility software offered by third-party developers before committing to a long-term subscription. Gaining a clear understanding of the benefits and drawbacks of each product on the market will help you arrive at a well-informed decision.
- Users with certain impairments appreciate the ease and speed in accessing sites
- Make web pages more interactive.
- Online guests recognize the immense value that you place on accessibility.
- Widgets display your company’s proactive measures in staying compliant with ADA guidelines, thus reducing litigation threats.
- Developers that offer accessibility widgets provide users with excellent legal defense in court.
Final thoughts
Investing in a third-party accessibility widget will significantly help in your efforts of delivering a rich user experience while upholding compliance according to ADA and WCAG rules.