Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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How do visually impaired people like to lock and unlock mobile phones? (self.Blind)
submitted by andypans12
Hello!
I am a masters student doing a project on mobile phone usability. Some locking methods on smartphones such as passwords or pattern-drawing seem like they are not very accessible for people who are visually impaired. I was wondering if there are any locking mechanisms that you find to work well, or if you wished there was another way to unlock your phone?
For my project, I want to create a new type of password for mobile phones where the user can enter a specific sequence of button clicks (using the volume buttons, power button, and screen tapping). I am wondering if visually impaired people think this function would be useful? Thank you for your help!
I am a masters student doing a project on mobile phone usability. Some locking methods on smartphones such as passwords or pattern-drawing seem like they are not very accessible for people who are visually impaired. I was wondering if there are any locking mechanisms that you find to work well, or if you wished there was another way to unlock your phone?
For my project, I want to create a new type of password for mobile phones where the user can enter a specific sequence of button clicks (using the volume buttons, power button, and screen tapping). I am wondering if visually impaired people think this function would be useful? Thank you for your help!
CloudyBeep 5 points 2y ago
Some blind people actually prefer entering a passcode to using face identification if they can't look directly into the camera because someone could potentially take their phone from them and unlock it very quickly without the blind person's consent.
andypans12 [OP] 2 points 2y ago
That's a great point regarding security! Thank you!
[deleted] 1 points 2y ago
[removed]
strangehoney 5 points 2y ago
They use voiceover! It is basically the same and people get really fast at punching in the code this way. Play with your accessibility settings and try it yourself. It will seem cumbersome but only because you are a novice at it.
I think there are also ways to unlock with your face or set certain buttons under accessibility to do something similar to what you're thinking about.
Good luck on your project!
I think there are also ways to unlock with your face or set certain buttons under accessibility to do something similar to what you're thinking about.
Good luck on your project!
andypans12 [OP] 1 points 2y ago
I've never heard of voiceover - I will check that out. Thank you for replying!
SPN-hunter 3 points 2y ago
I miss touch ID on the iPhone!
andypans12 [OP] 1 points 2y ago
Touch ID certainly was nice. Are you using Face ID now instead? Or is another method better? Thanks for your reply!
preiman790 2 points 2y ago
The same ways as every one else, just with audio feedback. I honestly have to wonder how many blind people you talked to before deciding this was an issue, because it feels more like something you decided must be a problem, rather than something people are actually having issues with at this point.
andypans12 [OP] 1 points 2y ago
Thank you for responding! Your feedback is totally valid - we were hoping to use Reddit as our main forum to talk to blind and visually impaired people about mobile phones. I think our main idea leading into this project was that voice feedback and face ID may have some issues with security (having to speak a password aloud may not be the safest). But it seems from the other responses here as well that using voice is the preferred method for visually impaired people, and perhaps the usability outweighs any security issues. Thanks again for replying, we really appreciate the feedback!
bradley22 2 points 2y ago
We can already unlock our phones plus you could only put this on certain android devices.
andypans12 [OP] 1 points 2y ago
Hi Bradley, thanks for replying. That's a great point. Our idea will only work for devices that have these buttons. We will try and change our idea a bit so it works on more devices. Are you using voice over as well for password entry? Or do you prefer another method like fingerprint scanning or facial recognition?
bradley22 1 points 2y ago
I’ve chose not to have a passcode but when I did; it worked fine with voiceover.
I don’t think this is needed and it will be hard to put on the phones and all the unlock ways work already with voiceovwr/talkback.
I don’t think this is needed and it will be hard to put on the phones and all the unlock ways work already with voiceovwr/talkback.
Kumandan1299 1 points 2y ago
Hello,
If a blind person knows where the numbers are located to enter a password, it's not inaccessible for them to enter a passcode. The patern, if they choose something that can be drawn easyly, can be done as well. For me I use an iPhone and prefer touch ID.
If a blind person knows where the numbers are located to enter a password, it's not inaccessible for them to enter a passcode. The patern, if they choose something that can be drawn easyly, can be done as well. For me I use an iPhone and prefer touch ID.
guitarandbooks 1 points 2y ago
I'm totally blind so use Voiceover on my iPad and iPhone. My older iPhones had touch ID which was fine but my iPhone XR has Face ID. This is not a problem for me. I just make sure my eyes are open and put the phone in front of me. Nine times out of ten, it works just fine.
andypans12 [OP] 1 points 2y ago
Thank you for your reply!
pudursykurrr 1 points 2y ago
My partner refuses to get a new phone because he finds Touch ID fastest/most convenient.
viciousSnowFlake 1 points 2y ago
I like using my booger hook to unlock it.
Bachelor-pad-72 1 points 2y ago
Touch ID
andypans12 [OP] 1 points 2y ago
Thank you!
TwoSunsRise 1 points 2y ago
Facial recognition may be easier but the people I know like using passwords. They do it so often, it doesn't take long to type it in with voice over.
andypans12 [OP] 2 points 2y ago
Thank you so much for replying! It seems like voiceover is the most popular method.
WarriorPrincess31 1 points 2y ago
Voice over is not voice controled. It is a screenreader on the iphone. The voice reads out what's on the screen.
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