Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Constant Software Changes (self.Blind)
submitted by dunktheball
I am legally blind and get so tired of constant changes in web browsers... Now Microsoft Edge started showing a zoom button in the address bar, but only if your zoom level is not at default on that page....
So on some websites it's there and on some it's not, so since I click the favorites button based on where it's physically located out of habit, I am clicking the wrong button since it's pushed further to the right by the zoom button being there and then back to normal on sites that don't show the zoom button...
This is just an example, though. there are so many sites where they make a change that either affects accessibility or like this one moves something around only under certain circumstances.
So, anyway, now I keep accidentally clicking the Collections button. lol.
So on some websites it's there and on some it's not, so since I click the favorites button based on where it's physically located out of habit, I am clicking the wrong button since it's pushed further to the right by the zoom button being there and then back to normal on sites that don't show the zoom button...
This is just an example, though. there are so many sites where they make a change that either affects accessibility or like this one moves something around only under certain circumstances.
So, anyway, now I keep accidentally clicking the Collections button. lol.
Drop9Reddit 5 points 1y ago
I hate to say it but this is the nature of the world and software. Can it be a pain oh yes. But we learn as always.
My best suggestion is to learn keyboard commands as they tend to semi stay consistent for most common tasks but even then no guarantees.
My best suggestion is to learn keyboard commands as they tend to semi stay consistent for most common tasks but even then no guarantees.
retrolental_morose 5 points 1y ago
Indeed. CTRL+B for bookmarks works on Crhome-based browsers doesn't it?
Drop9Reddit 3 points 1y ago
CTRL+SHIFT+O on Microsoft Edge and Google Chrome.
No-Satisfaction7842 3 points 1y ago
I am a screen reader user and I totally know what you mean. The worst is when you update an app on your phone and it basically becomes unusable
dunktheball [OP] 3 points 1y ago
I honestly should start using screen readers because I am killing my neck/shoulder/back by bad posture leaning over trying to read screens all day. I have a pinched nerve, get headaches, etc...
No-Satisfaction7842 2 points 1y ago
Yep, those symptoms are when I realized I needed to start learning to use a screen reader even if I wouldn’t need to use it all the time. Also, once I was having to crank ZoomText up to like 6x or 7x just to see the damn screen, that was another clue LOL.
You can always install NVDA for free and just start messing around with it and learning the basics. At first I would still navigate the screen visually using a magnifier but use the screen reader for reading longer pieces of texts like emails and articles. Eventually I got more and more comfortable with the screen reader and I now use at full time, but that’s also because I no longer have enough vision to navigate visually even if I wanted to.
You can always install NVDA for free and just start messing around with it and learning the basics. At first I would still navigate the screen visually using a magnifier but use the screen reader for reading longer pieces of texts like emails and articles. Eventually I got more and more comfortable with the screen reader and I now use at full time, but that’s also because I no longer have enough vision to navigate visually even if I wanted to.
dunktheball [OP] 3 points 1y ago
yeah that is a good idea to start easing into a screen reader. That could make a big difference right off by having me at least spend less time leaning all over. I also need to figure out better placement of my monitor i think. Physical therapists said it will get really bad if I keep being in that position so often.
No-Satisfaction7842 2 points 1y ago
Yeah. I’m not sure how old you are, but the older you get, the more your body doesn’t get away with letting you do that stuff for long periods of time LOL. Can’t hurt to start playing around with the screen reader. Have fun with it and take your time. Sounds like you’ve still got enough vision to do things visually even if it’s uncomfortable, so it’s not like you need to make any big changes overnight. Wishing you the best
TechnicalPragmatist 1 points 1y ago
Yes I think it’s time for sure.
DHamlinMusic 3 points 1y ago
Oh yeah no this is all massive pain, even when I could see I got sick of web browsers and other software rearranging things on me, looking at you Facebook. My current biggest pet peeve though is the telehealth site Doxy that is fundamentally incompatible with screen readers of any variety, when you attempt to sign into a waiting room a field entry box pops up for you to type in your screen name and as soon as this occurs if you have a screen reader turned on your web browser will crash back to desktop and a story.
dunktheball [OP] 2 points 1y ago
Microsoft Edge does it so many times during the year. I get in a habit of just glancing up at the top of the screen and clicking based on location rather than trying to look closely at the icons, so it's screwing me up. lol.
DHamlinMusic 2 points 1y ago
Yeah I use edge and Outlook on my phone, as they work better than Gmail and Chrome with talkback cuz you know that makes perfect sense. I can see enough to actually navigate that way so I'm using the screen reader to navigate but still you sort of memorize where the buttons are and have run into that as well. So much fun...
dunktheball [OP] 2 points 1y ago
And with this one, it only shows on sites you have a different zoom level on. lol. It's like the download icon.... it only shows up when downloading or having just downloaded and caused me this same problem by forgetting it was there.
TechnicalPragmatist 0 points 1y ago
It’s the nature of tech unfortunately. Though sometimes the change is so trivial it’s like change is great but for the sake of changing it just to change? Sometimes there’s a good reason, and sometimes it seems like they just want it to look different or cooler. It seems to have little rhyme or reason besides graphical design reasons, like because we want to and it will look better or different.
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