Work

Investigating the accessibility of popular mobile Android apps: a prevalence, category, and language study

Year: 2024

Type: conference-paper

Abstract: Accessibility in mobile applications is crucial for ensuring that all users, including those with disabilities, can effectively interact with technology. Despite advancements in smartphone integration, significant accessibility challenges remain. This study investigates the accessibility of popular mobile Android apps, examining the prevalence of accessibility issues, categorizing the types of errors, and evaluating the impact of language on accessibility. We evaluated eight widely used apps using the Accessibility Scanner tool and executed them across three languages: Portuguese, English, and Spanish. Results indicate that most accessibility issues are related to touch target size (1145) and contrast (594). Furthermore, the execution language affects accessibility, with spanish presenting the highest number of errors (828). This study underscores the importance of integrating accessibility best practices in app development and suggests areas for future research to improve mobile app accessibility.

Source: Brazilian Symposium on Multimedia and the Web

DOI: 10.5753/webmedia.2024.242041

Authors: Matheus Gomes de Andrade, Daniel Mesquita Feijó Rabelo, Ribamar de Souza Martins, Windson Viana

Institution: Universidade Federal do Ceará

Language: English

Topic: Digital Accessibility for Disabilities

Subfield: Human Factors and Ergonomics

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Reduced inequalities, Good health and well-being

Open Access status: bronze

Funders: Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior, Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico