Designing mobile applications for visually impaired people

The rapidly growing development of mobile technology initially adversely affected the accessibility of device functionalities for visually disabled persons increasing their digital exclusion. But now, thanks to the support of the mobile device manufacturers, mobile operating systems, software developers and international organizations (e.g., W3C) the use of modern portable devices (smartphones, tablets) with touch screens becomes more and more accessible for all. This chapter describes the present state of mobile technologies development taking into consideration the point of view of visually impaired people. It enumerates and assesses the suitability of various functions that are available in modern devices, it also indicates the various innovative solutions facilitating the use of mobile devices by people with special needs. First of all, the chapter describes specific problems of persons with disabilities related to the use of applications prepared for mobile devices, and indicates the ways of solving them. The paper presents both the use of basic assistive tools that come with mobile operating systems like voice reading labels, voice commands, high contrast mode or zoom of a selected part of the screen, and the possibility of effective use of the main sensor, which is the touch screen as well. The conclusions obtained from the analysis of the problem of the mobile applications accessibility is used to the development of own original concept of universal, sound, and tactile interface design. This idea assumes primarily the ability to personalize the interface. Visually disabled person through touch, gestures, voice commands and audio feedback can freely configure and run a set of applications available on a mobile device. Ease of use and universality of the proposed interface template cause, that any mobile desktop application using it, can be a useful solution for all users, regardless of their visual disability.