Exploring Android and iOS Accessibility Features
Uncover and compare their strategies, accessibility features, and preferences among individuals with visual and hearing impairments.
In my previous article, "A Glimpse of the World of Accessibility," I shared my research journey with visually impaired users and the remarkable impact of accessibility features on the iPhone. However, my research left me intrigued about the accessibility offerings provided by other mobile operating systems.
The Dominance of Android and iOS
A brief online search exposes the unfortunate fate of several mobile operating systems due to developers' waning interest. Symbian, once a prominent player, met its demise in 2014, while Windows Mobile faced discontinuation in 2017.
Since 2012, Android and iOS have emerged as the top players in the mobile operating system market. Android, with a staggering market share of around 70% in the second quarter of 2023, continues to dominate the global stage. Apple's iOS follows closely behind with a respectable market share of 28%. Although other operating systems like KaiOS, GrapheneOS, HarmonyOS also exist, they occupy a smaller niche.
In light of Android and iOS's market dominance, it becomes intriguing to delve into a comprehensive comparison of these platforms. Beyond hardware and software design, one area that demands attention is their accessibility features.
Mobile OS Choices among Individuals with Visual and Hearing Impairments
In 2014, an insightful study conducted by Morris et al. shed light on the preferences of individuals with visual and hearing impairments when it comes to mobile devices. The study utilised a self-report survey developed by the Wireless RERC's Survey of User Needs (SUN) back in 2012, capturing the opinions of 1,348 participants.
The survey revealed a striking trend among respondents with visual impairments, as the majority overwhelmingly expressed a preference for iPhones. Conversely, respondents with hearing impairments showed a higher inclination towards using Android devices.
When it came to ease of use, an impressive 96% of hearing-impaired iPhone users and 85% of visually impaired iPhone users reported finding their devices "easy" or "very easy" to use. Among Android users, 80% of hearing-impaired users and 42% of visually impaired users shared the same sentiment, although the lower number of visually impaired Android users affected the reliability of the analysis.
Beyond device usability, the satisfaction levels of visually and hearing impaired users with their respective devices also exhibited some disparities. Interestingly, all visually impaired and hearing impaired iPhone users reported being either "somewhat satisfied" or "very satisfied" with their wireless devices. However, among Android users, satisfaction levels differed, with 83% of hearing-impaired users expressing satisfaction compared to only 42% of visually impaired users. Once again, the limited number of visually impaired Android users reduced the reliability of the analysis.
In 2017, another study conducted by WebAIM further supported these findings, with 69% of respondents favouring VoiceOver on iPhones and 29.5% preferring Talkback on Android devices.
Although these research findings are a few years old, they still provide valuable insights into the mobile operating system preferences of visually and hearing impaired mobile users.
Comparing Accessibility Strategies: iOS vs. Android
As I delved into the world of accessibility features, I couldn't help but wonder how Android and iOS have evolved in this regard since the research was conducted almost a decade ago. What differences would I uncover?
One of the initial distinctions I noticed is how Google and Apple present their accessibility features to users. Apple takes a user-centric approach, categorizing its features based on specific needs like vision, mobility, hearing, speech, and cognitive requirements, even though some features may overlap across conditions. In contrast, Android introduces its features independently, without the same level of categorisation.
To gain a comprehensive understanding of the accessibility landscape, I compiled a list of remarkable features offered by iOS and Android.
While both Android and iOS offer a range of accessibility features, their approaches differ significantly. Apple integrates accessibility features directly into its operating system, whereas Android, being an open-source platform, embraces third-party apps to enhance its accessibility offerings.
In our upcoming article, I will delve into one of the most widely discussed accessibility features, VoiceOver, and directly compare it with Talkback, shedding light on their similarities and differences.