Exposing Formatting Properties for Screen Reader Accessibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current techniques for providing content experiences to individuals with vision impairments are inefficient and inadequate, as they often exclude rich formatting properties such as color, shape, and layout, making it difficult for them to fully consume and interact with content.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that translates standard formatting properties of authored content into platform-specific formatting properties, allowing these properties to be exposed to screen readers, enabling users with visual impairments to access and understand layout, color, and other formatting details, thereby enhancing their ability to consume and author content.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If screen readers are used to access content properties, then accessibility for vision impaired users is improved, but formatting information such as color, shape, and layout is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary layer that translates standard formatting properties (color, shape, layout) into accessible descriptions that screen readers can convey. This mediator converts visual formatting information into verbal descriptions that preserve the essential formatting characteristics while making them accessible to vision-impaired users through audio output.
2Adaptability or versatility
If current screen reader techniques are used, then basic content access is enabled, but full content consumption and peer following capability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameters of information delivery by translating formatting properties into detailed verbal descriptions with specific attributes (color names, shape descriptions, layout positions). This parameter transformation enables vision-impaired users to accurately perceive formatting characteristics, thereby improving content consumption accuracy and ability to follow along with peers.
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the present disclosure relate to systems and methods for providing access to formatting information of authored content within an application. In one aspect, one or more of a plurality of standard formatting properties of the authored content within an application may be translated to one or more corresponding platform specific formatting properties. A request for formatting information of at least some of the authored content within the application may be received. The formatting information may be associated with the one or more corresponding platform specific formatting properties. The requested formatting information of at least some of the authored content within the application may be provided by exposing the one or more corresponding platform specific formatting properties to a screen reader.