People often forget about blind users when thinking about smartphone app or hardware design. The screen itself is imperfect as an interface for blind or vision impaired people but through iOS’s VoiceOver, it’s not terrible. VoiceOver completely changes how you interact with your phone, and it really feels like it was designed by someone who knew how the blind would want to navigate a device. Because of VoiceOver, the iPhone is the best smartphone for the blind. Apple’s accessibility tools and the apps on the platform are far easier to use without looking at the screen. Apple’s AirPods add to the platform’s ease of use. If you’re blind, there’s no better device for you than the iPhone… 8.
I say just the iPhone 8 because the iPhone XS, iPhone XR, and iPhone XS Max aren’t good for blind users due to Face ID and the lack of a home button. Apple took a tool that was good for blind users, Touch ID, and replaced it with something that not only won’t work well for them, but will force them back to a passcode, which is also more difficult if you’re blind, especially if you don’t have Direct Touch Typing turned on. Plus, by removing the home button, Apple made its accessibility shortcut more difficult—and more dangerous—to use.
Apple has been at the forefront of accessible hardware and software. How could they take such a monumental leap backwards?
Face ID and Attention
By default, Face ID requires “attention” to unlock. This means you must look at your device. Not just face the device, but, with your eyes open, look at the device. For a blind person, opening their eyes and looking at something is not a possibility. Fortunately, this is automatically turned off if you’re setting up your new iPhone with VoiceOver turned on.
Without attention features, Face ID is horrifically insecure. Now it can be unlocked just by pointing it at your face. It may also be easier to fool it with a 3D printed face. Using Face ID without attention is not something I’d advise.
The alternative is a passcode. This means typing in your passcode every time you open your phone. For a secure passcode, 10+ characters, this can be extremely frustrating. Due to the “sticky” nature of VoiceOver, it can be difficult to input passwords by touch alone. The Direct Touch Typing setting helps with this, but it’s still not optimal, especially for new users who haven’t uncovered where the numbers are yet. After putting my phone on VoiceOver mode to test these features, without Direct Touch Typing on, I feared my phone would lock me out forever. It took over a minute to unlock my phone while scrolling through the buttons. It’s preposterous to ask vision impaired users to do this.
Obviously this was all much easier when Touch ID was still around. Blind users could touch one area of the phone, a place they could easily identify by touch, and the phone would unlock. It was secure, fast, and immeasurably easier to use without looking at your device. This is why I’d recommend the iPhone 8 for blind users, and I hope Apple keeps a Touch ID version of their phone on the market.
Home Button Shortcut
There’s another problem with the new iPhones. They don’t have a home button. Not only was the home button a physical item, and therefore easier to find by touch, it also was the source of the accessibility shortcut. Press the home button three times, and a variety of shortcuts would appear. Now this uses the lock screen button. Press the lock screen button three times quickly for the accessibility menu, if enabled. There’s just one tiny little problem. Accidentally press it 5 times, and it’ll call emergency services. You can cancel it if you can find the cancel button in under 5 seconds. With VoiceOver on a new screen you’re unfamiliar with, I’m sure you’re going to accidentally call the police. People with vision have accidentally called the police like this. Imagine trying to interact with a screen you’ve never encountered before, trying to find the cancel button in under 5 seconds while a siren blares in your ears, blocking out the directions.
There’s another problem you’ll quickly find. Going back to the home screen or enabling multitasking with the iPhone X means a much more drastic movement of your thumb and more subtle vibration confirmations. It’s not as easy as a physical button. Could a blind person adapt? Of course, probably in just a few minutes. But it’s still not as easy, especially for anyone new to the iPhone.
What Can Apple Do?
The easiest thing they could do is bring back the iPhone SE, or at least the idea of it. Keep a version of the iPhone up to date with the latest specs and a home button. The iPhone 5 design would be perfect for this but the iPhone 8 would do as well. A small screen that’s easy to use with one hand is best anyway, as many blind users may want to use their phone while their other hand is on their stick or guide dog’s harness.
Many users with vision have asked Apple to keep the iPhone SE in the lineup because they prefer smaller phones. The smaller screen works better for vision impaired users anyway, as it reduces the number of things VoiceOver has to read out per page. By limiting the number of displayed UI elements, blind users can interact with their devices more quickly. Most important, though, is the Touch ID sensor and home button. These are vital for security and navigation when you can’t see the screen.
As long as Apple keeps one updated phone with a home button in their lineup, they won’t force blind users to compromise security or ease of use for the sake of a new device. However, as they didn’t release a new phone with a home button this year, opting for a low cost Face ID iPhone instead, the outlook is bleak. If Apple truly cares about helping the differently abled, they wouldn’t force them to deal with reduced security like this. Apple needs to keep at least one iPhone with a home button up to date if they want to create an equivalent experience for those who don’t look at their screen. Blind users shouldn’t have to put up with this.