Unlock Accessibility: Use MathPix Snip for Accessible Math in MS Word
Making math accessible to everyone is crucial. Today, we explore how MathPix Snip can help. This tool captures math problems and turns them into accessible Math ML.
Video Overview
Why MathPix Snip is a Game Changer for Math Accessibility
Accessibility in math is often overlooked but highly essential. One key tool to bridge this gap is MathPix Snip. The tool captures math equations and converts them into accessible Math ML format. This means more people can interact with math content, especially those using assistive technologies like screen readers.
The Importance of Accessible Math
Inaccessible math content can create barriers. It excludes those who rely on assistive technology. Making math accessible opens doors for inclusive learning. That’s why tools like MathPix Snip are crucial. They make math available to a broader audience, promoting equal opportunities in education and the workplace.
Steps to Create Accessible Math using MathPix Snip
Here is how you can use MathPix Snip to make math problems accessible.
Open MS Word: First, prepare a new Microsoft Word document where you will paste the equations.
Launch MathPix Snip: Open the MathPix Snip tool and select the ‘New Snip’ option. This allows you to draw a box around the math content you want to capture.
OCR Technology: MathPix Snip uses Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology. It reads the math equation inside the box.
Copy Math ML: Navigate to the Data tab within the tool. Here, you can copy the Math ML code with just a single click.
Paste in MS Word: Go back to your Microsoft Word document and paste the copied Math ML code.
MathType Option: If MathType is installed on your computer, it will prompt you. Choose to create a MathType equation.
Accessible Math: The pasted equation is now in Math ML format. This format is readable by screen readers and other forms of assistive technology.
Adding More Equations: You can add more equations to the document using the same process. You can either leave them in the Word document or use them in a web page.
Accessibility First: The main goal is to ensure that the math content is accessible to everyone, including those who use assistive technologies.
MathPix Snip should be part of your accessibility toolbox if you work regularly with math content. By using this tool, you are taking an essential step toward creating a more inclusive and accessible environment.Unlock Accessibility: Use MathPix Snip for Accessible Math in MS Word
Web Accessibility for People with Hearing Disabilities
Website accessibility ensures everyone—including people with disabilities—can read, understand, navigate, and interact with a website. You may be familiar with how accessible websites accommodate people with visual impairments by allowing them to easily use a screen reader to read the web page’s content aloud to them. People with hearing impairments also need accommodations to experience a website the way that was intended.
A 2023 Forbes article states that more than 1.5 billion people worldwide have hearing loss in at least one ear. This article discusses what to consider when making audio content accessible on your website.
Is your website content accessible to people with hearing impairments?
Web designers and developers may need to include extra but needed features to ensure equitable access. Imagine how frustrating it would be if you could not hear sounds on a web page, and there was no alternative way of receiving that information.
The first step is to audit the audio content on your website, social media, and other digital properties. Go through your website with your web administrator/developer and/or accessibility tester. List the pages with audio content and what type of content it is. Now, you can start tackling each piece of audio to make it accessible.
Below are the three main types of audio content you may find on your websites and other digital properties.
Video Content
Videos are perhaps the most common potential digital accessibility barrier to the deaf and hard of hearing. Videos can be viewed on your website, social media, or video-sharing platforms, like YouTube. If you share a link to a video hosted on another website or platform, it is still your responsibility to ensure the content is accessible; if it isn’t, don’t share it.
Summaries
Often overlooked for accessibility, summaries of the video content allow the user to determine whether this content is relevant to them. This is a time saver for anyone, regardless of disability. It’s very easy to do and helps with SEO (search engine optimization), allowing people to find your content easier.
Captions
When people think of audio accessibility, they probably think of captions first. To determine if a video is accessible, accessibility testers must check whether it includes captions (text versions of the audio presented in a video). Captions should consist of all audio as text so viewers with hearing loss can fully understand what is happening in the video without relying on the ability to hear.
Captions can be provided live by a professional captioner who types captions as soon as the content is spoken. A newer option is to let the video provider or app automatically add captions using AI (artificial intelligence). YouTube and PowerPoint, for example, offer this in all their videos and presentations.
It’s not always perfect, so we recommend that the content be reviewed after it has been recorded and edited as needed. Accuracy is critical. If captions are inaccurate, people with impaired hearing will not correctly understand the meaning of the video.
Note: You may need to turn on the Closed Captioning functionality in your video app to display captions.
Transcripts
Transcripts are text versions of video content provided after the video is recorded. A standard text transcript includes a text version of what is said in the video. In addition to that, an audio transcript provides a description of the action shown on screen. Audio transcriptions are used mostly for people with visual impairments.
People who are deaf and blind cannot hear the audio or visually see captions. The only way they can understand videos is if they have transcripts (using a refreshable Braille display to feel the words in the transcripts).
Sign language
About 500,000 (less than 1% of people with hearing impairments) communicate via sign language. Though sign language is most commonly used in live events or live videos in real-time, it can also be added post-production. For example, a video of a sign language interpreter can be shown side-by-side with the original video. Sign language versions can increase the inclusivity of media content.
One of the best examples of sign language in a video happened during the half-time show of the 2022 Super Bowl with sign language interpreter Justina Miles.
Technical Support
Providing Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS) for phone calls allows those with hearing impairments to use several different options to interact with your organization’s tech support, customer service, or sales.
Companies should offer accessible contact options for people with hearing impairments, such as email, live chat, and online support forms.
Audio Prompts
Be mindful of any audio prompts your web page may have to alert or notify the user that an action needs to be taken. It is usually very easy to provide these prompts visually as well so that people with hearing impairments can still understand what is happening.
Accessibility benefits all
While the features above primarily benefit those with hearing impairments, these features also help others. For example, video captions can be helpful to people who are in quiet areas and do not want to disturb others, regardless of whether they are hard of hearing. Captions are also helpful in loud places, such as restaurants, where people cannot hear the audio. Transcripts allow people to search for specific video content easily. People with speech impairments may have difficulty speaking on the telephone and may prefer email.
As with other features specifically designed for people with disabilities, these features benefit all, not just people who are hard of hearing.
What Is Alt Text and How to Write It
Alt text is a website feature that goes by many names: alt attributes, alt descriptions, alternate text. Whatever the name, this important accessibility feature may be overlooked by web design and development teams or considered an afterthought, given less effort than content featured on screen. In other cases, the alt text may be well-written, but fails to provide context that helps the user understand why it’s been included on the page.
In this post, we’ll show you how to add alt text to your HTML or within your content management system (CMS) that improves accessibility and user experience for all, while also providing tips on how to thoughtfully address SEO considerations. This includes a how-to write alt text guide and good alt text examples.
What Is Alt Text?
Alt text, short for alternative text, is text within a web page’s HTML code that describes an image on the page. This text is not displayed on the screen unless the image fails to load. Its primary use is by screen reader users to provide people with visual impairment information about the image(s) on the page.
You might find alt text referred to as “alt tags,” but this is incorrect terminology. Technically speaking, this is not a tag, but supporting text to provide context to the images on a web page.
Is Alt Text Just for Describing Images?
When most people think of images, they envision a photograph or illustration, but this can also include infographics, maps, charts, mathematical equations, diagrams–essentially anything added to a webpage with an image file extension, such as jpeg, png, and pdf.
Alt text is also added to websites in an effort to improve search engine optimization (SEO). If the alt text of an image includes certain keywords, such as a product name or location, it increases the chances of that page showing up in the search engine results for those keywords.
For example, a page that includes image alt text, “Washington Monument in Washington, D.C.” might turn up in search results for “places to visit in Washington DC.”
Alt text was created for the specific purpose of describing images to people who are unable to see them. Search engines have leveraged this part of web design to help deliver better results to users. In turn, digital marketers incorporated alt text into SEO considerations. However, the primary purpose of alt text should always be to help people with visual impairments better understand the images on a page.
Step-by-Step Guide to How Writing Good Alt Text
Now that we’ve covered what alt text is, let’s discuss how to write alt text that’s accessible.
• Describe the image as accurately as possible. Alt text is an important element of website accessibility and should describe the image, providing the right context. For example, if you include an image of Superman, the alt text should say so, including what he is doing. In addition to the literal description, “Tall man in blue suit and red cape,” it is helpful to include any relevant cultural context, too.
• Don’t include the phrases “image of,” or “picture of.” Because it’s being read as alt text, the user already knows it’s referring to an image.
• Be succinct. Having alt text that’s short and to the point gives a better user experience.
• Don’t forget image buttons. Buttons can be presented as image files–known as graphical buttons. If the button contains an image <img> element then the alt attribute should be used. Otherwise, developers can use the <button aria-label>.
• Review for spelling errors. Avoid poor user experience with misspelled words that result in inaccurate results from screen readers. Put your alt text through the same review process you would for on-page copy.
Other Alt Text Best Practices
In addition to accessibility, alt text is also frequently used to boost search engine rankings and including alt text with related keywords is considered SEO best practice. Because the goal of alt text is to provide people with visual impairment a description of the image, plus context, here are some best practices for reaching accessibility and SEO goals.
• Keywords (used sparingly) are OK. At one point, SEO best practices called for using exact match keywords within the alt text of as many page images as possible. This sometimes led to descriptions that were awkwardly written. The “keyword stuffing” strategy, or placing keywords throughout the page in as many places as possible, is now penalized by search engines and has fallen out of practice. That said, keywords can still be useful for SEO if they naturally fit in the description.
• Include image info in the main text of the page. Designed infographics look great, but are difficult to convey in alt text due to limited space. When using complex images like charts and infographics, consider highlighting important data and details within the body of the text, such as, “As noted in graph 7 above, 55% of people fall asleep on their sides.” Or better yet, avoid having text displayed as an image altogether.
3 Examples of Great Alt Text
To get a feel for how your company can revise its alt text to be more accessible, here are three stock image examples of great alt text.
Example 1: Stock image of people working in an office
One of the most common scenes on business websites today is of people working collaboratively. For this image, a well-written alt description might be: “A diverse group of young adults working together on tablets and laptops while sitting at a conference table.”
Example 2: Woman standing in a plaza
There are so many details in this photo, so it helps to focus on the most relevant to the overall content of the webpage. For example, a blog post about people over 60 enjoying life on their terms might focus on the red glasses and hat, while a web page about traveling to Italy might focus on the plaza where she is standing. A good alt description might be, “Smiling woman with gray hair standing in a plaza wearing red glasses, checkered hat and holding a small, brown purse.”
Example 3: The fish tank
Sometimes images of specific people are used in articles, blog posts, and other web pages to discuss something newsworthy about that person. Other times, a person is featured in an article as an example of a person overcoming odds, excelling in their field, or facing challenges. In these cases, the name of the person mentioned in the article should be included in any alt-text images of them.
For example, “Maria of Santa Barbara, California standing behind a clear fish tank filled with goldfish.”
Testing to Find Bad Alt Text
Companies often perform tests to ensure your alt text makes sense, can be read by screen readers, and provides the context needed. For example, JAWS Inspect makes it easy to review image alternate text descriptions by providing you with a list of images on your page that have or may be missing the alternative text. From here, your team will then need to review the alt text to ensure it is written in a way that makes sense from a user perspective.
Test your website for alt text and other accessibility failures by scheduling a demo of TPGi’s accessibility testing software, ARC.
https://www.zdnet.com/article/3-essential-windows-tools-for-troubleshooting-and-how-to-use-them/
3 essential Windows tools for troubleshooting (and how to use them)
If your PC is misbehaving, there’s a good chance that one of these free tools can help you figure out why. And they’re all included with every Windows installation.Aug. 7, 2023
Photo by Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Personal computers used to be the domain of hobbyists, who had no problem rolling up their sleeves and diving into debuggers to figure out why something wasn’t working as expected.Also: Yes, you can still get a free Windows 10 upgrade. Here’s how
Today, PCs are business productivity tools designed for an audience that has neither the patience nor the technical background to fiddle with code or go spelunking in the registry when something goes wrong. If that’s you, then you’ll be pleased to know that there are a handful of built-in diagnostic and repair tools in Windows 10 and Windows 11 that can get you back to work quickly. They offer a wealth of troubleshooting information as well as (if you’re lucky) easy solutions.
Even if you think you know these troubleshooting tools, keep reading. You might discover a new trick or two.
1. Task Manager
The name of this app, which dates back to the earliest days of Windows, seriously undersells its value in the modern era. Yes, it offers a list of running programs, complete with a way to terminate an app with extreme prejudice if that app starts misbehaving.
But it also has some excellent performance-monitoring capabilities that can help you figure out why your laptop is suddenly struggling. And it doesn’t require any sophisticated technical knowledge.
How to use it:
Right-click any empty space on the taskbar and click Task Manager. Or open the Quick Link menu (right-click Start or press Windows key + X), and click the Task Manager entry. Or use Task Manager’s keyboard shortcut, Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
Also: The ultimate Windows troubleshooting trick
In Windows 11, Task Manager has a navigation menu on the left, with each option representing a different page. Use those options to quickly switch from the Processes page, with its per-app view of resource usage, to the Performance tab, which offers yet another set of tabs, each with a very detailed view of CPU, Memory, Disk, Network, and GPU usage.
Click any heading to sort the items by that value and show which are using the most CPU, memory, and so on.
Screenshot by Ed Bott/ZDNET
If you keep this graph open as you work, you can see how hard your CPU, memory, and disks are working.
Screenshot by Ed Bott/ZDNET
And look! In Windows 11, you can use Task Manager in dark mode.What you can do with it:
There’s a phenomenal amount of detail on each Task Manager tab. Armed with that information, you can:
Identify apps or processes that are slowing down your PC. The Performance tabs will tell you if a system resource (CPU or memory, for example) is regularly hitting 100% under certain workloads. Switch to the Processes tab and then leave it open and visible as you work, so you can see which apps are causing the most stress.
Kill a misbehaving or hung program. If a program is nonresponsive and you’re satisfied you’ve waited long enough, select its name from under the Apps heading and then click End Task.
Restart the Windows shell (Explorer.exe). If the taskbar, Start, File Manager, and other parts of the Windows shell stop responding to input, use the keyboard shortcut to open Task Manager and select Windows Explorer on the Processes tab. At the top of the page, click Restart Task.
Power tip:If you want Task Manager to always open showing a specific tab, click Settings in the lower left corner and specify your choice from the Default Start Page. (In Windows 10, use the Options > Set Default Tab menu.) On this page, you’ll also find an option to speed up, slow down, or pause the real-time counters on the Performance page.
2. Powercfg
There’s usually a pretty big gap between the battery life a PC manufacturer claims for the laptop it’s trying to sell you and what you end up getting. So, how do you get a more accurate picture of your actual battery usage, and how can you tell whether an app is using more of your battery than it has a right to?
Also: Windows 11 setup: Which user account type should you choose?
That’s where the Power Settings Command-Line Tool (Powercfg.exe) shows its strengths.
How it works:
Open a PowerShell or Command Prompt window and then type powercfg followed by the command you want to run. For a full list of what commands are available, type powercfg /? and then press Enter.
To run Powercfg, you’ll need to open a command window (like Terminal or PowerShell).
Screenshot by Ed Bott/ZDNET
What you can do with it:Find out why your PC drains the battery instead of sleeping. If your system refuses to go to sleep (or wakes up inappropriately), the cause is usually an app or service that refuses to respond to a request from the system for sleep. Use the command powercfg /requests to see which process is the culprit.
Last year, I had a Windows laptop that kept waking up when it should have been sleeping peacefully. The culprit was a program called dptf_helper.exe, which is part of the Intel Dynamic Platform and Thermal Framework Utility Application. To solve this problem, I used the following command:
powercfg /requestsoverride PROCESS dptf_helper.exe DISPLAY SYSTEM
You can see the full syntax for this command by typing the following: powercfg /requestsoverride /?
Also: How to build a gaming PC for $550-ish
Get a detailed battery report. Use powercfg /batteryreport to generate a thorough report showing information about battery usage for the current device over time. Each battery report includes tables and charts showing recent usage, usage history, battery capacity over time, and battery life estimates. You don’t need a deep technical background to gather useful information from this report.
Power tip:
For more on this command, as well as other tips for getting better battery life from your Windows PC, see “How to maximize the battery life of your Windows 10 PC”.
3. Reliability Monitor
When you open this app, you will get flashbacks to… well, let’s call it 2006. Everything about it has the vintage look and feel of a long-gone Windows user experience, right down to the fact that it’s a part of Control Panel, which is slowly being removed from modern versions of Windows.
And yet this tool hangs around, no doubt because someone in Redmond knows that it offers an indispensable display of troubleshooting information that even a nontechnical user can understand.
How it works:
To open Reliability Monitor, just tap the Windows key or click Start and then start typing reli. That should be enough to display the View Reliability History shortcut. To create a one-click shortcut, right-click any empty space on the desktop and choose New > Shortcut; enter perfmon /rel on the first page of the Create Shortcut wizard, give the shortcut a descriptive name (like Reliability Monitor) on the next page, and then click Finish.
This day-by-day display of important system events is an indispensable troubleshooting tool.
Screenshot by Ed Bott/ZDNET
The display is organized by day, with each day getting its own column in the top of the window. Icons show different types of failures as well as warnings you might receive. The last row, Information, can be useful as well. Instead of focusing on failures, it shows you activities like updates, app installations, and driver reconfigurations that were successful.What you can do with it:
Find details about a crash. When an app crashes, you might not even be aware of it, especially if the app was designed to restart automatically after a failure. If Windows crashes, of course, you’ll know about it, especially in the case of a Stop error, also known as a bug check or the Blue Screen of Death (BSOD). Whatever kind of crash you’re troubleshooting, open its event in Reliability Monitor and look at the technical details (for a BSOD, that’s a code like 0x3 DRIVER_POWER_STATE_FAILURE). Those details might be inscrutable, but they also might give you enough information to craft a specific search that can turn up a solution.
Identify possible causes of crashes or slowdowns. If an app (or Windows itself) started misbehaving recently, Reliability Monitor can help you answer a crucial troubleshooting question — has anything changed lately? If the crashes or hangs started on the 10th, look at the Information line for that day and a few days earlier to see whether any new programs or drivers were installed or updated around the same time. Sometimes rolling back the driver installation or uninstalling the app can help determine whether it is causing the problems.
Power tip:
If you’re troubleshooting someone else’s PC, and want to get a quick survey of what kind of problems it’s been experiencing, click View All Problem Reports at the bottom of the main program window. That displays a neatly formatted list, grouped by the source of the problem reports.
Also: How to downgrade from Windows 11 to Windows 10 (there’s a catch)
Double-click any item in that list to see the technical details for the problem report. When you’re working with technical support staff to debug a problem, use the Copy To Clipboard button at the bottom of one of these reports to copy those details and paste them into a trouble ticket or an email.
New Keyboard shortcuts introduced in Windows 11
Windows 11 brings along several new keyboard shortcuts to enhance your workflow and streamline your multitasking. These shortcuts are designed to make the most out of Windows 11’s new features and user interface, allowing for a more seamless and productive experience. Let’s explore some of these exciting additions:
Win + Z = Open snap layouts: Windows 11 introduces snap layouts, a feature that lets you arrange and organize your windows in various layouts. With this shortcut, you can quickly access the snap layouts and optimize your window positioning for improved multitasking.
Win + Shift + Left/Right arrow = Move a window between multiple monitors: For users with multi-display setups, this shortcut is a game-changer. Easily move a window from one monitor to another, boosting productivity when working with multiple screens.
Win + Alt + G = Record the last 30 seconds in Xbox Game Bar: Windows 11 enhances gaming with the Xbox Game Bar, and this shortcut allows you to capture those exciting gaming moments effortlessly.
Win + Alt + B = Turn HDR on or off (requires compatible monitor hardware): With Windows 11, the Xbox Game Bar introduces HDR support. Use this shortcut to toggle HDR settings and enjoy a stunning gaming experience on compatible monitors.
These are just a few examples of the new keyboard shortcuts introduced in Windows 11. Now, let’s move on to explore the most widely used and essential shortcuts that are available in both Windows 11 and Windows 10 systems. Say goodbye to tedious mouse clicks and embrace the power of quick keystrokes, so let’s dive right in!The Essential Windows 11 Keyboard Shortcuts for Everyday Tasks
1. Navigating and Managing Windows
Win + D = Quickly minimize all open windows and show the desktop. Use the shortcut again to restore all previously minimized windows.
Alt + Tab = Switch between open applications with ease, allowing for smooth multitasking.
Win + Left/Right arrow = Snap windows to the left or right side of the screen, maximizing screen real estate for better multitasking.
Win + E = Open File Explorer instantly, providing quick access to your files and folders.2. Text Editing and Formatting
Ctrl + C/V/X = Copy, paste, or cut selected text, respectively, simplifying text manipulation tasks.
Ctrl + Z/Y = Undo or redo an action, providing an easy way to revert your changes.
Ctrl + B/I/U = Apply bold, italic, or underline formatting to selected text, enhancing document creation, and editing.
Ctrl + Shift + Arrow Keys = Select text word by word, to make more efficient text selection.3. Virtual Desktops
Win + Ctrl + D = Create a new virtual desktop, allowing for organized and clutter-free workspace management.
Win + Ctrl + Left/Right Arrow = Switch between virtual desktops, optimizing multitasking by seamlessly shifting between different desktop environments.
Win + Ctrl + F4 = Close the current virtual desktop, maintaining a tidy and efficient workspace.
Win + Tab = Activate the Task View for an immersive virtual desktop experience, optimizing virtual desktop navigation.
Advanced Keyboard Shortcuts for Power Users1. Taskbar Shortcuts
Win + Number (1-9) = Launch or switch to the application pinned to the taskbar at the corresponding position, providing rapid access to frequently used programs.
Shift + Win + Number (1-9) = Open a new instance of the application, improving multitasking efficiency.
Ctrl + Shift + Esc = Open Task Manager.2. System Operations
Win + X = Access the Quick Link menu for essential system tools, empowering users with quick access to critical functions.
Win + L = Lock your computer quickly, ensuring security and privacy when stepping away.
Win + Print Screen = Capture a screenshot and save it to the Screenshots folder, simplifying the process of capturing and saving visuals.
Win + Shift + S = Open the Snipping Tool to take a screenshot.
Win + I = Open the Windows Settings menu.3. File Explorer Navigation
Alt + D = Focus on the address bar in File Explorer, enabling speedy navigation to specific locations.
Ctrl + Shift + N = Create a new folder, making folder organization and management a breeze.
Ctrl + Shift + E = Displays all the folders that are above a folder that is currently selected. .
Alt + Enter = Opens the Properties menu for the selected file or folder.4. Accessibility
Win + Plus sign (+)/Esc = Turn the Magnifier on or off.
Win + Plus (+) or Minus(-) (while the Magnifier is open) = To zoom in or out using the Magnifier.
Ctrl + Shift + F = Switch to Full screen view on your desktop.
Ctrl + Alt + Spacebar = See the full desktop when using full screen view.Productivity-Boosting Keyboard Shortcuts for Professionals
1. Windows Management
Win + Up/Down arrow = Maximize or minimize the current window, easily controlling window size for better multitasking.
Win + Shift + Left/Right arrow = Move a window between multiple monitors, enhancing productivity in a multi-display setup.
Win + Z = Open snap layouts.2. Command Prompt
Ctrl + C/V = Copy or paste text within the command prompt, streamlining command input and output.
Ctrl + A = Select all text in the command prompt, facilitating quick editing and manipulation.3. Web browsing in Microsoft Edge
Ctrl + T: Open a new tab.
Ctrl + W: Close the current tab.
Ctrl + Shift + T: Reopen the most recently closed tab.
Ctrl + Tab: Switch between open tabs.4. Xbox Game Bar
Win + G = Open Xbox Game Bar.
Win + Alt + G = Record the last 30 seconds, you can change the Xbox Game Bar settings to extend the amount of time recorded.
Win + Alt + R = Start or stop recording.
Win + Alt + B = If you have the capable monitor hardware, this shortcut turns HDR on or off. Keep in mind this setting applies to Xbox Game Bar app version 5.721.7292.0 or newer.
Win + Alt + PrtScn = Take a screenshot while you are playing a game.Additional Information if needed
If you have the time or are looking for a specific Windows 11 keyboard shortcut, accessibility, or Microsoft-specific apps, check out the links that contain every keyboard shortcut you could want or need below!
Windows 11 keyboard shortcuts for navigating within the operating system
Windows 11 keyboard shortcuts for accessibility
Windows 11 keyboard shortcuts in Microsoft apps, like Microsoft Edge, Xbox Game Bar, and more
Windows 11 keyboard shortcuts can transform the way you interact with your computer, providing you with greater control and efficiency. By incorporating these time-saving shortcuts into your daily workflow, you’ll quickly become a power user, navigating through Windows with speed and precision.Remember, practice is key to making these shortcuts second nature. So, take some time to familiarize yourself with the shortcuts mentioned in this guide, and you’ll be amazed at how much time you can save! What are your favorite Windows 11 keyboard shortcuts? Let us know in the comments!
Accessibility – BingNews – Wednesday, July 12, 2023 at 6:57 PM
Transportation apps can help people with disabilities navigate public transit but accessibility lags behind
Smartphone apps can make public transit more accessible. (Shutterstock)
Smartphone apps have become commonplace tools for travel and navigation. As technology becomes more integrated into transport networks, apps will continue to be indispensable. But many of those apps remain inaccessible to those with various disabilities.Many people with disabilities rely on public transit as many do not have a driver’s licence. Planning trips, getting to and from transit stops successfully and navigating transit systems is important.
My research has shown that smartphone app technology can encourage inclusion by helping people with disabilities better navigate transport systems.
In the United States, 13 per cent of the population lives with one or more types of disability. Developing apps and other mobility tools can increase their ability to access employment, education, health care and other services.
Apps and accessibility
My research, conducted in the U.S., found that one of the ways transportation-related general audience apps aim to address the travel needs of people with disabilities is by including accessibility features, such as text-to-voice conversion. These features increase ease of use for non-disabled people as well.
Despite the availability of technology, many apps remain inaccessible, including for cost and lack of mandatory requirements and regulations.
Text-to-voice technologies can make apps more accessible for everyone. (Shutterstock)
The cost factorTransportation smartphone apps, which require the use of location-based, real-time information are complex and require more time and cost to develop. The way app development processes are currently set up, the cost of developing apps with accessibility service features is more expensive than those without such features.
The cost of developing an app depends on the quality of the app and the number of features it includes, with additional features resulting in higher costs. It could also take a long time depending on the complexity of the app.
While having additional features such as accessibility services can give apps the opportunity to reach more users, the cost can be a deterrent, especially for entities without the association with big companies such as Uber and Lyft.
There are various types of disabilities and corresponding needs. The inclusion of features that address multiple disabilities in one app might also add to the complexity and cost.
Recognizing the challenge posed by responding to multiple disability needs in advanced communications services and equipment, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) — that implements and enforces communications law and regulations — states that “every feature and function of every device or service does not need to be accessible for every disability.”
Operating system providers
Developers distribute apps on Google’s Android and Apple’s iOS operating systems via their app stores, Google Play and the App Store, respectively. Android and iOS provide accessibility guidelines, resources and codes for the developers.
Apple and Google also provide built-in accessibility features such as text-to-voice conversion options — an app that offers a voice option for real-time transit information is accessible to a person with visual impairment.
While Apple has more accessible services than Google, Google makes clear that the company’s built-in features do not meet all disability needs. Google encourages app developers to use its available technology to create additional accessibility features for their apps.
However, we found that many of the transportation-related smartphone apps that we reviewed in our study were without accessibility features. Part of the problem has to do with the fact these guidelines are suggestions, rather than mandatory requirements to which developers need to comply.
Apps can extend transportation opportunities, and increase people’s ability to attend work, school, health care and other services. (Shutterstock)
Regulating recent advancementsWhen the U.S congress passed the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990, it was meant to prohibit discrimination against people with disabilities in various areas including transportation, services and telecommunication. As it currently stands, the ADA does not specifically apply to recent technological advancements such as smartphone apps.
There is no specific regulation that pertains even to website content other than an application of “general nondiscrimination and effective communication provisions.”
The U.S. Department of Justice encourages the use of technical standards such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) to make websites accessible. WCAG also lacks specific standards for smartphone apps, but it provides comprehensive guidance that does not set requirements on how to apply their existing website standards to smartphone apps.
WCAG makes clear three things: (1) Not all guidance applies to smartphones; (2) Informative guidance does not address all disability needs; and (3) Mobile devices have different accessibility challenges compared to other devices.
When it comes to information and communications technology, the FCC has a mandate to develop and implement regulations. Under its consumer guide, it outlines general accessibility requirements. One of the requirements states that, if achievable, manufacturers must make their hardware and software, including apps, accessible to people with disabilities.
While the FCC guide mentions apps, the conditional nature of the guide and the lack of specificity on what is achievable weakens the requirement.
The future of accessibility
Whether due to the high cost, lack of operating system mandatory requirements, government regulations or specific technical standards, current conditions present a challenge to accessibility of apps.
As a result, the ability of people with disabilities to use apps for transportation is negatively affected. It is inevitable that disability-related regulations will catch up to app technology and the world of apps will move towards more specific accessibility requirements.
In the meantime, developers would benefit from using available resources provided by Apple and Google, and using WCAG guidance to make apps accessible. It may also give them the opportunity to contribute to making a more inclusive digital environment.
This may help developers avoid potential ADA-related lawsuits, fines and expensive accessibility retrofitting, which may end up being more expensive than the initial cost of adding accessibility features.
7 Different Ways to Control-F (Search for Words) On Your iPhone or iPad
When locating specific words and phrases within web pages and documents on desktop devices, the Control-F or Command-F keyboard shortcut can be a huge time-saver. But can you do something similar on an iPhone or iPad?
There are no shortcuts to find words on Apple’s mobile devices (unless you use an iPad with a keyboard where you just Command-F), but most native and third-party apps for iOS and iPadOS provide easy-to-access search tools.
Table of Contents
This tutorial will show you how to find words in web browsers, document viewers, word processors, and more on the iPhone and iPad.1. Search for Words in Web Browsers
Safari—the default browser on the iPhone and iPad—comes with a built-in Find tool that makes it incredibly easy to search for words within a webpage. It’s pretty handy when the content is lengthy or text-heavy.
Begin by typing the word or phrase into the address bar. On the suggestions menu that appears, scroll down to the On This Page section and tap Find “your word or phrase” to highlight matching instances throughout the page. Use the Up and Down arrows to switch between highlighted items. Once you’re done searching, tap Done.
Alternatively, you can invoke the Find tool in Safari by tapping the Share button (it’s on the bottom of the screen) and selecting Find on Page. Then, type what you want—the browser should highlight similar words in real time.
Third-party web browsers for the iPhone and iPad also come with comparable Find tools. Here’s how to invoke them in Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Microsoft Edge.
Chrome: Tap the Share icon on the top right of the screen and choose Find in Page.
Firefox: Tap the Menu icon (three stacked lines) on the bottom right corner of the screen and select Find in Page.
Edge: Tap the Menu icon (three dots) on the screen’s bottom edge and select Find on page.
2. Search for Words in PDF ViewersLike with web pages, locating particular words and phrases in PDFs makes tackling files that are too long or packed with text easier. Thankfully, almost every document viewer for the iPhone and iPad supports word search.
If you use the stock Files app to preview PDFs, tap the Search icon (magnifying glass) at the top of the screen and start typing to highlight similar occurrences within a document. The same goes for third-party apps—look for a Search icon when a PDF is open.
Some document viewers even allow you to search through multiple documents at once. For example, in Adobe Acrobat Reader and PDF Expert, use the Search bar on the app’s home screen to scan through all PDFs for matching words.
3. Search for Words in Word Processors
Searching for words or phrases in word-processing apps on the iPhone and iPad significantly speeds up tasks like editing and proofreading.
In Apple Pages, tap the More icon (three dots) at the top of the screen and select Find. If you use Microsoft Word, tap the Search icon on the toolbar. Then, type the word or phrase you’d like to find and use the Up and Down arrows to zero in on matching terms.
Google Docs—another popular word processor—enhances search functionality by offering the ability to find and replace words. Tap the More icon on the top right, select Find and Replace, and use the Find field for your searches. To replace a single word instance, type the new word in the Replace with field and tap Replace; to replace all instances, select All.
4. Search for Words in Instant Messengers
In instant messaging apps like Apple Messages, WhatsApp, and Facebook Messenger, searching for words and phrases is the fastest way to pinpoint relevant information within chat histories.
Simply type your query into the Search bar on your preferred messaging tool’s home screen (you may need to swipe down to unhide it) and pick a conversation within the results sheet. Any messages containing the word or phrase should appear highlighted.
5. Search for Words in Mail Clients
Apple Mail and third-party mail clients like Gmail and Outlook can quickly dig up emails containing specific words and phrases. All you’ve got to do is use the Search bar at the top of the app’s main screen. Depending on the app, you can apply additional filtering criteria, such as searching by mailbox or contact.
6. Search for Words in Photo Managers
If you have an iPhone or iPad running iOS 15/iPadOS 15 or later, you can use the device’s neural engine to search for text within photos, screenshots, and scanned documents. Go to the Search tab in Apple Photos, enter a word or phrase, and images containing matching text should appear underneath the Text Found in Photos section.
Third-party photo management tools—e.g., Google Photos and OneDrive—also allow you to search text in images. Just make sure to use up-to-date versions of the apps for the best results.
7. Search for Words in Note-Taking Apps
The native Notes app on the iPhone or iPad makes searching for words and phrases within a note a breeze. Just tap the More icon (three dots) on the top right corner of the screen and select Find in Note to start searching. Alternatively, type your query into the Search bar inside a folder to scan all notes for similar terms.
Other note-taking apps for iOS and iPadOS also support word search. For example, in Google Keep, type your query into the main screen to filter notes with similar content. In Microsoft Outlook, switch to the Search tab, enter a word or phrase, and filter items by notebook or sticky note.
Master Word Search on Your iPhone or iPad
Despite the lack of a universal gesture, the iPhone and iPad’s ability to search for words extends beyond web browsers and text editing tools to instant messengers, email clients, photo managers, and many others.
Also, the apps mentioned above are only mere examples. Look around your preferred app for a search option; chances are, you should be able to use it to filter content by word or phrase.
7 Different Ways to Control-F (Search for Words) On Your iPhone or iPad
New Tinnitus Therapy Can Quiet Torturous Ringing in the Ears
A combination of acoustic and electrical stimulation reduces tinnitus by half
· By Anton Benz on July 13, 2023Credit: Prostock-Studio/Getty Images
Constant buzzing and ringing in the ears without any input from the external environment can seriously impair quality of life for the 10 percent of the U.S. population with severe tinnitus. A combination treatment using sound and electrical stimulation may now give hope to sufferers.
One cause of tinnitus is probably overactivity of the dorsal cochlear nucleus (DCN) in the brain stem. This is where acoustic signals are processed with other sensory stimuli.
So the whistling and ringing in the ears caused by tinnitus is not purely a disease of the brain’s auditory system. Up to 80 percent of people with the condition have the so-called somatic form, in which the disturbing noises are generated or altered by head or neck movements. In a recent clinical trial, Susan Shore of the University of Michigan and her colleagues used a new procedure to significantly alleviate the symptoms of tinnitus. “I think the study represents hope for all sufferers,” says tinnitus expert Berthold Langguth of the University of Regensburg in Germany, who was not involved with the research.
Shore’s team developed a “bisensory” treatment consisting of an in-ear headphone and two externally attached electrodes that delivered a combination of acoustic and electric stimuli to reduce activity in the DCN. The level of stimulation was individualized to each person’s tinnitus. The study involved 99 people with somatic tinnitus, each of whom were given a prototype device for home treatment over the course of the study.
Participants in the experimental group underwent the procedure for 30 minutes daily for six weeks during the study’s first phase. Those in the control group also attached the electrodes near their ear and on their neck, but the electrical impulse was absent—they received a purely acoustic treatment. Because the electrical impulses were not perceptible, none of the participants knew who belonged to which group.
After a six-week break, which was the second phase of the study, the protocol shifted for phase three: each of the two groups received the opposite treatment for another six weeks. After the first phase, the tinnitus in the experimental group was already reduced significantly, and the treatment provided meaningful clinical benefits. The participants’ tinnitus was perceived as only half as loud on average after phase one. Even during the treatment break, the situation continued to improve. The effect lasted up to 36 weeks. “In my estimation, this is a very promising procedure,” Langguth says. Shore now wants to move the new method quickly through the approval process and then onto the market.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR(S)
Anton Benz is a science journalist based in Magdeburg, Germany.
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Human Resources Concerns: Accessibility of Job Sites
One of the most impactful ways that we can work towards achieving total accessibility on the Web is by improving employment opportunities for people with disabilities. The online job application process should ensure ease of use and comprehension for all of your applicants. Website accessibility policies should always extend to your career pages, application forms, and the like.
If your job applicants experience any accessibility barriers during the online application process, you run the risk of violating Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which:
“…prohibits private employers, State and local governments, employment agencies and labor unions from discriminating against qualified individuals with disabilities in job application procedures, hiring, firing, advancement, compensation, job training, and other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment.”
Failure to comply with ADA standards can result in legal consequences— not to mention involuntary discrimination against your talent pool. Ensure that your careers and job opportunities are accessible by checking for the following common mistakes, as well as implementing Level Access’s recommendations and testing solutions.
Inaccessible Job Postings
An inaccessible job posting will naturally result in fewer applicants who are disabled. Given how common accessibility problems are on job postings, this in turn contributes to reduced employment opportunities for people with disabilities. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 17.9% of disabled persons were employed in 2020, down from 19.3% in 2019. The application process in the post-COVID digital work environment has made it even more difficult to allow for in-person application methods.
Types of technical challenges people with disabilities will face when dealing with job websites and career pages typically include:
An inability to register on the website;
An inability to accurately fill out application forms or pre-interview questionnaires;
An inability to check on the status of their application.
Some companies may attempt to mitigate this risk by providing an alternate method of applying. However, this raises significant privacy concerns for applicants with disabilities who may want to keep their disability private. Many people worry that disclosing information about their disabilities will expose them to discrimination before they even get a chance to interview. An accessible job application process exemplifies that your business offers fair and equal opportunities to its recruits.
Making Your Job Site More Accessible
Many of the general best practices for website accessibility are also applicable to career pages and job application forms. Level Access recommends testing your online job listing for the following components:
Compatibility with assistive technologies: Ensure that your job posting is compatible with assistive technology softwares, including text-to-speech screen readers. Testing for accessibility with assistive technologies is a valuable process that can mitigate the risk of missing out on qualified job applicants with disabilities.
Color contrast: The tried and true standards for color contrast ratios are also applicable to your career pages and application forms. As established by WCAG, the use of text and images of text must meet a contrast ratio of 4.5:1 to ensure readability for those with visual impairments.
Mobile accessibility: If your job site allows for applicants to enter submissions from mobile devices, you’ll want to ensure that your website is responsive between desktop and mobile orientations. Accessibility issues with mobile devices can include touchscreen functionality, different input modalities, device use cases in different settings and lighting, and beyond.
Ongoing maintenance: Website accessibility is an ongoing process as opposed to a one-and-done fix. For a quick, efficient, and automated way to test your site’s accessibility, choose Level Access. We offer a myriad of services and tools to verify your site’s accessibility today, tomorrow, and beyond.https://archive.ada.gov/ada_title_i https://www.bls.gov/news.release/disabl.nr0.htm
Tips & Tricks for Testing Accessibility with Assistive Technologies
https://www.w3.org/WAI/WCAG21/Understanding/contrast-minimum.html
https://www.levelaccess.com/solutions/accessibility-platform/.htm
How to Convert Images to Editable Text in Microsoft Word
Want to extract text from an image in Microsoft Word? Here’s how to convert images into editable text within Word.
If you’ve ever found yourself manually typing out information from images or struggling to make scanned documents into editable text, then this article is for you. We’ll walk you through a step-by-step process of converting any image into editable text right inside Microsoft Word—no additional plug-ins are required. Without further delay, let’s jump into it.
Step 1: Insert Your Image Into Microsoft Word
You can drag and drop your image directly into Microsoft Word or navigate to the Insert tab, click Pictures, and select This Device.
In the file explorer that opens up, select your image from its location on your computer and click Insert.
Step 2: Resize Your Image to Fit the Page’s Width
This step is optional, but depending on your document, it can significantly improve the quality of your final editable text.
First, you may want to crop your image to remove any unwanted elements and ensure that only the relevant content remains. So right-click on your image, and select Crop.
Adjust the crop region to only include the main content of your image (as shown in the image below). Click outside the crop area to save the new changes.
With your image selected, click the Layout Options button and select the In Front of Text option. This allows you to freely move your image around in the document and adjust its size.
Adjust your image to fit the page’s width, as shown in the image below.
Step 3: Save Your Document as a PDF
To save your document as a PDF, navigate to the File tab. Click Save As and select Browse to choose a location for your document.
Choose a location for your document, enter a suitable file name, ensure PDF is selected as the file type, and click Save when you’re done.
Step 4: Open Your PDF Document in Microsoft Word
If you open a PDF file in Microsoft Word, it automatically gets converted to editable text. So since you’ve saved your image as PDF, you now have to open it in Word.
Navigate to the File tab, click Open in the left navigation pane, and select Browse.
Select your PDF file from its location and click Open.
In the dialog box that appears, click OK.
Microsoft Word’s PDF conversion is highly accurate, minimizing the need for extensive edits. In most cases, you’ll only need to make minor adjustments, if any at all. Most of the work you’ll do is formatting the document to suit your specific needs or making it look professional by applying simple design rules.
Convert Your Images to Editable Text in Microsoft Word
Now it’s time to put your newfound skills into action. Take that image you initially planned to type out and let Microsoft Word do the heavy lifting by converting it into editable text. Asides using Microsoft Word, there are other ways to convert images to text using free OCR software apps.
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