Accessible question types on a touch-screen device: the case of a mobile game app for blind people

This study investigates accessibility and usability via screen reader and gestures on touch-screen mobile devices. We specifically focus on interactive tasks performed to complete exercises, answer questionnaires or quizzes. These tools are frequently exploited for evaluation tests or in serious games. Single-choice, multiple-choice and matching questions may create difficulties when using gestures and screen readers to interact on a mobile device. The aim of our study is (1) to gather information on interaction difficulties faced by blind people when answering questions on a mobile touch-screen device, and (2) to investigate possible solutions to overcome the detected accessibility and usability issues. For this purpose, a mobile app delivering an educational game has been developed in order to apply the proposed approach. The game includes the typical question types and exercises used in evaluation tests. Herein we first describe the main accessibility and usability issues reported by a group of visually-impaired people. Next, the game and its different exercises are introduced in order to illustrate the proposed solutions.