A new feature for VoiceOver users called "Accessibility Events" was
introduced in iOS 12.2 and macOS 10.14.4 without any announcement or
documentation. I cannot find any info about this feature on Apple's website.
Even the installed Help files say nothing about it, so far. The only
information given is a short description label in the Mac Preferences and
iOS settings, shown below. To the best of my knowledge, which is quite
limited at this time, leaving it turned on allows webmasters and anyone else
who cares to know to discover if you have VoiceOver running.
"Accessibility Events allow websites to customize their behavior for
assistive technologies, like VoiceOver. Enabling Accessibility Events may
reveal whether an assistive technology is active..."
My own Opinion
Detecting Accessibility Events has been a hot topic of late, with many
siding on one approach or the other. Most that see it as a benefit seem to
be web developers. Most who think of it as a negative, seem to be the very
people that it affects, the blind and visually impaired. After reading
through many blog and forum sites, I can not decide how to feel about the
situation. It seems that there are benefits and drawbacks to both sides. One
aspect of it gives me apprehension, the unknown, unrequested gathering of
information about me or my computer and devices, with the expectation that
it will always be used for positive purposes. Browser cookies were meant to
be this way also, yet in the past many spyware, malware and virus infections
were spread through the digital world using cookies. Almost every new boon
to the digital world has also been used for nefarious purposes by
unscrupulous persons. Add to that the rampant hacking of businesses,
agencies and their websites and databases and it can give me cause to pause.
Even someone using my information for legitimate reasons can lose hold of
that info. Do I now have to be concerned about Identity Theft as well? I
believe my own choice would be for the web to have as little information
about me and my devices as possible. The info about my digital life that is
released to the world should be my choice. I am glad that apple gave me a
choice by supplying a setting, but not happy that they made a decision for
me with turning it on by default. Now that I consider it, I think I am
siding with not being involved with the whole Accessibility Events thing.
Additionally, wouldn't this scenario depend on all web developers to be
honest and trustworthy in their endeavors? Does this include anyone who can
make a website or create individual web pages? Does this 'giving away of my
info' include those scammers sitting in their living rooms in their pajamas?
Perhaps I am being a bit extreme here, but let's face it, not everyone who
can make websites are honest or trustworthy. Nor can every website creator
be depended on to safeguard the information they gather about their site
visitors. Can someone now not only find my locale through my router's IP
address, which type of system I am logged on with, my screen resolution, but
also the fact that I use a screen reader meaning that I am blind? Extreme or
not, I have a junk mail box full of proof.
I can not imagine that Apple would place something like this on every Apple
device that I own without a purpose. Perhaps they have future plans for it
of which I am not aware. Maybe they are going to grow it into place to allow
for additional features in the future. This is often the case with Apple's
development paths. Mix that with the current efforts by them to better
address the needs of their "pro" communities and the idea seems likely.
Somehow I still end up feeling like someone at Apple really dropped the ball
on this one. How could they possibly believe that gathering info that
reveals one's disability without consent, in a somewhat hidden fashion could
be a good idea? This should have been turned off by default. My disability
is not a matter of statistics. It is a major force in my life, something
that drives much of my motivations. It is so personal to me that this
'unwanted revealing' situation feels like an intrusion. Should I also wear a
sign around my neck when I go out in public that says "Blind guy, please
decide things for me!"?
Another point, why does this setting only apply to VO? They refer to it as
"Accessibility Events" when it actually only applies to the use of
VoiceOver. The setting itself only exists in the VoiceOver areas of
accessibility. Why didn't they refer to it as "VoiceOver Events?" Is it
because they felt like it would single out only the blind community? If so,
maybe they should pay a bit more attention to those feelings, because it
'does' single out the blind and visually impaired communities in its
implementation. It does not apply to all of the other wonderful
accessibility features on my Apple devices. It seems like it should be put
into the main accessibility settings. Yet, on all of the various Apple
devices, it can only be found in the VoiceOver settings.
Accessing the Accessibility Events Feature
Apparently, even Apple knew that it was going to cause a stir in the blind
and visually impaired communities. Otherwise, why would they give us an
option to turn it off? It even comes with a warning label, as seen above.
The feature itself is not buried deeply. It is in plain view, one of the
first options available on the preference panel where it exists. Apple
rarely does anything 'off the cuff' or without some plan in mind. So now I
am back to thinking that there are future developments that await, other
possible features or apps that will be making use of the same access that is
being allowed by this Events thing. Regardless, I will turn it off for now
on my Mac and all devices. Here's how.
On Mac:
Open the VoiceOver Utility by pressing Control-Option-f8. Include the fn key
on a laptop. Then in the Utility Categories table, make sure the Web
category is selected. Then on the General tab, find the Accessibility Events
and check or uncheck the checkbox.
In iOS:
From the Home Screen, open Settings, then navigate down and activate
Accessibility and open VoiceOver. Near the bottom activate the Web button
and in the resulting screen, turn on or off the Accessibility Events.
Other Opinions on the Web
I am not the only blind person who has issues with the way this Events thing
was implemented. Much of the blind and visually impaired communities find it
to be intrusive. The following links contain just a small sampling.
Apple <https://axesslab.com/digital-apartheid/> 's new feature a step
towards digital apartheid
by Hampus Sethfors
Why screen reader detection on the web is a bad thing
<https://www.marcozehe.de/2014/02/27/why-screen-reader-detection-on-the-web-
is-a-bad-thing/>
by Marco
Thoughts on screen reader detection
<https://tink.uk/thoughts-on-screen-reader-detection/>
by Leonie Watson
In Conclusion
Even with all of the opinions expressed above, including my own, I have a
feeling of certainty that Apple will address this situation sooner rather
than later. Going by over thirty years of experience with Apple products,
they have a habit of addressing situations and glitches rather rapidly, for
the most part. While I do not appreciate how this one occurred, I am going
with the 'wait and see' approach. I am comfortable taking this viewpoint not
only because I have faith that Apple will address it soon, but also because
they gave me a way to turn it off. They could have easily hid it under the
hood and I would never have known. Instead, Apple gave me a choice, a
checkbox and a warning label. I still believe that something additional is
coming in the future that will use this same functionality. A whole new
interface of sorts? Better voice control? Eye tracking to interact? More
SIRI integration in the accessibility features? Who knows? Apple is not
normally one to hang something like this out there without some future plans
for expansion. After all, this is where VoiceOver came from to begin with,
right? So I will wait, though somewhat vigilant, for whatever is coming down
the pipes. It will end up being some form of benefit to my life, as they
usually are. Unfortunately, in this particular situation it should have been
presented in an "opt-in" manner, not an "opt-out" one. However, sometimes it
is a struggle to remember...
All of our cool digital stuff that we work with, play with and enjoy, is all
about "Living." Live well!
Submitted by Nicholas - Member of the AppleVis Blog Team at:
www.applevis.com
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