Re: Sound and Sonification Issues and Inconsistencies
Re: Sound and Sonification Issues and Inconsistencies
- Subject: Re: Sound and Sonification Issues and Inconsistencies
- From: Chris Fleizach via Accessibility-dev <email@hidden>
- Date: Mon, 15 May 2023 11:39:19 -0700
We’ll look into these issues and get back to you.
Thanks
> On May 12, 2023, at 1:47 PM, Taliesin Love Smith via Accessibility-dev
> <email@hidden> wrote:
>
> Dear Apple Devs,
> I need to send a followup the email I sent yesterday.
>
> Safari on MacOS is providing sound as expected. It is just on iOS 16 where
> are experiencing that sound is prevented when using drag input
> We have this noted in a git hub issue
> (https://github.com/phetsims/tambo/issues/179).
>
> On MacOS, it is actually the Firefox browser that is behaving similarly, not
> Safari.
>
> We are still looking for any work around options Safari’s autoplay behavior
> on iOS, and any insights into the issues mentioned in my PS section.
>
> Thanks,
> Taliesin
>
>
>> On May 11, 2023, at 5:15 PM, Taliesin Love Smith
>> <email@hidden <mailto:email@hidden>> wrote:
>>
>> Dear Apple Devs who care and know about accessibility and inclusion,
>>
>> Our team at PhET Interactive Simulations designs and implements inclusive
>> features
>> <https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/filter?type=html,prototype&a11yFeatures=accessibility>
>> for highly interactive learning tools.
>>
>> We find that the changing policies at Apple are having general adverse
>> effects on the inclusive experiences we carefully design for learners who
>> use our HTML5 simulations. When learners use the simulations with Apple
>> products like Safari, Safari + VoiceOver, or Safari + iOS VoiceOver, they
>> can can run into trouble.
>>
>> The most recent issue is that sound no longer plays when a learner moves a
>> slider or movable object in a simulation. The learner must first press a
>> button in the simulation. How is a sonified slider, or moving object any
>> different from a sonified button? All are interactive elements and all make
>> sounds. A learner is choosing to interact, and we feel they should be
>> getting the full experience of the interaction. Learners have a clear option
>> to turn off the sounds if they do not want to hear them.
>>
>> In addition, this latest change to how Safari handles sounds makes for a
>> very inconsistent user experience in many contexts. At first the slider or
>> moving object won’t make sounds, but then they will make sounds after
>> pressing a button. This is not good design, nor is it inclusive design.
>>
>> Is there a work around for this issue? We want all our sounds to work when
>> interacting as we have designed them to work.
>>
>> Sincerely,
>> Taliesin Smith
>>
>> PS
>> I have a few other issues. I invite you to try them out:
>> With iOS VoiceOver - some toggle buttons no longer work. This is a serious
>> problem in Molecules and Light
>> <https://bayes.colorado.edu/dev/html/molecules-and-light/1.5.21/phet/molecules-and-light_en_phet.html>.
>> I cannot turn the Light Source to an on position. Blind learners cannot use
>> their phones or iPads to access this sim. The sim works fine with MacOS
>> VoiceOver.
>> With iOS VoiceOver custom grab and drag interactions were also broken, but I
>> just checked again and these custom drag interactions look like they may be
>> working again, see Balloons and Static Electricity
>> <https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/balloons-and-static-electricity/latest/balloons-and-static-electricity_all.html>
>> and Friction
>> <https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/friction/latest/friction_all.html>.
>> Thanks for fixing this. They weren’t working for a very long time. I last
>> checked in January 2023. I’ll request these sims be republished with this
>> important feature. This means they have to go through our quality assurance
>> process again which takes up valuable resources for a non-profit.
>> With MacOS VoiceOver, an annoying sound plays when I activate a custom
>> interaction like the Yellow Balloon in Balloons and Static Electricity
>> <https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/balloons-and-static-electricity/latest/balloons-and-static-electricity_all.html>.
>> Is there a way to turn the sound off? We have our own sonifications.
>>
>> Again sincerely,
>> Taliesin Smith
>>
>>
>> ~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
>> Taliesin L. Smith
>> email@hidden <mailto:email@hidden>
>>
>> Inclusive Design Research Specialist
>> PhET Interactive Simulations
>> http://phet.colorado.edu/
>> Department of Physics
>> University of Colorado, Boulder
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
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