PointFinder, developed by the Perth-based picoSpace, allows users to save a ‘point of interest’ such as the letterbox, bus stop or office. The app’s inbuilt compass or Google Maps can then be used to provide directions.
The program, the first of its kind in the southern hemisphere, is designed to cater to the interests of people with a disability, policy makers, device manufacturers and software developers.
While Google has made significant steps to improve the accessibility of some of its applications, including Gmail and Chrome, Shandra says that the company fails to integrate the needs of disabled users into its product development.
Shandra identifies the social network Google+ as an example of a product which has been released to the public with inaccessible buttons and form fields.
The HTC First Accessibility Guide (PDF, 129KB) was recently published on the HTC website to coincide with the release of the smartphone. It provides step-by-step instructions on how to enable accessibility features. The accessibility features includes Android's screen reader, TalkBack, and Explore by Touch. Both of these provide audible feedback for items on the screen. These features help people who are blind or vision impaired navigate Android-run devices through audible feedback.
