Blind Pavel: We are literally dependent on technology
Nov 13, 20207 min read
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Purchase groceries online, pay for parking via a mobile app or pay at a restaurant with a credit card. Common tasks for most of us that we don't even think about. But have you ever thought about how challenging these tasks are for blind people?
There are approximately 85 000 visually impaired citizens in the Czech Republic (285 million worldwide!). Their standard of living may increase with technological advances, just like others, but they are often sadly forgotten.
That's why we have established cooperation with blind tester Pavel Ondra and made our website and application accessible to the blind. On the occasion of the International Day of the Blind, together with other technology startups Twisto and Qerko, we highlighted the problems that blind people face in their daily lives and invited other companies to make their websites accessible to them. We decided to support this call as well - we offer companies free know-how with making websites accessible to the blind and a consultation with our tester Pavel.
What is it like for blind people to navigate the web and mobile apps? To give you a glimpse into their world, we bring you an interview with our tester Pavel Ondra. Pavel makes his living as a blind massage therapist and uses Reservio to book his customers.
Hi Pavel, could you tell us something about yourself to start with? Have you been blind since birth?
Yes, from birth. I went to the primary school in Pisárky in Brno, there is a school for the blind there. I also went to high school there - I graduated from the business academy with a high school diploma. I didn't want to make a living as a trader, but I wanted to get my high school diploma. I went to college for 4 years, but I didn't enjoy it, so I dropped out. Then I did a retraining course for blind masseurs in Prague. I was considering whether to get a job or go into business. I decided to go into business and it started to work - I found I really enjoyed it, so I've been doing it for 5 years now.
"Nowadays, everyone is grumbling that we are addicted to mobile phones. The thing about blind people is that we really are addicted to the technology."
How did you happen to help companies and people with technology? Have you liked technology since you were a kid? Did someone lead you to it?
Nowadays, everyone is always grumbling that we are addicted to mobile phones. The thing about blind people is that we really are addicted to technology. Ever since the first computers came out, we were taught in school to use technology to access information. We were taught to scan books, magazines, documents, whatever. Even in the first grade we learned how to write with all ten, it's just a necessity for us blind people. We've lived with technology since it's been around. If they weren't here, I wouldn't even be able to read a newspaper.
In 2009 the iPhone came out and it was really something for the blind, a top event! Suddenly we could use apps that we couldn't before - Messenger, FB, WhatsApp, Idos etc. But if an app wasn't adapted for the blind, someone had to tell the developers. And who else but the blind. I first tested sites like Rohlik.cz, Damejidlo.cz and the like. When I started getting into massages, I realized I wanted to make reservations online and Reservio came along. I test websites and apps purely as a user, I have no expertise in IT.
Pavel, few people can imagine what it's like for you to navigate the internet or mobile apps. Can you describe it for us?
There is a difference between navigating the app and the website. When I'm navigating on the web, I don't perceive the page as a whole. Example - when you open Seznam.cz as a seer, you will see that you have 2 boxes in the middle of the page to sign up for email. I can't see that, I have to orient myself from top to bottom like I'm reading a book. I have the ability to scroll through the rows, edit boxes, or use keyboard shortcuts. For example, pressing the letter H (headline) will move me through the headings.
So you have to use a reader to do that?
Yes, it will install on your computer. It's already on phones and MacBooks. This app converts everything on the web to spoken text.
For websites, it depends on how the webmaster formats the page. Therefore, the person who programs the site must label the elements correctly so that the reader I use can find the editing element correctly.
For applications it is essential that all buttons, tabs are described (for example, when I click on the fourth tab "profile" it must say "profile" and not "04" or nothing). Developers need to take into account that a blind person may use the site. They need to test their application so that it reads what it's supposed to read and doesn't read crap or nothing at all. It's just a matter of the developers at Apple finding a guide on how to create accessible apps.
The biggest problem is that the developers don't even realize that the site should be accessible to the blind.
Our programmers have worked to ensure that blind people can navigate the website and the Reservio app without problems.
For Reservio, you're testing the accessibility of the website and app for the blind. How does this testing work?
I'll open the app and check to see if everything works. For example, I might find that the app doesn't report a "cancel reservation" button. If I have a seer next to me, I can ask what it says and then report it as not working. When I'm alone, I try it by trial and error.
What is the most common problem or obstacle for blind people on websites?
When there are undescribed elements. For example, instead of "cancel reservation" it says "button", or there are illogical labels.
How much of a problem is it for a blind person if the site lacks ALT image captions?
Big. ALT labels must make sense.
Are auto-launching media on the web a hardship for a blind user?
They are, but I haven't experienced them, I avoid them. I have my sources - I play stuff through Apple Music, YouTube or podcasts.
For example, what do you use to choose which bank, insurance company, or any service for that matter? How limited are you by the fact that institutions or companies have not yet made their websites accessible to the blind?
I used to choose a bank based on how good the terms were. Now I would choose based on whether it has a nicely done iOS app and whether all the features that are on the web are in the app. Because if I can do something through the app, I don't want to go to the web.
And how would you find out what those apps are?
I'd ask other blind people. Either people on Facebook or we have a mailing list for Apple device users.
Are the blind still overlooked on Czech websites?
Definitely not, nowadays there is a lot of talk about it at conferences, people write blogs, articles are published. There is a lot of awareness. It's just that e-shops here still struggle with web accessibility for the blind. Foreign e-shops like Amazon or AliExpress are great, but the Czech Alza still doesn't have an app for the blind and shopping on Alza is just a horror.
Besides testing websites, you work as a blind masseur. How does Reservio help you in your work?
Reservio really helps me a lot! For example, the customer makes the reservation himself, I just approve the reservation in the system and immediately his name, surname, email and phone number appear in my online calendar. I don't have to worry about having to save the person somewhere. Everything is automatically entered into my calendar, so I don't have to write anything down manually. That's pretty convenient.
Or when I need to write to a customer - I open my online calendar, find their number in a note and I can call them right away. I can easily work with reservations - for example, if it's not a good fit, I can reject the reservation. Or if I unexpectedly need to doctor, I can cancel the reservation and people get an automatic notification right away. It's very intuitive and one has better control over the agenda.
Now there are cool online payments that Reservio has launched. People can pay for a massage in advance, the system automatically sends them receipts and I don't have to deal with paying on the spot. Then I just send a statement to the accountant from my Reservio account statement and that's it.
How much use do blind massage therapists find on the Czech market - does the demand differ from traditional massages?
People are like, "Yeah, you're the blind guy, you have better touch, right?" And it's true, we've got a better sense of touch. I think blind massage therapists can find work.
What is the main difficulty for a blind massage therapist when they decide to start a business? And is there any solution to remove this obstacle?
All the paperwork and the authorities. It's a lot of work, even if you're already massaging - accounting and all that stuff. It could all be handled better if the civil service was more online. We all know that, don't we. If only one didn't have to go to the eye doctor to get a certificate, it would come to them by email.
Would you recommend Reservio to other blind people?
I'm sure. It's great that Reservio is all over the world. If I go to Vienna to a school for the blind where they do massages, I'll be happy to recommend Reservio to them.
Thank you!
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