955718 - [a11y] Number of unread messages should precede status message for screen reader users

Status: RESOLVED WORKSFORME

(Instantbird Graveyard :: Contacts window, defect)

Description

[Instantbot]

*** Original post on bio 2267 by Hadi Remonion <hadirezaei AT gmx.com> at 2013-12-04 16:22:00 UTC ***

The ScreenReader technology helps visually impaired people to use the computer with a voice feedback. Instantbird is mostly accessible to Screen-reader users with some minor acceptions.

In contacts list,   moving the number of unread messages just before the name of the contact, instead of the end. This will help blind users to quickly see how many unread messages they have, instead of having the contacts name plus the room topic read to them before  knowing the number of unread messages. (specially in irc rooms, where some of the topics are very long including the links). in case of other protocols such as messangers, Currently the screenreader reads the contact name, plus the status message, and then the number of unread messages. It requires ScreenReader users to listen to the hole text, before knowing if there is any unread messages, or not, and if there is, how many.
This UI change would be a big improvement for blind users of instantbird.
I believe There should be a "accessibility" toggle option for instantbird, that would enable the new UI changes only for blind users, So the existing sighted users of instantbird will not have to get the new UI look, which may or may not look good in terms of visuals.

Comment 1

[aleth [:aleth]]

*** Original post on bio 2267 at 2013-12-04 16:26:54 UTC ***

Wouldn't you want to know the contact name *before* the number of unread messages, to know whose messages are new? I can understand wanting the unread message number before the topic.

Comment 2

[Instantbot]

*** Original post on bio 2267 by Hadi Remonion <hadirezaei AT gmx.com> at 2013-12-04 16:44:15 UTC ***

Aleth: That is a  better idea. providing that the possibility of implementing it exist.

Comment 3

[aleth [:aleth]]

*** Original post on bio 2267 at 2013-12-04 16:46:00 UTC ***

Confirming.

Comment 4

[Instantbot]

*** Original post on bio 2267 by hadirezaei AT gmx.com at 2013-12-22 12:17:35 UTC ***

This bug is now fixed by Mozilla's accessibility team. The screenReader now reads what actually is showed next to the contact, (which is a small text of room topic), then reads the unread messages. It won't read the whole topic anymore.
fixed in instantbird v1.5

Comment 5

[Patrick Cloke [:clokep]]

*** Original post on bio 2267 at 2013-12-22 14:28:16 UTC ***

We didn't make any changes to actually fix this, so I'm going to close this as WORKSFORME. :)