Writing with Screenreader in Mind

[Szaal]

Heyo.
First, I’d like to apologize if anything that will be said (or written) is offensive. I feel like this is a quite sensitive issue if taken wrongly, but also important to brought up.

So, I’ve been exploring about this topic lately. I read somewhere that the most accessible games for visually impaired users are IF/CYOA (besides standard novels, ofc). And then, my curiosity challenged me: Can I write a game/story that is friendly to these folks?

So, with that in mind, what is the best approach when writing for screenreader in particular and visually impaired users in general?

And some specific questions I have:

1. Is onomatopoeia (sound effect) a good idea when it comes to screenreader?
2. What makes a good alt-text for an image?
3. Is there any additional writing conventions for screenreader? (i.e. adding extra word “quote - end quote” whenever the reader reaches a quoted section)

[TimberWoolf]

I don’t trust that I can particularly contribute to this discourse.

While I am still wholly unfamiliar with screenreaders, I do enjoy playing games designed for visually impaired individuals. I’ve also recently wondered about IF games in this regard, and decided to give it a go, so I downloaded a free screenreader (I tried NVDA from https://www.nvaccess.org ), and tried it with some of my favourite text-based games.

It’s certainly something to adjust to, but I recommend trying it and experimenting with it in ChoiceScript.

I would like to point out, however, that ChoiceScript does utilise sound files, and if you are lucky enough to have access to a sound studio, actors and whatnot, you could potentially create a completely auditory ChoiceScript game. But, I suppose, that defeats the unique point of the CS platform.

Nevermind that one. I remain with experimenting and stuff.

[honeymichie]

As someone who is visually impaired here are my thoughts and no what you’re asking is not offensive in my understanding. It’s more on curiosity and its sort of cool that some people remembers us visually impaired people.

1. Is onomatopoeia (sound effect) a good idea when it comes to screen-reader?

Catering for the blind readers

@FairyGodfeather How does having music effect things? Honest for me it’s annoying as hell. I like music if what I’m reading is in braille, but since COG games are not like that and it is digital the music over laps the text reader’s voice. It’s like when you’re listening the text reader will say, “Then he went to….” Then you hear the background music and you can’t really hear what the text reader is saying. I’m thinking what happened? What again? Music mixed with the text reader just gave me a h…

2. What makes a good alt-text for an image?
   -I don’t understand the question. I’m confused… sorry. If this means an alternative way to replace a image into text then the simple solution is to describe the image.

3. Is there any additional writing conventions for screenreader? (i.e. adding extra word “quote - end quote” whenever the reader reaches a quoted section)
   -That really depends on the text reader itself. Some reader’s do not read punctuation marks, some do, some pause, some you need to allow it or not. Really it depends on the reader.

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Some posted topics that I participated on with a view point of someone who is completely visually impaired. Although, in all honestly, I have not encountered another visually impaired user from this forum. I think we the visually impaired are a silent bunch on this forum.

Has anyone created PDF/PNG "documents" for use in a game?

I’m working on my CoG Contest entry tonight, and let’s just say the storyline requires a fair number of documents for the player to review and analyze. I’ve concluded that “making” the documents as PDFs is much more visually interesting because it allows me to use special fonts, center and justify text however I like, add signatures, and even add effects like crinkled edges and such. Basically I can make the documents look “authentic.” When comparing it to just a standard page of text, I think…

My answer to said post is this

Has anyone created PDF/PNG "documents" for use in a game?

I don’t think making the file a PDF format would be a problem at for the visually impaired. As someone who is visually impaired, I can honestly tell you that there are now programs available paid or free that can read PDF format. Just to give an example, the Adobe Acrobat Reader already has a Read Out Loud feature. Located at the view tag, then by selecting Read Out Loud at the very bottom. If they don’t like the voice or they want to adjust something they just need to go to the Edit tag then s…

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Illustrations in games

I’m toying with the idea of having illustrations put in for my next game. Any thoughts in this and how it works from a technical point of view? (Like what is the best size of image to use, etc) Also, what you think would be a good number of illustrations for a 30,000 word read? (Average read) other thoughts on the use of illustrations?

My answer to said post is this

Illustrations in games

I’m going to be I a minority here since my opinion is from a visually impaired individual. I personally don’t like illustration, what is the use of illustration for people like me? I’m glad text games are available because its frankly the only game a blind person can really play without too much difficulty. Now, if a game does have illustration be it an NPC, MC, Landscape, Buildings, etc. I’d rather it be partnered with a description, but the description needs to resonate what the image and wor…

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Choice Script vs Other programming language for writing multiple-choice games

I’ve recently been looking at Choice Script and other simple programming languages for making multiple-choice games. I was wondering if there is any advantage for using Choice Script over other methods of making multiple-choice games. I’ve been in particularly looking at twine as it is very user friendly and easy to use. I understand that using Choice Script would allow you to post your game on the choice of games website, and in doing so, making your game more accessible and easy to find. Unfor…

My answer to said post is this

Choice Script vs Other programming language for writing multiple-choice games

In all the game scripting that I have tried, ChoiceScript is by far the easiest and friendliest for people like me who are visually (ahem) challenged lols. But that is just my opinion and I don’t think the programs for any of the interactive fiction programs was ever intended to be used by the blind or visually challenged. Which is an unintended bonus for the makers of ChoiceScript that they were able to create a program that anyone can technically dabble with ease. ChoiceScript also has a very…

and this

Choice Script vs Other programming language for writing multiple-choice games

@Chris_Conley I never tried it like I stated on my post, but I only included it since Inform 7 is one of the top hits when you ask Master Google for programs when (I was still searching for some programs myself) you want to make a multiple-choice games / choice-based games / interactive games or other terms you want to call it. Still, it’s nice of you to share some insight about the program Inform 7. When other people want to try it at least you’ve shared something about it.

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Does windows Narrator work with CoG games? Other screen readers for vi?

I’m working with a friend of mine who recently had their vision impaired from an accident, I don’t know much about VI applications and the only one I have any experience with is Narrator on windows. However I am not able to get Narrator to read any CoG games. I’ve looked through the forums but I haven’t found any topics concerning screen readers on windows and I was hoping I could get some input from more experienced users. Any help is much appreciated, thanks in advance.

My answer to said post is this

Does windows Narrator work with CoG games? Other screen readers for vi?

@Zach_Jones Hi Zach first sorry for the delay was out of town, but now my schedule is a little free so I’ll try to answer your question. This will be long, but I hope this will answer your question and help your friend. Okay the thing that you should be aware of is that Microsoft Narrator is a screen reader which reads text on the screen aloud and describes some events about the computer which are error message appearing that really happen while anyone is using their computer. Microsoft Narrat…

and this

Does windows Narrator work with CoG games? Other screen readers for vi?

I think my response again will be long so forgive me. @Zach_Jones I’m not sure if your friend will like the program that I’m currently using, but I’ll share it and give you some other programs that I’ve tried myself. Of course it will all depend on your friend’s preference since we all have our own likes and dislikes. I’m also a little confused. Are you asking for a screen reader to play the games by CoG or a screen reader to assist in making a CoG? Because you just said to read any CoG games a…

[Szaal]

Ah, thank you for replying!
May I spill the bean and say that the purpose of this thread is to attract the attention of people like you?

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By the way, about onomatopoeia, it’s actually not music files or something. It’s more like… uhh… shouting, yelling, screaming, etc.

Something like, “AAH! Ow! Bam! Pewpewpew!”
Written sound effects.

Considering that screenreader can’t possibly imitate these sounds perfectly, I wonder if it will confuse you at least, or break your immersion at most.

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@honeymichie

3. Is there any additional writing conventions for screenreader? (i.e. adding extra word “quote - end quote” whenever the reader reaches a quoted section)

-That really depends on the text reader itself. Some reader’s do not read punctuation marks, some do, some pause, some you need to allow it or not. Really it depends on the reader.

Hmm. In this case, I guess I can simply warn the reader that the story may contains a lot of punctuation marks and recommend them to adjust their screenreader properly.

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@TimberWoolf

I’ve also recently wondered about IF games in this regard, and decided to give it a go, so I downloaded a free screenreader (I tried NVDA from https://www.nvaccess.org ), and tried it with some of my favourite text-based games.

Heh. When I want to check how a line or phrase read by a screenreader, I put them on a free text-to-speech website (like ttsreader.com) and listen to them closely.

But anyway, thank you for the replies, guys!

[honeymichie]

@Szaal

May I spill the bean and say that the purpose of this thread

I’ve been had! Curse you szaal curse you!.. (i’m joking by this by the way)

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@Szaal

Considering that screenreader can’t possibly imitate these sounds perfectly, I wonder if it will confuse you at least, or break your immersion at most.

My answer is still the same as before to my linked answer…

@honeymichie

Sound-effects? It’s a nice touch as long as it’s not a whole 3minute music that loops. A good example about the sound effects would be a “broken glass it shatters” then I hear it a glass shattering. After that silence so the text reader can continue without any more distractions.

on that note I’ll add that not everybody likes this style. It would be wise to have an allow option or not since it will depend on the person if this annoys them or not. For me there are times that this style practically makes me want to stop everything while other times its okay. I guess it really depends on the person’s mood.

Welcome, hope my answers helped you in anyway possible.

[Szaal]

Putting this here as I’m mulling about this topic itself.

How to create content that works well with screen readers - Accessibility in...