Tencent Maps SDK fully supports barrier-free and age-friendly

As ordinary people, we are enjoying the tremendous convenience brought to our lives by the rapid development of digital and informatization every day. We go online to browse news, use mobile apps to shop online, order takeaways, go out to navigate...it’s hard to imagine if one day we encounter obstacles when using these applications, our life will be bad...but by our side , There is such a group of people, because of their body or age, they cannot freely enjoy the digital life that we ordinary people have become accustomed to. For example, the visually impaired, the elderly...

Adhering to the concept of "Technology for Good", Tencent's location service has always been at the forefront of the industry in terms of support for barrier-free functions. As early as 2018, Tencent location services began to help developers create barrier-free products. Tencent was awarded the “Digital Technology Empowerment Award for People with Disabilities” issued by UNESCO for its commitment to providing users with disabilities with a better digital experience.

At the end of 2020, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology issued the "Special Action Plan for the Ageing and Accessibility of Internet Applications." Tencent Location Services actively responds to the call of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. In the latest map SDK, we have fully upgraded the accessibility features and added support for aging to continue to improve the digital life experience of the visually impaired and the elderly.

Let's take iOS as an example to introduce several commonly used barrier-free and aging functions.

1. Accessibility-One-finger control of map zooming

Zooming the map is an operation we often use when using the map. For the visually impaired, the difficulty of using this function is that it is impossible to distinguish which level the current map is at. Our Map SDK allows users to use a single finger to swipe up and down to zoom in and out of the map (swipe up to zoom in, and swipe down to zoom out), and the current map level will be voiced at the same time.

(Note: For the above functions, please make sure to turn on the narration mode of iOS)

2. Accessibility-read the key information for you

When visually impaired people use maps, the biggest challenge is not being able to see the key information clearly on the map. Tencent's location service adapts to the latest version of the map SDK in response to the system’s native accessibility features. Users can use gestures to allow mobile phones to recognize and read out key POI information such as locations and roads in the map, helping visually impaired users to more smoothly Use the map function.

At the specific operation level, in order to avoid confusion with the map zooming gesture, the user needs to switch the mode to the "POI" mode using the rotor function that comes with iOS first, and then use a single finger to swipe up, down, left, and right on the phone screen to switch between different The selected POI will be read out.

(Note: For the above functions, please make sure to turn on the narration mode of iOS)

Three, barrier-free-handy panning map

If the user wants to select a POI that is not within the current map field of view, our map SDK is also adapted to the system's three-finger operation. Visually impaired users only need to use a three-finger swipe on the phone screen, and the map field of view will be dragged to change with the direction of the gesture; at the same time, the mobile phone will also automatically broadcast the center point of the current field of view to help visually impaired users understand the current map field of view The specific location, accurately lock the user's desired view of the map.

(Note: For the above functions, please make sure to turn on the narration mode of iOS)

4. Suitable for aging-text size can be adjusted arbitrarily

When using smart phone applications, the elderly generally have the problem of being unable to see text and icons due to poor vision. Our latest version of the map SDK fully takes into account the needs of aging, and supports the adjustment of the size of the text and icons on the map. Large fonts and large icons allow the elderly to see clearly and use well when using map applications.

All men are created equal. We have the responsibility to let everyone, whether they are able-bodied or disabled, young or old, have equal and convenient access to and use of information, and share the huge dividends that digitization and informatization bring us. In the future, Tencent's location service will continue to respond to the call of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology to eliminate the "digital divide" faced by the disabled and the elderly.

At present, the map SDK with barrier-free and aging-resistant features has been integrated by many customers such as WeChat and JD.com. Developers are welcome to integrate and contribute to building an information barrier-free society!