The Difference Between Click-Accessible and Hover-Accessible Content

When navigating the Web, some content is displayed when you click on it, often taking the user to a new browser tab. This is known as click-accessible content. Sometimes content is displayed by hovering the cursor over it. This is known as hover-accessible content. Hovering over content provides information without having to click. Sometimes hover-accessible content can present problems for screen magnification users. If a person is magnifying a portion of the screen and a pop-up is displayed outside of the magnified portion, the user might never know the content was even there.

Experience the video titled Click vs. Hover to learn more about how to consider content thinking about the needs of someone who uses screen magnification.

Screen Magnification on a Chromebook

Screen magnification is a function of some technologies which allow for viewing items at larger sizes, which can make digital material easier to see. In Google Chrome, screen magnification can take many forms. A user can usually zoom in by stretching two fingers across a touchscreen, but there are other ways too including the following:

  • Simultaneously press Ctrl and the + key (or – key to reduce the zoom level) to magnify within the browser. Press the + key repeatedly to increase the magnification
  • Simultaneously press Ctrl + Shift + the + key to magnify everything, including the controls of the browser itself.
  • Enable Full Screen Magnifier in Chromebook Accessibility Features
  • Enable Docked Screen Magnifier in the Chromebook Accessibility Features.

The video below titled How to Use Screen Magnification on Your Chromebook provides additional demonstration and explanation of these accessibility features.

How to Change the Cursor on a Computer Running Windows 10 To Improve Usability

There are browser extensions that can change mouse cursor color, size, and shape when using the Internet. However, these only work when you’re using an Internet browser. There are other options built into Windows that allow a user to change their cursor no matter what software is being used.

Changing the cursor appearance can help make it easier to see for you, the operator of the computer, and anyone to whom you are sharing your screen. It also comes in handy when making screen recordings.

To change the color and size of a cursor when using a computer running Window 10, click the Windows icon in the lower left-hand corner of the screen and go to Settings.

Settings in Windows

Then scroll to find Ease of Access.

Ease of Access

Then select Cursor and Pointer.

Ease of Access

From there, the slider can make the mouse arrow bigger. Another option is to select a new color for the mouse arrow and cursor, and make the cursor thicker and easier to see!

Cursor Settings

To learn how to do the same thing on a Chromebook, watch this video.

 

Improving Visibility of Content Displayed on iOS Devices

Display & Text Size

Display & Text Size in Accessibility Settings

Whether using an LCPS provided or personal Bring Your Own Technology device, iPhones and iPads have a number of useful features helpful for those who need assistance seeing the content on the screen which can be accessed through the Settings application. Some features include changing the contrast, increasing the font size, and bolding the text. The site Adjust the display and text size on iPhone explains each feature listed on the Display & Text Size menu embedded with the Accessibility portion of the Settings menu. The video Apple iOS Display and Text Size explains how to use a few of the more commonly used display options. Explore the different settings to see which adjustments should be made to improve the visibility and the usability of the content displayed on the screen.

Adjust screen brightness or color based on time of day

The brightness or whiteness of a screen can impact how easy it is to experience content including text. Many devices, including student Chromebooks, have a setting which allows for automatically adjusting colors based on different factors, including time of day.