In this article, we will talk about what e-commerce is, how blind and visually impaired people perform e-commerce operations, the problems that they encounter, and how BlindLook helps blind and visually impaired people with e-commerce. As a result of the advancements in technology, a concept called e-commerce has appeared. E-commerce allows people to shop from the internet. Using e-commerce, people can place an order from their homes, without changing their place. We all know that e-commerce is a huge relief for everyone.
So, how do blind and visually impaired people perform e-commerce operations? Are there any problems that they have encountered and if there are, how to resolve them? In this article, we will together search for answers to questions like this.
Blind and visually impaired people can have access to e-commerce mobile apps or websites using a screen reader program that they install onto their computers or using the screen reader feature on their smartphones.
Now, let’s ask one of the most interesting and must-have questions..
How does a blind and a visually impaired person know the number of the debit or credit card that he/she/she will use to do e-commerce?
This is an interesting question and the answer to it is simple. Since there isn’t any technology available to read a blind and visually impaired person his/her/her debit or credit card number, the person can learn this number by asking somebody else.
How can a blind and visually impaired person shop from an e-commerce site?
Blind and visually impaired people can use an e-commerce site and shop as if they are using a normal website. There is no special method for using an e-commerce website.
We know that sighted people perform e-commerce operations on their mobile phones with a few simple taps. So, how do blind and visually impaired people perform e-commerce operations on their phones?
Blind and visually impaired people can perform e-commerce operations by installing the app of the company which they want to perform e-commerce. However, the mobile app needs to be designed for blind and visually impaired people i.e. It needs to be accessible. If the app is not designed in this way, the blind and visually impaired person can use the website or get help from another person.
Now, let’s talk about one more important question..
Which problems can blind and visually impaired people encounter while performing e-commerce?
While performing e-commerce, blind and visually impaired people usually encounter accessibility problems, i.e., the screen-reading program that they use might not synthesize what is written on the screen properly. In this case, the person needs to explain this situation to the developer of the app or website. Likewise, the banking app or website that a blind and visually impaired person uses for e-commerce might not be accessible as well. This situation should be reported, too. For example, if the e-commerce app that the person uses isn’t accessible, the person might try to look at the website. If he/she still couldn’t get a result, then he/she needs to get help from another person to perform the operation.
In this article, we tried to talk about how blind and visually impaired people perform e-commerce operations and the problems they encounter. As BlindLook, our aim is to ensure that all blind and visually impaired people can get what they want in the field of e-commerce which advances with technology. Accordingly, we have audio simulations in the EyeLearn section of our site for many banking and e-commerce services.
Author: Fatih Yüksek / BlindLook Team
