Review of Gmail · Web2Access

Summary

Gmail uses frames and tables for the layout in its standard view, it failed to function correctly in text only mode or without stylesheet. These would have impact on keyboard or screen reader users. However, to address these accessibility issues, Gmail has also provided the Basic HTML view, which was full accessible when test. For both view, the layout is good, and there has no adverts or extras to detract from the main content.

Detailed Results

#	Test	Outcome	Notes
1	Login, Signup and Other Forms Accessible	67%	The sigh up form and the login form were fully keyboard accessible for screen reader users. CAPTCHA alternative has been offered as audio, but the required words was very hard to pick up from the background noice.
2	Image ALT Attributes	100%	All icons and images have appropriate alt tags.
3	Link Target Definitions	100%	All links were easy understandable.
4	Frame Titles and Layout	67%	Frames have been used in the standard view, some of them without title. The frames have failed the Firefox Accesibility test, and they also have impact on layout so that the site could not be used with text only view. However, Gmail has also offer a Ba
5	Removal of Stylesheet	100%	In Gmail's standard view, without the stylesheet made large sections of the site unusable. There was a "Your inbox is currently empty." message displayed while there are emails in the idbox when the stylesheet was on. However, Gmail has also offer a Ba
6	Audio/Video Features	100%	N/A - This site does not deal with multimedia content.
7	Video/animations - audio descriptions	100%	N/A - This site does not deal with multimedia content.
8	Appropriate use of Tables	67%	Layout table was been used without title, but the screen reader access was possible when working through the messages, and it passed the Firefox accesibility test.
9	Tab Orderings Correct and Logical	100%	Tab order is in a logical and consistent.
10	Page Functionality with Keyboard	100%	The website is fully accessible without the use of a mouse.
11	Accessibility of Text Editors	67%	Rich editor provided, it was not fully keyboard accessible (the toolbar was unreachable, but was functioned through the use of access key). Plain text editor is also provided in the basic HTML view.
12	Appropriate Feedback with Forms	100%	The product provides suitable feedback when the user performs an action.
13	Contrast and Colour Check	100%	In the standard view, some of the critical texts, such as "To" and "Subject", were use dark grey text #A99999 on light grey background #F5F5F5, has failed the Juicy Studio colour contrast test. However, good colour contrast has been provided in Basic HT
14	Page Integrity when Zooming	100%	The website maintains the layout when zoomed,.
15	Text size, style, blinking elements and Readability	100%	clear layout, easy to read.