Text me slowly

A group activity looking at how we can use text to describe and think about interfaces.

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Text me slowly

Thinking in text

How should interfaces be described with only text, like a computer or a screen reader interperets?

  • What should be described?
  • What order should the information be described?
  • Are there elements that have functionality?
  • Are there repeated patterns?

Set up

  1. Form into pairs
  2. Get out a pencil and a piece of paper
  3. We’ll do each ativivity one-by-one and discuss the results
    Volunteers can even read their solutions out in robot voices!

Don’t look ahead the answers are within!

1. What text would be helpful for the flamingo image?

Markdown 
A group of sleeping flamingos showing their bright pink colours

2. What text would be helpful for this graphic?

Markdown 
Send the “grinning face with smiling eyes” emoji

3. What text would be helpful for this graphic?

Markdown 
Number of moons for each gas giant

Jupiter: 67 moons
Saturn: 62 moons
Neptune: 14 moons
Uranus: 27 moons

4. What text would be helpful for the column graphics?

Markdown 
*Nothing—they’re purely decoration*

5. Describe this interface using only text—explaining it to someone who can’t see it

Markdown 
ARTICLE

Image of Godzilla destroying Japan in black & white.

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Saved from <notitleproductionfiles.com>
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1 comment

6. Describe this interface using only text—explaining it to someone who can’t see it

Markdown 
VIDEO

Star Wars: B-Wing (Canon) · Spacedock
Spacedock takes a look at one of the most innovative spacecraft designs in the Star Wars Galaxy.
54 200 views

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Published: Sept. 19, 2017
Author: Spacedock
Subscribers: 81 000

7. Describe this interface using only text—explaining it to someone who can’t see it

Markdown 
CHAT

Chatting with Liz Bradley (Active 1m ago)
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Messages:
- Liz:
  “That is super cool”
  Mon, 3:35 PM
- You:
  [Link: XKCD—Board game players doing taxes]
  Today, 2:03 PM
- Liz:
  “Sticker: Princess Leia, ‘I love you’”
  Less than a minute ago

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Text me slowly

A group activity looking at how we can use text to describe and think about interfaces.