Spotify Updates Apps to Improve Accessibility
May 20, 2021
The new update includes buttons with increased readability features, options for text resizing and a beta for podcast transcriptions.
356 million people regularly use Spotify to listen to music and podcasts on the streaming platform. Many users have different access needs. Spotify are working with people with disabilities, to continuously make improvements across the platform to be an inclusive experience for all. By assessing ideas on an ongoing basis, Spotify are able to ensure everyone can easily enjoy music and podcasts on the largest audio platform in the world. These features will be rolling out on iOS and Android in the coming weeks.
1. All buttoned up
Spotify are changing the colour, text formatting and size of some of the most frequently used buttons. Spotify says this change will make it easier for low-vision and visually impaired users to navigate the platform, as well as help users where there’s low lighting or high screen reflections. Changing the text formatting from all caps, creates more space for translation or localization for the more than 60 languages Spotify currently supports.
2. Living large
Spotify already supports Dynamic Type, reflecting the system-wide text setting on iOS. The latest accessibility update allows users to increase the text size even more. Giving users greater control to personalize the experience improves overall navigation.
To change the text size on your iPhone:
- Head to the Settings app
- Navigate to Accessibility – Display & Text Size – Larger Text
- From here, you can adjust and preview the size of text using the slider
- For even larger text, toggle Larger Accessibility Sizes at the top
If the text is too large it may make some of the buttons or other functions in Spotify hard to use. Head back to Settings to readjust the font size.
3. Spell it out
Spotify are introducing auto-generated podcast transcripts in the coming weeks. Starting out as a limited beta on select Spotify Original and Exclusive titles, users on the iOS and Android app will see an Episode Transcript button on some shows. Spotify will automatically generate transcripts for these shows, allowing users to read the text with or without the sound. Anyone can scroll and navigate through episodes, then simply tap a paragraph to start playing the show from that point. Spotify hope to one day roll out this feature across all podcasts on Spotify.
Source: Route Note