Accessibility
Аccessibility is a concept allowing most users to access technologies, including people with physical and perceptual disabilities and sensory sensitivity.
Our goal is to make VK’s websites and services accessible to the largest possible number of users.
People with perceptual disabilities form a significant part of our audience. It is essential for all VK products to be comfortable for them to use as well. But accessibility is not only about people with disabilities.
We all face temporary or situational limitations.
Increasing accessibility allows people to use services when their capabilities are limited, such as when their hands are full.
- Hearing
- Voice
- Sense of touch
- Vision
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Permanent limitationsHearing loss
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Temporary limitationsOtitis
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Situational limitationsLoud noise
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Permanent limitationsInability to speak
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Temporary limitationsLaryngitis
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Situational limitationsStrong accent
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Permanent limitationsMissing a hand
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Temporary limitationsBroken arm
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Situational limitationsHands full
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Permanent limitationsBlindness
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Temporary limitationsCataract
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Situational limitationsSleep deprivation
Our projects are always evolving to become more convenient and accessible for a variety of people.
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Odnoklassniki apps have been tested for their accessibility for blind users and people with mobility impairments.
The right labels were assigned to the majority of the items in its Android and iOS applications. Now users can find where they are and what is available to them on the website through hearing. For example, they can read the newsfeed, like posts or select any other reactions, send messages, comment on posts, and even learn what is in a photo. The last option is only available in newer iOS versions.
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Mail.ru Android app has become more accessible to blind users and people with mobility impairments.
We have already completed over 50 tasks to improve non-visual accessibility and have no plans to stop. Users may now effortlessly register in the application, set up a new email account, recover their passwords, send emails, reply to and forward messages, attach documents to emails, and so on. Mail.ru users can now hear hints and correct audio description of the elements they interact with at every step.
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Marusia voice assistant is built into the Mail.ru app. Marusia helps users sort their emails, turn on the music or the radio and can also search the Internet for answers to any questions.
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VK app for Android has become more accessible for blind users and people with mobility impairments.
Newsfeed navigation is now faster and more predictable for screen reader users. For example, users can now move between individual posts and blocks by swiping down or up with two fingers. We set up music rewind control using a screen reader and much more. Our teams are working hard to make VK even more convenient as soon as possible and to obtain a certificate of non-visual accessibility.
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VK Video allows users to automatically add subtitles to their uploaded videos. Even without sound users can understand what is happening in the video.
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Voice messages can be converted into text in VK Messenger.
Social glossary (in Russian)
Download glossary
We have compiled a glossary of social terms to reduce communication barriers for everyone. The key in our approach is that we prioritize the person over their diagnoses, ailments, and peculiarities.
Articles on increasing accessibility (in Russian)
VK has an internal community dedicated to accessibility. It helps the VK team go deeper into the topic, get to know our users with perception differences, and discover how people engage with interfaces in various ways.
We are starting to publish articles and community practices on VC.ru to share experience with colleagues from other companies.
Feedback on accessibility changes
VK is a community for millions of very diverse people. We strive to create projects that would be beneficial to all of them.
The sky is the limit when it comes to improving accessibility and we always welcome feedback. Only by working together can we ensure that digital services are available to everyone without exception.
Contact usWould you like to test VK services for accessibility?
Take the admission test and explore a crash course in testing from the VK QA team. Improve VK products by applying for an internship with the VK Team.
VK Testers is a beta testing program for VK products, as well as any other developers. All test result reports are directly shared with development teams.
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