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Re: Specifications for AT testing computers

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From: Chagnon | PubCom
Date: Jul 4, 2017 10:17AM

Thanks, Steve. Your recommendations for hardware and software configuration is spot on. The idea of different disks with different operating systems and assistive technologies is excellent.

As Steve, Dominic, and others have said, don't waste your time with VM (virtual machines) with assistive technologies. Software drivers are critical for assistive technologies to run correctly and running VMs can mess up the entire installation.

However, you can run Windows and assistive technologies on Macs through Apple Boot Camp, which isn't emulation/VM but a real separate Windows boot drive carved out of the Mac's hard drive. But that method does require a hard reboot to switch from one OS to the other.

--Bevi Chagnon

-----Original Message-----
From: WebAIM-Forum [mailto: <EMAIL REMOVED> ] On Behalf Of Steve Green
Sent: Tuesday, July 4, 2017 3:38 AM
To: WebAIM Discussion List < <EMAIL REMOVED> >
Subject: Re: [WebAIM] Specifications for AT testing computers

Hi James,

Since you're working for a UK Government department, it's likely that the GDS Accessibility Guidelines will apply to your testing (in fact the GDS Service Standard probably applies to the entire project).

https://www.gov.uk/service-manual/helping-people-to-use-your-service/making-your-service-accessible-an-introduction

https://www.gov.uk/service-manual/service-standard

This contains a list of assistive technologies that you must test with, which includes Windows, macOS and iOS (but not Android for some reason). Don't even think about running Windows in virtual machines - it's not the same as the real thing.

In fact I would recommend either buying several Windows machines (my preference if you've got the space) or install several SSD drives in one machine so you can have all the different assistive technologies on their own disk - you really don't want multiple screen readers on the same partition. We now build all our machines with 4 disks so we can rapidly boot into different screen readers and other assistive technologies.

Steve Green
Managing Director
Test Partners Ltd
<EMAIL REMOVED>


-----Original Message-----
From: WebAIM-Forum [mailto: <EMAIL REMOVED> ] On Behalf Of Dominic Capuano (gmail)
Sent: 26 June 2017 00:00
To: 'JP Jamous' < <EMAIL REMOVED> >; 'WebAIM Discussion List' < <EMAIL REMOVED> >
Subject: Re: [WebAIM] Specifications for AT testing computers

My 2 cents on this would be to avoid Macs altogether go Windows. Most of your users will probably be Windows users anyway.

If you must test on Mac buy a separate Mac just for that. You will save money by not fool around with virtual machines and key mapping when you do your Windows testing.

Dominic Capuano
<EMAIL REMOVED>
(h)(401) 726-2551