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Thread: Mobile App vs. Mobile Website

Number of posts in this thread: 12 (In chronological order)

From: McDonald, Jennifer
Date: Thu, Jun 09 2011 1:42PM
Subject: Mobile App vs. Mobile Website
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A question for people who depend on Assistive Technology and use a
mobile device, such as an iPhone or Android:

To pay a bill - if you had your choice to use a company's mobile app to
pay that bill, or their Mobile Website (both developed with
accessibility in mind) which would you prefer? Which is easier to use?
Does it matter? Does it depend on your device type?

I'm trying to get a feel for if it is necessary to have both a Mobile
Website and a Mobile App that do the same thing. Which is more
accessible?

Thanks,
Jeni

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From: Birkir R. Gunnarsson
Date: Thu, Jun 09 2011 1:48PM
Subject: Re: Mobile App vs. Mobile Website
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Jini

Speaking as a blind user, I would prefer a dedicated mobile app myself.
My reasons are that I am not a big fan of browsing on the iPhone, and
I find Android browsing just not a good experience at all, even using
Mobile Access Suite from Codefactory, the most accessible browser I
know.
Remember that typing or inputting text on a mobile device is a pain,
more so for blind users, unless they have external keyboard.
Thus, setting up an app once, and then being able to perform routine
things, such as paying a bill, with the minimum number of keystrokes
is ideal for me.
Again, I do not claim to represent a research or a large group of
users, mainly my own perspective.
But I would be surprised if most blind users, at lesat, did not feel
the same way bout this.
Looking forward to other responses.
-Birkir

On 6/9/11, McDonald, Jennifer < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > wrote:
> A question for people who depend on Assistive Technology and use a
> mobile device, such as an iPhone or Android:
>
> To pay a bill - if you had your choice to use a company's mobile app to
> pay that bill, or their Mobile Website (both developed with
> accessibility in mind) which would you prefer? Which is easier to use?
> Does it matter? Does it depend on your device type?
>
> I'm trying to get a feel for if it is necessary to have both a Mobile
> Website and a Mobile App that do the same thing. Which is more
> accessible?
>
> Thanks,
> Jeni
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> The information contained in this communication may be confidential, is
> intended
> only for the use of the recipient(s) named above, and may be legally
> privileged. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient,
> you
> are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, or copying of this
> communication, or any of its contents, is strictly prohibited. If you have
> received this communication in error, please notify the sender immediately
> and
> destroy or delete the original message and any copy of it from your computer
> system. If you have any questions concerning this message, please contact
> the
> sender.
> ===============================================================================>

From: Paul.Adam@dars.state.tx.us
Date: Fri, Jun 10 2011 8:36AM
Subject: Re: Mobile App vs. Mobile Website
← Previous message | Next message →

I'm a registered iOS developer, I've read all the Accessibility API docs for iOS and you have a lot more control with native apps. You can make a web app perfectly accessible with JavaScript and ARIA but the end user experience won't be as simple and easy to use as native apps are.

The strategy I would use would be to make a native iOS app for the apple devices which are the most popular for accessibility and a JS/ARIA enabled web app for all the other mobile operating systems with shoddy accessibility support. The web app would work for feature phones that don't have app stores as well.

Paul Adam
Accessibility Specialist
Center for Policy and Innovation
= EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
@pauljadam on Twitter
www.PaulJAdam.com

-----Original Message-----
From: Birkir R. Gunnarsson [mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ]
Sent: Thursday, June 09, 2011 2:46 PM
To: WebAIM Discussion List
Subject: Re: [WebAIM] Mobile App vs. Mobile Website

Jini

Speaking as a blind user, I would prefer a dedicated mobile app myself.
My reasons are that I am not a big fan of browsing on the iPhone, and
I find Android browsing just not a good experience at all, even using
Mobile Access Suite from Codefactory, the most accessible browser I
know.
Remember that typing or inputting text on a mobile device is a pain,
more so for blind users, unless they have external keyboard.
Thus, setting up an app once, and then being able to perform routine
things, such as paying a bill, with the minimum number of keystrokes
is ideal for me.
Again, I do not claim to represent a research or a large group of
users, mainly my own perspective.
But I would be surprised if most blind users, at lesat, did not feel
the same way bout this.
Looking forward to other responses.
-Birkir

On 6/9/11, McDonald, Jennifer < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > wrote:
> A question for people who depend on Assistive Technology and use a
> mobile device, such as an iPhone or Android:
>
> To pay a bill - if you had your choice to use a company's mobile app to
> pay that bill, or their Mobile Website (both developed with
> accessibility in mind) which would you prefer? Which is easier to use?
> Does it matter? Does it depend on your device type?
>
> I'm trying to get a feel for if it is necessary to have both a Mobile
> Website and a Mobile App that do the same thing. Which is more
> accessible?
>
> Thanks,
> Jeni
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> The information contained in this communication may be confidential, is
> intended
> only for the use of the recipient(s) named above, and may be legally
> privileged. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient,
> you
> are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, or copying of this
> communication, or any of its contents, is strictly prohibited. If you have
> received this communication in error, please notify the sender immediately
> and
> destroy or delete the original message and any copy of it from your computer
> system. If you have any questions concerning this message, please contact
> the
> sender.
> ===============================================================================>

From: ckrugman@sbcglobal.net
Date: Fri, Jul 01 2011 9:39PM
Subject: Re: Mobile App vs. Mobile Website
← Previous message | Next message →

I would think that the mobile web site would give greater flexibility than a
mobile app as the mobile app would very depending on the product that it is
used on.
Chuck
----- Original Message -----
From: "McDonald, Jennifer" < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
To: < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
Sent: Thursday, June 09, 2011 12:38 PM
Subject: [WebAIM] Mobile App vs. Mobile Website

>A question for people who depend on Assistive Technology and use a
> mobile device, such as an iPhone or Android:
>
> To pay a bill - if you had your choice to use a company's mobile app to
> pay that bill, or their Mobile Website (both developed with
> accessibility in mind) which would you prefer? Which is easier to use?
> Does it matter? Does it depend on your device type?
>
> I'm trying to get a feel for if it is necessary to have both a Mobile
> Website and a Mobile App that do the same thing. Which is more
> accessible?
>
> Thanks,
> Jeni
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> The information contained in this communication may be confidential, is
> intended
> only for the use of the recipient(s) named above, and may be legally
> privileged. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient,
> you
> are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, or copying of
> this
> communication, or any of its contents, is strictly prohibited. If you
> have
> received this communication in error, please notify the sender immediately
> and
> destroy or delete the original message and any copy of it from your
> computer
> system. If you have any questions concerning this message, please contact
> the
> sender.
> ===============================================================================>

From: Jeevan Reddy
Date: Mon, Jul 04 2011 1:15AM
Subject: Re: Mobile App vs. Mobile Website
← Previous message | Next message →

Hi,
I would prefer accessible mobile web site instead accessible mobile app.
Accessibile mobile site can be accessed by any device regardless of type.
where accessible mobile app is helpful only for targeted users.

On Sat, Jul 2, 2011 at 9:09 AM, < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > wrote:

> I would think that the mobile web site would give greater flexibility than
> a
> mobile app as the mobile app would very depending on the product that it is
> used on.
> Chuck
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "McDonald, Jennifer" < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
> To: < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
> Sent: Thursday, June 09, 2011 12:38 PM
> Subject: [WebAIM] Mobile App vs. Mobile Website
>
>
> >A question for people who depend on Assistive Technology and use a
> > mobile device, such as an iPhone or Android:
> >
> > To pay a bill - if you had your choice to use a company's mobile app to
> > pay that bill, or their Mobile Website (both developed with
> > accessibility in mind) which would you prefer? Which is easier to use?
> > Does it matter? Does it depend on your device type?
> >
> > I'm trying to get a feel for if it is necessary to have both a Mobile
> > Website and a Mobile App that do the same thing. Which is more
> > accessible?
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Jeni
> >
> >
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> > The information contained in this communication may be confidential, is
> > intended
> > only for the use of the recipient(s) named above, and may be legally
> > privileged. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient,
> > you
> > are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, or copying of
> > this
> > communication, or any of its contents, is strictly prohibited. If you
> > have
> > received this communication in error, please notify the sender
> immediately
> > and
> > destroy or delete the original message and any copy of it from your
> > computer
> > system. If you have any questions concerning this message, please
> contact
> > the
> > sender.
> >
> ===============================================================================> >

From: Devorah Firestone
Date: Mon, Jul 04 2011 9:18AM
Subject: Re: Mobile App vs. Mobile Website
← Previous message | Next message →

Hi Jeni and All,
If both are accessible, I would take the app for two reasons:

1. I have more trust in native security measures as it applies to my
mobile device than I do in a mobile website using standard web
security protocols. I'm less in agreement that one size fitting all is
that great an idea when the security of my money and identity are
involved. The app and the device's internal software are also often
updated and are expected to be, leaving more possibility for my
experience to be more secure over time.

2. I'm also in agreement with Birkir. A simpler interface allows
speed in use which makes all users more likely to participate,
especially the users we on this list work for.

Thanks,
Devorah

--
Devorah Firestone
Accessibility Lead, QA Analyst, AKQA, Inc.
(703) 942-9391
http://www.linkedin.com/in/devorah4accessibility/

>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "McDonald, Jennifer" < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
>> To: < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
>> Sent: Thursday, June 09, 2011 12:38 PM
>> Subject: [WebAIM] Mobile App vs. Mobile Website
>>
>>
>> >A question for people who depend on Assistive Technology and use a
>> > mobile device, such as an iPhone or Android:
>> >
>> > To pay a bill - if you had your choice to use a company's mobile app to
>> > pay that bill, or their Mobile Website (both developed with
>> > accessibility in mind) which would you prefer? Which is easier to use?
>> > Does it matter? Does it depend on your device type?
>> >
>> > I'm trying to get a feel for if it is necessary to have both a Mobile
>> > Website and a Mobile App that do the same thing. Which is more
>> > accessible?
>> >
>> > Thanks,
>> > Jeni

From: Devorah Firestone
Date: Tue, Jul 05 2011 8:33AM
Subject: Mobile App vs. Mobile Website
← Previous message | Next message →

From: Devorah Firestone
Date: Tue, Jul 05 2011 12:21PM
Subject: Mobile App vs. Mobile Website
← Previous message | Next message →

From: Birkir R. Gunnarsson
Date: Tue, Jul 05 2011 1:15PM
Subject: Re: Mobile App vs. Mobile Website
← Previous message | Next message →

Let me just add/clarify my earlier comments that I do not see a mobile
app replacing a website altogether.
If there was only one option to access a service, I would prefer a
normal website (or mobile).
To me, as a user, the purpose of a mobile app is to enable me to
conduct a certain transaction, or do a fixed set of steps (think
trnsfer, pay bills, buy a ticket to a show etc) easily and with
minimum fuzz (think Groupon, I have the app, my credit card info is
stored, I hope securely, I can buy today's deal with click of one
button, and a password may be, can't remember).
There are other times I may need to do other things, review my account
history, create a funds transfer, contact customer service etc. In
that case I would prefer to use a mobile web site (or an accessible
web site), and would personally do that from a PC, at least at the
moment.
So we must first think of the purporse of a mobile app, whether it
were to replace all apsects of a web site or service, or whether it be
intended to simplify certain aspects of the most common types of
actions a user will be taking on said website.
In the former I would take a mobile web site, in the latter I'd be
glad to have a mobile app .. yes, there's an app for that. ;)

On 7/5/11, Devorah Firestone < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > wrote:
> Hi Jeni and All,
> If both are accessible, I would take the app for two reasons:
>
> 1. I have more trust in native security measures as it applies to my
> mobile device than I do in a mobile website using standard web
> security protocols. I'm less in agreement that one size fitting all is
> that great an idea when the security of my money and identity are
> involved. The app and the device's internal software are also often
> updated and are expected to be, leaving more possibility for my
> experience to be more secure over time.
>
> 2. I'm also in agreement with Birkir. A simpler interface allows
> speed in use which makes all users more likely to participate,
> especially the users we on this list work for.
>
> Thanks,
> Devorah
>
> --
> Devorah Firestone
> Accessibility Lead, QA Analyst, AKQA, Inc.
> (703) 942-9391
> http://www.linkedin.com/in/devorah4accessibility/
>
>
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: "McDonald, Jennifer" < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
>>> To: < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
>>> Sent: Thursday, June 09, 2011 12:38 PM
>>> Subject: [WebAIM] Mobile App vs. Mobile Website
>>>
>>>
>>> >A question for people who depend on Assistive Technology and use a
>>> > mobile device, such as an iPhone or Android:
>>> >
>>> > To pay a bill - if you had your choice to use a company's mobile app to
>>> > pay that bill, or their Mobile Website (both developed with
>>> > accessibility in mind) which would you prefer? Which is easier to use?
>>> > Does it matter? Does it depend on your device type?
>>> >
>>> > I'm trying to get a feel for if it is necessary to have both a Mobile
>>> > Website and a Mobile App that do the same thing. Which is more
>>> > accessible?
>>> >
>>> > Thanks,
>>> > Jeni
>

From: Shruti Agarwal
Date: Wed, Jul 06 2011 1:00AM
Subject: Mobile App vs. Mobile Website
← Previous message | Next message →

Hi All,
You probably already have an Internet website and are now considering
to create a mobile presence. One of the main questions you might be debating
with is whether to create a mobile application (app) or a mobile website.
There has been quite a bit of discussion on the web regarding the pros and
cons of each of these options.With the huge buzz around Apple’s App Store
and Blackberry’s App World it seems that mobile applications are taking
over, but *is an app the right solution for everyone?* Doesn’t it seem like
we have gone back fifteen years and once again being required to install
packaged software?
There are some cases where an app makes more sense as for example:
businesses who have a very large and dedicated user base (e.g . Facebook) or
solutions that requires special capabilities of the mobile device that are
not accessible through the web (e.g. gaming).

Tnx,
Shruti
[url=http://www.propertywala.com/]propertywala[/url]

From: Tim Harshbarger
Date: Wed, Jul 06 2011 7:21AM
Subject: Re: Mobile App vs. Mobile Website
← Previous message | Next message →

Thinking about my own use of mobile devices, it seems to me that I have a tendency to use an app to do something rather than use a web site to do something. If there is both an app and a site that allows you to do the same thing, I think I tend to use the app rather than the site--unless the app is not accessible.

I think that might be because accessible apps tend to be easier and quicker to navigate than sites. Most of the time with sites, I end up having to scroll or move by elements--like move through multiple headings to get to the heading I want. On an app, I can just touch the part of the screen that has the information I want or the field I need to fill out and I'm there.

I think that is one of the advantages of a touch screen user interface for the blind. If the UI is consistent, then once you know the app well enough to know where things are placed on the screen, you can just move straight to the piece of the UI you want. At least, it works that way for me.

From: Alan M. Dalton
Date: Wed, Jul 06 2011 7:57AM
Subject: Re: Mobile App vs. Mobile Website
← Previous message | No next message

Hi Tim,

That's interesting.

Would a well-designed website with logical navigation and consistent layout
be as easy to use as the accessible apps that you're referring to?

Regards,
Alan.

Alan Dalton
- Accessibility Development Advisor
- Access Officer
National Disability Authority, 25 Clyde Road, Dublin 4, Ireland.
http://www.nda.ie/

Tim Harshbarger
<tim.harshbarger.
= EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = To
m> WebAIM Discussion List
Sent by: < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
webaim-forum-boun cc
= EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = .o
rg Subject
Re: [WebAIM] Mobile App vs. Mobile
Website
06/07/2011 14:19

Please respond to
WebAIM Discussion
List
<webaim-forum@lis
t.webaim.org>

Thinking about my own use of mobile devices, it seems to me that I have a
tendency to use an app to do something rather than use a web site to do
something. If there is both an app and a site that allows you to do the
same thing, I think I tend to use the app rather than the site--unless the
app is not accessible.

I think that might be because accessible apps tend to be easier and quicker
to navigate than sites. Most of the time with sites, I end up having to
scroll or move by elements--like move through multiple headings to get to
the heading I want. On an app, I can just touch the part of the screen
that has the information I want or the field I need to fill out and I'm
there.

I think that is one of the advantages of a touch screen user interface for
the blind. If the UI is consistent, then once you know the app well enough
to know where things are placed on the screen, you can just move straight
to the piece of the UI you want. At least, it works that way for me.