EasyChirp - Featured Website, December 2011

December's Featured Website is EasyChirp...

EasyChirp, formerly known as Accessible Twitter, is an alternative and accessible site which you can use to post tweets on the Twitter website. Twitter is a popular social networking site which is used by many to keep in touch with friends and family, follow celebrities and keep up-to-date with the latest information on your hobby or a particular subject of interest. You are able to post your thoughts and ideas using a maximum of 140 characters. Each post is called "a tweet". One of the main features of the site is the ability for you to "follow" someone or for them to "follow" you. This means that you'lll be able to see each others tweets.

Why is EasyChirp a featured website?

EasyChirp is an accessible way for people to use the otherwise inaccessible Twitter website. It's uncluttered and provides all the features of the site in one main window instead of separating the content out into multiple windows on the screen. This can also be helpful for magnification users as you don't have to worry about missing any content off to the side of the screen. EasyChirp gives information about your latest tweet directly underneath the box to post your tweets, so you don't have to go to your page to find that information. EasyChirp also provides easy to find links to all the main features of the site with keyboard shortcuts for these also available.

User comments

We've taken a few user comments from the EasyChirp website and added them below so you can get an idea of how good some users find the site...

J says...

"Wow! You have really made my day, and I am smiling once again. I am so excited that I found your Accessible Twitter (now EasyChirp). Now I feel that I can be in the cutting edge of everything that is happening in the Twitter Universe".

WC says in a tweet...

"Just tried @AccessibleTwitr. Love it! Clean & simple visually, screenreadable. Solves 1 of my Twitter #accessibility issues in a snap."

R says...

"You can easily navigate by several methods; skip links, form fields, headings. Very effective with a screen reader."

Tips and tricks

1. The "skip to main content" link takes you straight to the box to write your tweet which is quicker than tabbing through to it.
2. There are shortcuts for each of the main links on the page to the key features of the site. For example, to go to your Timeline, you use Alt+1.
3. There is a link to Tips for the site which gives you the list of shortcut keys and also tips on how to use EasyChirp if you haven't used Twitter before.

Got a suggestion?

We want to hear from you, our users. Which apps and websites should we be writing about on the TechKnowMore blog? Is there an app you can no longer live without? What website is at the top of your favourites list? Drop us an email on DigitalAccess@rnib.org.uk to let us know, and your favourite service could be featured in the very near future!