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Beforehand, we touched upon the significance of accessibility of on-line assets and the consideration of web-inclusive classes of customers. Nonetheless, we didn’t increase this matter offhandedly. At Stripo, we try to make our product as user-friendly as potential, retaining our members’ well-being in thoughts. Because of this we started exploring the subject of internet inclusivity for varied teams to enhance and adapt our product and maybe even assist our colleagues within the trade.
Exploring the influence of photosensitive epilepsy
Right this moment, I discover the subject of photosensitive epilepsy — what causes it, who’s affected, the way it impacts those that work or spend lengthy hours at a pc, and what ought to be thought of when designing electronic mail templates to make sure they’re comfy for each electronic mail entrepreneurs with photosensitive epilepsy and recipients who’re merely electronic mail customers.
Understanding the size of the problem
Let’s dive into the problem. Worldwide, 50 million individuals reside with epilepsy. Epilepsy just isn’t solely hereditary however can be acquired in lots of circumstances. In easy phrases, it’s attributable to organic or structural processes within the mind that set off the situation, equivalent to head accidents, strokes, infections, and even alcohol abuse.
Roughly 3% of the worldwide inhabitants with epilepsy has photosensitive epilepsy. What does this imply? It implies that an individual can expertise a seizure when uncovered to a flashing picture, GIF, or a mix of colours. This manifests as convulsions and short-term confusion, which is analogous to different types of epileptic seizures, with slight variations in reactions.
3%
of the worldwide inhabitants with epilepsy has photosensitive epilepsy
Signs and results of photosensitive seizures
What does an individual really feel throughout a seizure?
sudden overwhelming panic;
dizziness and numbness;
sometimes, hallucinations.
What occurs throughout a seizure? The individual experiencing a seizure is unconscious, however their muscle tissues tense up, and that is adopted by a sudden jerking of the limbs. After the seizure, the individual might expertise complications, disorientation, muscle ache, and emotions of despair.
The attain of photosensitive epilepsy in electronic mail advertising
I’ve described all this so that each one that reads this understands how troublesome life might be for individuals with this situation. It’s essential to make sure that nothing we create in our work even hints at triggering a seizure, not to mention truly inflicting one.
Let’s think about the size of the issue.
On daily basis, 347 billion emails are despatched and acquired by 40 billion individuals around the globe. If we estimate (albeit not directly) that fifty million individuals have epilepsy, we are able to compute that these individuals obtain roughly 433.75 million emails each day. This suggests that a person with epilepsy may obtain virtually 9 emails per day. Whereas that is an approximate determine, the size remains to be hanging.
If 3% of individuals with epilepsy are photosensitive, that accounts for 13.5 million emails a day being despatched to people with this situation. Even when individuals with this situation obtain solely two emails every week, even when considered one of them triggers a seizure, it’s extremely harmful.
Key accessibility necessities for photosensitive epileptic customers
I hope you might have been capable of grasp the magnitude of this concern with simply this one group of web-inclusive customers. Let’s comply with all essential tips when designing emails to cut back the danger of triggering seizures to zero.
So, what accessibility necessities ought to we comply with for this group?
Photos, GIFs, and movies: Probably the most harmful triggers
Flashing photographs lasting greater than 5 seconds are prohibited, as they will set off a seizure. Keep away from content material with flashing frequencies between 5 Hz and 30 Hz. This frequency vary is most certainly to impress seizures in individuals with photosensitive epilepsy. If flashing is important, its frequency ought to be lower than 3 Hz or greater than 60 Hz to reduce the danger of seizures.
Greater than three flashes per second (equivalent to in a GIF) that cowl 25% or extra of the display are prohibited.
Shifting or repetitive patterns (for instance, in a sport) overlaying 25% or extra of the display are prohibited — notably these with repetition frequencies between 5 Hz and 30 Hz.
Static patterns overlaying 40% or extra of the display are prohibited.
Greater than eight static or 5 shifting stripes with excessive distinction — whether or not parallel, radial, curved, or straight — are prohibited. These stripes could also be oriented in any path. Shifting stripes can create extra visible stimulation that will increase the danger of photosensitive seizures.
Greatest practices for textual content and fonts
Textual content and fonts are usually much less more likely to set off seizures in people with photosensitive epilepsy in comparison with environmental components equivalent to daylight flickering by means of bushes. Nonetheless, do not forget that giant textual content ought to have a distinction ratio of at the least 4.5:1 for regular textual content and three:1 for bigger textual content.
Nonetheless, it’s essential to make sure the next facets in emails:
Keep away from fonts with skinny traces or ornamental options. Sans-serif fonts (equivalent to Arial or Helvetica) or fonts with clear, daring traces (equivalent to Verdana) are thought of extra readable.
Keep away from cursive or italic fonts in the principle textual content, as they will cut back readability.
The road top ought to be at the least 1.5 occasions the font dimension for the principle textual content. This improves readability and reduces eye pressure.
Paragraph spacing must also be sufficiently vast to make sure that the textual content is well readable. Spacing that’s at the least 1.5 occasions the road top is beneficial.
Necessary to notice: All the principles for web-inclusive customers with epilepsy might be discovered within the Net Accessibility Initiative Requirements.
Guaranteeing acceptable distinction in electronic mail design
Necessary to notice: Using vibrant purple and blue colours can set off a seizure!
Let’s speak a bit about distinction.
Display distinction is the ratio between the brightest white and the darkest black on the display. The beneficial distinction ratio is normally 1000:1 for many duties. It’s necessary to keep away from overly sharp transitions between brilliant and darkish areas.
Colour temperature: The display shade temperature is measured in Kelvins (Ok).
day mode: Often 6500K, which corresponds to pure daylight;
night or night time mode: 3000K–4500K, which reduces eye pressure and the danger of seizures.
Blue mild discount: Some applications and gadgets enable for the discount of blue mild depth, which might contribute to eye pressure and set off seizures in delicate people.
Pulse width modulation (PWM) and display flicker: It is necessary to think about expertise that reduces display flicker. Flicker at low brightness ranges might be invisible to the attention however nonetheless trigger discomfort and provoke seizures. Screens with flicker-free expertise, for instance, decrease or remove flicker.
Designing safer emails: Sensible suggestions
Design and visible accessibility
When creating electronic mail templates, think about the distinction between textual content and background. Use excessive distinction (equivalent to black textual content on a white background) to enhance readability and guarantee accessibility for visually impaired customers.
Colour temperature and blue mild adjustment: These components might be necessary for individuals studying emails at totally different occasions of the day. Lowering brightness and utilizing hotter tones within the night may also help cut back eye pressure.
Optimization for various gadgets
Display brightness and flicker have an effect on how content material is perceived, so check your templates on varied gadgets and screens to make sure the content material is displayed accurately and safely for all customers.
The advantages of darkish mode for photosensitive epileptic customers
Darkish mode advantages photosensitive people because it reduces display brightness, which might cut back visible pressure and reduce the probability of triggering seizures — much less mild equals fewer potential seizure triggers. Darkish mode can even make display viewing much less aggressive on the eyes, notably in low-light circumstances, thereby selling total consolation.
Nonetheless, be aware of textual content distinction on a darkish background, as sharp white-on-black contrasts may cause visible discomfort, doubtlessly resulting in a seizure. Moreover, think about the background when creating templates, designing content material, and writing electronic mail copy, notably in case your emails embody animations or interactive components.
Wrapping up
Folks with photosensitive epilepsy are most affected by flashing, blinking, and overly contrasting visible components (even static ones). To keep away from triggering painful and uncomfortable seizures, comply with the WAI requirements and supply warnings about animations, interactive content material, or any epilepsy-triggering components initially of your electronic mail.
Bear in mind, the effectiveness of your emails isn’t merely measured by uncooked numbers however by the consolation and security they supply to all customers.
Create accessible emails with Stripo
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