This episode dives into the challenges of ordering food online for visually impaired individuals. While most sighted users can easily scroll through menus, visually impaired users face significant barriers due to poor website design. The discussion references research by the Gesellschaft zur Entwicklung von Dingen (G-z-E-V-d), a German organization focused on digital accessibility, which tested five popular food delivery platforms with a visually impaired colleague using a screen reader.
Three platforms, Call a Pizza, Uber Eats, and Wolt, were deemed completely unusable, while the other two, Lieferando and Food Panda, were usable but took 20-40 minutes to navigate. The conversation highlights common design flaws such as poorly labeled buttons, lack of feedback after clicking, difficulty locating the shopping cart, and unexpected language switches mid-process.
The dialogue underscores the importance of making digital spaces accessible to all users, not only to comply with legal requirements but also to create more inclusive and user-friendly experiences. Accessibility is framed as a shared responsibility, benefiting everyone by making websites clearer and more intuitive, which ultimately drives better customer satisfaction and loyalty.