Bookshare Mobile Reader by Benetech
- Reading System Bookshare Mobile Reader
- Vendor Benetech
- Assistive Technology: Voiceover
- OS: iOS
- Tested with Braille: No
- Tested with Screenreader: Yes
- Input type: Touch
Results for Basic Functionality: 60%
Last updated: 15 September 2025
Test book used: Fundamental Accessibility Tests: Basic Functionality, version 2.0.0 .
These tests were done by kerscher@montana.com.
Summary
Testing Bookshare Reader which is being actively developed. I did not find any documentation or help.
| Test ID | Name | Description | Result | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| file-010 | Operating system/Platform accessibility: | If you are using a hardware device, it can be started independently and essential accessibility for starting and exiting applications is available. | Pass | |
| file-110 | The reading system can be activated independently | If you are using a reading app that requires you to create an online account then the complete getting started process should be accessible. | Pass | |
| file-210 | Open content | Open the Fundamental Accessibility Test book in the reading system. | Pass | |
| file-310 | Access list of available content in the reading system | Check if you can navigate inside the bookshelf. | Pass | The library view shows books that have been added to history and they can be downloaded. |
| nav-005 | The table of contents in the app presents the content hierarchy | Check if the table of Contents is accessible and its hierarchy is presented correctly by the reading system | Fail | The table of contents is a flat list of links, which means a long TOC would be difficult to use. |
| nav-010 | Navigate to chapters through the Table of Contents | Check if you can navigate to a section by using the table of contents. | Pass | In the version I used on September 15, 2025, I could navigate directly to a sub-section. |
| nav-110 | Navigate content by pages | Check if you can navigate the content by pages. | Pass | There is a go to previous and next page. |
| nav-210 | Navigate forward and backward through reflowed content | Use any control or command to navigate forward and backwards in the book content. | Pass | Seems to work fine. When at the end of a chapter, there is a next page. |
| nav-310 | Read navigation information | Use the "Where am I?" or any other similar command available in the reading system and check if you can get information about your current position in the book. | Fail | No information about finding out where you are in the book. |
| nav-410 | Perform a search, review the search results | Perform a search, review the search results and navigate to the selected search result in the content. | Pass | I was able to search for a term and go to that location. It would be a good idea to look at how somebody would return to the location they were at before they did a search. |
| nav-510 | Move across chapters without using TOC | Check if you can move across chapters without having to use the Table of Contents. | Pass | There is a button to go to the next page. |
| anno-010 | Add a Bookmark or Highlight | Some reading systems may have a Highlight feature in place of Bookmarks. The tests for Bookmarks may then be performed with Highlights. | Fail | The bookmark will mark the chapter you are on. I should test this more. It is hard to tell, because there is no where am I. |
| anno-110 | Review and navigate Bookmarks or Highlights | Check if you can review and navigate Bookmarks or Highlights. | Fail | |
| anno-210 | Add a note | Add a Note at this location in the book. Provide a few lines of text in the Note. | Fail | No note taking capability. |
| anno-310 | Review and navigate Notes | Check if you can review and navigate Notes. | Fail |
Results for Non-visual Reading: 87.5%
Last updated: 15 September 2025
Test book used: Fundamental Accessibility Tests: Non-Visual Reading, version 2.0.1 .
These tests were done by kerscher@montana.com.
Summary
Bookshare Mobile Reader is being actively developed.
| Test ID | Name | Description | Result | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| reading-010 | Initiate "read from here" | Focus on the beginning of a paragraph or a sentence and initiate reading. Reading should continue until interrupted by the user or at the end of the current document, e.g. current chapter. The text being read should preferably remain in view, but this is not a requirement to pass the test. | Pass | Normal VoiceOver reading commands supported. |
| reading-110 | Stop and resume reading at the same reading location | Initiate reading from any point in the book. Stop reading and note the last read position. Initiate reading again and check if reading starts at the last read location. | Pass | |
| reading-210 | All text should be read in the proper order | Sample text has been provided to test the reading order. The Paragraph 2 should be read after Paragraph 1. Note that visually Paragraph 2 is placed to the left of Paragraph 1 but it is second in the reading order. | Pass | |
| reading-310 | Image alternate text reading | Ensure that the alternate text for the image is available. | Pass | The Alt text is read, but the advanced version I am using has the option to have AI give more of a description. Once this is activated, it is possible to read the alt text by word or character. |
| reading-420 | Footnote Reading | This tests the usability and functionality of footnotes. The markup includes the semantics that the reference is to a note,which could be announced to the reader. The destination could be a footnote or an endnote and announced to the reader. The link back to the original position has the semantics that it is a backlink and could also be announced to the reader. | Fail | The link back to the exact location is not working properly. |
| reading-510 | TTS allows pause for indicating headings, paragraphs, list items, etc | The user should be able to identify the difference between content items such as headings, paragraphs or list items by sufficient pauses in the TTS reading or appropriate formatting in the Braille device. | Pass | |
| reading-610 | Navigate between the cells, rows and columns in the table | Check if you can navigate between the rows and columns of the table | Pass | |
| reading-710 | Navigate between internal hyperlinks | Check if you can navigate between internal hyperlinks. | Pass | You can follow links, but there is no way to get back to the exact location. You can go back, but only to the chapter, not the exact location. |
| reading-810 | Move to the next block item | Check if you can move to the next available page element e.g. paragraph, image or table by using a common key/gesture like swipe right, down arrow etc. | Pass | |
| reading-910 | Navigate by characters | Check if it is possible to navigate to next and previous character in the book text by way of any command or gesture. | Pass | |
| reading-1010 | Navigate by words | Check if it is possible to navigate to next and previous word in the book text by way of any command or gesture. | Pass | |
| reading-1110 | Navigate by lines | Check if it is possible to navigate to next and previous line in the book text by way of any command or gesture. | Pass | |
| reading-1210 | Navigate the content by headings | Check if you can move to the next and previous headings in this book without using the Table of Contents. | Pass | |
| reading-1310 | Select and copy text | Reading systems should provide the ability to copy pieces of text that could be used for notes, in quotations, or to facilitate searching terms contained in the book. In some cases, this could be achieved using an AT such as a screen reader, for instance with a dedicated cursor or other procedures. | N/A | |
| reading-1410 | MathML Reading | The block and inline math expressions below are in the MathML format. We want to determine that the Assistive Technology (AT) identifies the math and enables the detailed exploration of the math with the chosen AT. | Pass | |
| reading-1510 | TTS Change Languages Automatically | Screen readers and other Assistive Technology that use TTS should be able to detect language changes marked in XHTML content. A screen reader should be able to be configured to automatically change the TTS speaking language when it encounters a language change in the XHTML. This test contains English, German, French, and Italian. | Pass |