Microsoft's latest Windows 11 update promised to introduce a wide range of new features while removing others. As a visually impaired professional designer who is also color blind, I was eager to explore the supposed accessibility improvements to the system and how they could enhance my design workflow and user experience on the platform. Unfortunately, upon installation, I found many essential features to be misunderstood by Microsoft's developers and designers, resulting in an experience that offers little improvement and even takes steps backward in some areas. In fact, I had to edit the system registry to enable the taskbar to be larger - a feature that was available in Windows 10 but is now missing entirely. While the new "Color filter" options offer a welcome attempt to address color-deficient users, the filter system's color changes and boosted saturation fall short of solving the problem. To improve accessibility on the platform, Microsoft should prioritize the development of more intuitive and effective features, including those that address visual impairments and color blindness.
Another significant pitfall of the new accessibility features in Windows 11 is the lack of documentation and support available for users. While Microsoft has provided some information on the new features, including how to enable and use them, there is a notable absence of detailed guides and tutorials for users who may be unfamiliar with accessibility technologies. This lack of support can be particularly frustrating for users who are already struggling with accessibility issues, as they may have to spend a significant amount of time and effort trying to figure out how to use the new features effectively. Additionally, some of the new accessibility options are buried deep within the system settings, making them difficult to find and access for users who are not already familiar with the Windows operating system.
This update is one step forward, and two steps back for accesibility options on the Windows operating system and Micorsoft needs to do better. Hopefully future updates will adress these issues, but for now I would recommend sticking with windows 10.
