Accessibility statement
We want everyone to be able to use the Wrist Apps page, including people who use a keyboard, a screen reader, or other assistive technology. This statement says which standard we aim for, what we tested, which problems we already know about, and how to tell us about one we missed.
1. Our target
We aim for the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2, Level AA.
2. What this covers
This statement covers the Wrist Apps page at wrist.vortex.llc and this
statement page.
It does not cover the watch apps themselves (Out Loud and Say), or the other Vortex sites the page links to.
3. Where we stand
Partially conformant. The page does not meet WCAG 2.2 AA in full today. Section 5 lists every gap we know about, with our own measurements.
4. What we tested
On September 27, 2026 we checked the page in these ways:
- An automated check with axe-core 4.13, using its WCAG 2.2 A and AA rules, on every screen of the watch (Home, Out Loud, Say, Privacy and Legal) and on this page. The only failure it reported is the idle clock label listed in section 5.
- A hand check of colour contrast. The automated check could not measure most text on the watch, because the watch background is a gradient under a fine line texture. We measured each text colour by hand against the lightest background it can sit on. It all passes except the items in section 5.
- A keyboard-only walk in Chrome: the skip link, moving into each screen, and going back.
- The reduced-motion setting. When your device asks for less motion, the page stops its animations and changes screens without sliding.
- JavaScript turned off. The watch is drawn by JavaScript, so without it the page shows a plain text version with the same headline, apps and legal links.
Automated checks find only part of the problems. They cannot tell whether a screen reader announces things in a sensible order, or whether a layout makes sense to someone who cannot see it. We have not yet tested this page with a screen reader (NVDA, JAWS, VoiceOver or TalkBack), or in Safari or Firefox.
5. Known gaps
These colours are part of the page design and fall below the WCAG 2.2 AA contrast minimum. Text needs 4.5:1. Controls and the graphics that show their state need 3:1. We measured each ratio against the background colours the design uses behind it.
| Where | Colours | Measured |
|---|---|---|
| The hint line under the watch, starting "Scroll to turn the crown" | #5e7090 text on the page background | 2.88:1 to 3.78:1 (needs 4.5:1) |
| The "Wrist Apps" label on the idle clock screen | #5e7090 text on black | 4.19:1 (needs 4.5:1) |
| The large button at the bottom of the watch, while a mouse pointer is over it | #f0f4fb text on #3470c4 | 4.47:1 (needs 4.5:1) |
| The inactive screenshot dots on the Out Loud screen | #3a5078 on the watch background | 1.78:1 to 2.31:1 (needs 3:1) |
| The outline of the crown button beside the watch | #1f3460 on the page background | 1.18:1 to 1.53:1 (needs 3:1) |
| The track of the scroll bar that curves along the right edge of the watch | #1f3460 on the watch background | 1.18:1 to 1.53:1 (needs 3:1) |
Other gaps we know about:
- Lines of text fade and shrink as they scroll toward the top or bottom edge of the round screen. While faded, they are below the contrast minimum. Scroll them toward the middle to read them at full contrast. When your device asks for less motion, they fade but do not shrink.
- The page has not been tested with a screen reader, so we cannot yet say how well the screen changes are announced.
6. Using the page with a keyboard
- The first press of Tab shows a "Skip to the watch" link. It moves you straight to the heading of the screen on the watch.
- Tab and Shift+Tab move between links and buttons. Enter opens one.
- When a new screen opens, focus moves to its heading. Escape or Backspace goes back, and focus returns to the button you used to open that screen.
- The Up and Down arrow keys scroll the watch screen.
- The crown button beside the watch and the arrow on the left edge of the screen also go back. On a touch screen, you can also swipe right.
- After 30 seconds without input, the watch shows an idle clock. Any key, tap or pointer movement brings the page back. Nothing you did is lost.
7. Tell us about a problem
If something on this page gets in your way, tell us through our contact form. Say what you were trying to do and where it stopped you. You do not need to know which guideline applies.
8. Keeping this current
We update this statement when the page changes, and we move each gap out of section 5 once it is fixed.