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Setting up personas on Chromebooks

You need to create a Google account for each persona first. Be aware that setting up more than one account can be challenging.

When you follow the instructions below to set up a profile you only need to do each action once, unless it explicitly states to do it once per device.

Change settings for all personas

Remove everything from the shelf/dock except Chrome. This helps people focus on the only app the persona should be using.

Select the following options from the system menu. Go to:

  • Settings > Advanced > Accessibility > Always show accessibility options in the system menu - this makes it easier to access the accessibility settings
  • Settings > Device > Power > When idle > Keep display on (once per device) - this makes sense if you put the Chromebooks on display for lots of people to use so you do not need to login again and share any passwords
  • Settings > Device > Power > Sleep when lid is closed > off (once per device) - this makes sense if you put the Chromebooks on display as people tend to close the lid and they would need to login again
  • Settings > People > Manage other people > Restrict sign-in to the following users… (once per device, can only be done by the owner account once every profile has logged in) - this restricts people adding their own profiles if the Chromebook is on display
  • Settings > People > Sync and Google services > Manage sync > untick ‘Sync everything’ first and then ‘History’, ‘Open Tabs’, ‘Password’, ‘Addresses, phone numbers and more’, ‘Payment methods and addresses using Google Play’ - this makes sure no-one accidentally shares their details when the persona is shared on multiple devices
  • Settings > Auto-fill > Passwords > untick ‘Offer to save passwords’ and ‘Auto Sign-in’ - this makes it less likely that people unintentionally share their passwords, which is especially useful when the devices are on display
  • Settings > Auto-fill > Payment methods > untick ‘Save and fill payment methods’
  • Settings > Auto-fill > Addresses and more > untick ‘Save and fill addresses’
  • Settings > enable Appearance: Show Home button > Enter custom web address: https://alphagov.github.io/accessibility-personas/[persona]/ - this makes it easier to go back to each persona’s page
  • Settings > On start-up > Open a specific page or set of pages > Add a new page > https://alphagov.github.io/accessibility-personas/[persona]/ (Note that the settings are retained, but the pages only open during system start-up.) - this makes sure the persona’s page is already showing whenever the Chromebook gets restarted

Claudia

Simulate Claudia’s condition

There is no technical simulation for this persona, but you can use low tech solutions such as simulation glasses.

Use Claudia’s assistive technology

To set up the assistive technology used by Claudia go to the system menu and select:

  • Accessibility > High contrast mode
  • Accessibility > Full-screen magnifier
  • Accessibility > Settings > Manage accessibility features > Full-screen zoom level: 4x (once per device)
  • Accessibility > Large mouse cursor
  • Accessibility > Highlight text caret
  • Accessibility > Highlight mouse cursor
  • Accessibility > Highlight object with keyboard focus

This will magnify the screen to 400%, adjust the colours and highlight interactive elements.

Information and status for Claudia

Ashleigh

Simulate Ashleigh’s condition

To set up the simulation for Ashleigh’s condition:

  • install the extension Stylus
  • open its options, select a cloud provider under “Sync to cloud” and connect to it (once per device)
  • open heavy-blur.user.css in the browser
  • when Stylus opens, select the “Install style” button

This will cause heavy blurring in the browser.

Use Ashleigh’s assistive technology

To set up the assistive technology used by Ashleigh go to the system menu and select:

  • Accessibility > ChromeVox (once per device)

This will start a screen reader.

Information and status for Ashleigh

Ron

Simulate Ron’s condition

To set up the simulation for Ron’s condition:

This will cause light blurring in the browser and the mouse pointer to wobble.

Use Ron’s assistive technology

None, Ron does not use any assistive technology

Information and status for Ron

Chris

Simulate Chris’ condition

To set up the simulation for Chris’ condition:

  • install the extension Stylus
  • open its options, select a cloud provider under “Sync to cloud” and connect to it (once per device)
  • open remove-cursor.user.css in the browser
  • open monochrome.user.css in the browser
  • when Stylus opens, select the “Install style” button

This will cause the mouse pointer to disappear in the browser and colours to turn grey.

Use Chris’ assistive technology

To set up the assistive technology used by Chris:

  • install the extension Handsfree for Web (give permissions once per device)
  • when a request to use your microphone pops up, select the “Allow” button (once per device)

Handsfree for Web settings:

  • Stop listening after 3 minutes of silence
  • Language: English (United Kingdom)

This will start a voice control tool.

Information and status for Chris

Pawel

Simulate Pawel’s condition

To set up the simulation for Pawel’s condition:

This will create distracting animations, images and sounds.

Use Pawel’s assistive technology

To set up the assistive technology used by Pawel:

  • install the extension Midnight Lizard (enable extension and give permissions once per device)

This will adjust the colours in the browser.

Information and status for Pawel

Simone

Simulate Simone’s condition

To set up the simulation for Simone’s condition:

This will cause the letters in the browser to scramble.

Use Simone’s assistive technology

To set up the assistive technology used by Simone:

  • install the extension Dyslexia Friendly
  • install the extension nOverlay (yellow)
  • go to the system menu and select: Accessibility > Select-to-Speak (this should not be used while the simulation is running)

This will give web pages a slight yellow tint, change the font and start a text to speech tool.

Information and status for Simone

Saleem

Simulate Saleem’s condition

To set up the simulation for Saleem’s condition:

This will translate every text in the browser to Pig Latin.

Use Saleem’s assistive technology

None

Information and status for Saleem