NVUI suggestions

[brollin]

We got this request by email for some NVUI features:

Currently, the blind mode (NVUI) presents the board information and
parts list by prioritizing rows. For a blind player, it is much more
intuitive and efficient to organize the pawn status by columns (from
column a to h).
Reason: Tracking the status of a pawn on its file is essential for
endgame calculation and pawn structure. Reading it by row fragments the
information in the column, making the mental process slower and prone to
errors. I request to add the option for reading to be the column mode
for the pawns. It would also be useful to add an alarm or sound with 2
minutes left to finish the game so that the blind person realizes that
they are in a time crunch.

[nicvagn]

"I request to add the option for reading to be the column mode
for the pawns." -- I do not fully comprehend this proposed feature. Do you have the ability to ask the requester to expound?

"resents the board information and
parts list by prioritizing rows." -- So the ability to query the pawns on a given file?

The sound cue is easy to understand, but as a sighted developer I do not fully understand the other.

[ajedreznicaaccesible]

Subject: Comprehensive Accessibility Proposal for NVUI (Issue #20343) - 4 Key Points for Improvement.
To the Lichess development team,
I am writing to provide a detailed proposal for improving the NVUI (Non-Visual User Interface). I have organized my feedback into 4 key points that would significantly enhance the experience and autonomy of blind players on the platform:
Point 1: Column-based (File-based) Reading specifically for PAWNS (a-h)
The Problem: Currently, NVUI reads pawns by ranks (rows). This fragments the vertical structure of the pawn skeleton.
The Proposal: Add an option for the system to list specifically the pawns from column a to h, regardless of their rank.
•
Example (White Pawns):
•
Current Rank-based: f4, h4, b3, e3, g3.
•
Proposed Column-based: b3, e3, f4, g3, h4 (Files B, E, F, G, H).
Benefit: This allows a blind player to build a clear mental map of the pawn structure from left to right in a single pass, which is much more intuitive for calculating endgames and identifying pawn chains.
Point 2: Audio Feedback for Positive Glyphs & Evaluations
The Proposal: Ensure the screen reader announces positive move quality and positional evaluations, not just mistakes.
•
Move Quality: ! (Good move), !! (Brilliant), !? (Interesting).
•
Positional Evaluation: = (Equality), +/= (Slightly better), +/- (Clear advantage White), +- (Decisive advantage White), and ∞ (Unclear).
Reason: Currently, the system remains silent for positive moves. A blind player needs to know when the evaluation shifts or when they have played a strong move without manually checking engine values.
Point 3: Time Crunch Audible Alert
The Proposal: Add a specific sound alarm or notification when 2 minutes remain on the clock.
•
Suggestion: A brief, distinct sound (different from piece movement sounds) to alert the player to speed up their pace without having to manually query the remaining time.
Point 4: Post-Game Accuracy Statistics in NVUI
The Problem: Currently, to see the "Accuracy" percentage after a game, a blind player must disable Blind Mode and navigate visual menus, which is highly inconvenient.
The Proposal: Have the system automatically announce the accuracy percentage for both players within NVUI once the game ends (e.g., "Game over. Accuracy: White 85%, Black 78%").

Summary of the 4 requests:
1.
File-based sorting (a-h) specifically for pawns.
2.
Audio feedback for all annotations (positive glyphs and positional evaluations).
3.
Audible alert at the 2-minute mark.
4.
Post-game accuracy announced directly within NVUI.
Thank you for your incredible work in making chess accessible to everyone.
Best regards,
Jairo Oswaldo Leyton Calderón (User: jolc)

chessleyton@gmail.com

[brollin]

"I request to add the option for reading to be the column mode for the pawns." -- I do not fully comprehend this proposed feature. Do you have the ability to ask the requester to expound?

"resents the board information and parts list by prioritizing rows." -- So the ability to query the pawns on a given file?

The sound cue is easy to understand, but as a sighted developer I do not fully understand the other.

The previous comment answers your question, specifically with:

Example (White Pawns):
Current Rank-based: f4, h4, b3, e3, g3.
Proposed Column-based: b3, e3, f4, g3, h4

[nicvagn]

Summary of the 4 requests: 1. File-based sorting (a-h) specifically for pawns. 2. Audio feedback for all annotations (positive glyphs and positional evaluations). 3. Audible alert at the 2-minute mark. 4. Post-game accuracy announced directly within NVUI.

Thank you for helping me to better understand.

The Problem: Currently, NVUI reads pawns by ranks (rows). This fragments the vertical structure of the pawn skeleton.
The Proposal: Add an option for the system to list specifically the pawns from column a to h, regardless of their rank.
•
Example (White Pawns):
•
Current Rank-based: f4, h4, b3, e3, g3.
•
Proposed Column-based: b3, e3, f4, g3, h4 (Files B, E, F, G, H).
Benefit: This allows a blind player to build a clear mental map of the pawn structure from left to right in a single pass, which is much more intuitive for calculating endgames and identifying pawn chains.

Ok, that helps tremendously. Would it be beneficial to have the ability to query for pawns be file? I thought initially what was requested was the ability to ask say what are the pawns on the e file. then it would say e2 white e6 black for example.

now when you enter into the Command input form: "p p"
you hear: "black pawn: a7, b7, c7, d7, f7, g7, h7, e5"

I understand your request to be the ability to list off the pawns from file a to file h, regardless of rank.
So the user interaction would like:
Command input form: "p _ p" and you would hear: "black pawn: a7, b7, c7, d7, e5, f7, g7, h7"

the exact form of the input (ie: "p _ p") is just an example, the first thing that came to mind. What do you think would be a good way to activate the feature?

Audio feedback for all annotations (positive glyphs and positional evaluations).

Could you provide a concrete example? I am sorry, but I am not able to identify precisely what a change would entail.

Audible alert at the 2-minute mark.

I ported the exact logic used for the visual players alert. That is exactly:

    const emergMs =
      1000 * Math.min(60, initial < 60 ? Math.max(2, initial * 0.2) : Math.max(10, initial * 0.125));
    const playerColor = ctrl.data.player.color;
    const timeLeft = ctrl.clock?.millisOf(playerColor) || ctrl.corresClock?.millisOf(playerColor) || Infinity;
    if (timeLeft < emergMs) {
      lowTimeSound();
    }

I created a pull request with this exact logic. I tested it and it provides the same aelert I am used to on the visual UI. Is that permissible?

Post-game accuracy announced directly within NVUI.

For this point, should it be announced upon game finish? Should it be announced upon entering the game analysis view?
I will have to double check, but I do not believe that is known until the game is analyzed. Until the best moves according to StockFish are known, accuracy can not be ascertained. This is not known for a game until it has been analyzed.

I must admit my experience with the NVUI is limited. I do not have the working memory to use it; I can not construct a chess position in my mind using it.

This makes your comments indispensable, thank you.