React UI Accessibility on TV - Practical Case Study in Real Production

The Enact framework is a React-based framework designed for TV UI components, developed by LG Electronics. It includes features like spatial navigation, accessibility, and internationalization, and is used in tens of millions of LG webOS TVs annually.

The Enact framework includes a module called Spotlight for TV remote direction keys, making all components keyboard navigable and meeting accessibility requirements.

The ARIA label is an attribute used to define a string that labels an interactive element, especially when there is no visible text or when you want different text to be read than what is visible on the screen.

ARIA value now defines the current value of a range widget, while ARIA value text provides a human-readable text alternative. If both are present, the screen reader reads the ARIA value text.

Use ARIA live attribute to tell the screen reader that content will update, allowing it to read alert popups automatically when they appear on the screen.

Reading order is managed using the ARIA labeled by attribute, which identifies the level of an element. The screen reader reads the IDs in the order they appear, ensuring correct reading order.

Recommended tools include ESLint plugin JSX A11y for static analysis of accessibility issues, and Chrome DevTools for viewing accessibility trees and ARIA attributes.

For virtual components, use ARIA set size to define the total number of items and ARIA pos in set to define the current element's position, ensuring the screen reader reads the correct information.

Implement a solution using a span tag with an alert, where the announce function takes a message, sets it as the ARIA level value, and applies the attribute to the element, allowing custom message announcements.