10 Innovations Making Technology Accessible for People with Disabilities

In honor of Global Accessibility Awareness Day, which takes place on May 16th each year, the "Daily Mail" published a list of innovations that have made digital technology more accessible for people with disabilities.

1. Braille Keyboards and Displays

There are approximately 40 million people worldwide who are blind, according to estimates from the World Health Organization. Additionally, 217 million people suffer from severe visual impairments, making access to modern technological tools like computers and smartphones challenging, if not impossible.

However, with the advent of the first Braille keyboard and later refreshable Braille displays, many blind and visually impaired individuals can now use modern technology.

2.Voice Assistants

Voice assistants such as Siri, Alexa, and Amazon Echo enable users to perform a variety of tasks, from ordering groceries and taxis to calling family members, sending emails, and searching for information, all without the need for physical movement.

Voice assistant technology has also expanded into home automation, with systems like Apple's HomeKit and Google Home allowing users to control heating, cooling, lighting, and music.

3. Modern Hearing Aids

According to the World Health Organization, nearly a billion people worldwide are expected to suffer from hearing loss by 2050.

Major tech companies are collaborating with hearing aid designers to ensure that smartphones are compatible with hearing devices used continuously by those with hearing impairments.

4. Video Calling

With about 2.5 billion users worldwide, video calling applications have become an integral part of daily life.

For a long time, people with hearing impairments were unable to use mobile phones for making calls. However, with the introduction of video calls via platforms like Skype and Apple's FaceTime, deaf individuals can now make video calls, communicate in sign language, or read lips.

5. Instant Text Captioning

Similar to translating foreign language programs and films, audio in shows and movies is instantly converted into text, opening up numerous viewing and enjoyment opportunities for people with hearing difficulties.

This development also extends to the workplace. For example, software like PowerPoint provides real-time captions and instant subtitles, enabling deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals to follow presentations.

Google also unveiled its live captioning service at the 2019 I/O conference, which transcribes any audio or video, including content from YouTube, Instagram, and even personal video clips.

6. Assistive Touch

Assistive touch features on smartphones like Apple and Android enable people with limited motor functions to use products and apps that require specific and repeated gestures, such as tapping, swiping, pinching, and dragging.

7. Touch-Free Technology

Some individuals are unable to use their voice or even sign language to communicate with the outside world. Intel developed a special device, famously used by the late physicist Stephen Hawking, allowing him to communicate, work, and lecture despite his ALS diagnosis, a motor neuron disease that results in total paralysis.

Over time, more products utilizing eye-tracking technology have emerged, allowing users to control computers and smartphones simply by moving their eyes or heads.

8. Assistive Apps

The evolution of technology has not been limited to devices alone; apps have also been developed to ensure inclusivity.

Apps like "Be My Eyes" provide a service where blind or visually impaired individuals can connect with trained volunteers who offer visual assistance through video calls. Other apps assist people with color blindness by announcing colors to them.

9. Smart Glasses

While Google's smart glasses did not create the expected revolution in mainstream markets, their legacy continues in companies like AIRA, which use the concept of smart glasses to help people stay connected both online and offline.

AIRA’s smart glasses, based on Google's initial designs, connect blind users with trained employees who can provide a detailed description of their surroundings and available mobility options.

Other companies, such as NuEyes, have developed smart glasses that assist people with low vision in tasks such as magnifying objects, changing color and contrast, reading text, and identifying prices in stores.

10. Games and Entertainment

Navin Kumar, a product marketing manager at Xbox, revealed that 14% of Xbox players have a temporary disability, while 8% have permanent mobility restrictions.

To address these needs, Xbox has released a new adaptable controller designed to accommodate gamers with disabilities.

In the future, Braille-enabled joysticks are expected to be released, and game software itself is being developed with features and options that cater to the diverse needs of players with disabilities, ensuring they are not left out and that games evolve to adapt to their requirements.