The Daily Mail recently published a list of technological innovations that have made it easier for people with disabilities to access digital tools. This was in recognition of the Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD), which is celebrated annually on May 16 to promote digital accessibility and inclusion.
1. Braille Keyboards and Displays
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are about 40 million people globally who are blind, and an additional 217 million suffer from severe visual impairments. For them, accessing modern technology such as computers and smartphones can be extremely difficult or even impossible.
However, the development of Braille keyboards and refreshable Braille displays has allowed many visually impaired individuals to use modern technology more easily.
2. Voice Assistants
Voice assistants like Siri, Alexa, and Amazon Echo enable users to perform a range of tasks, from grocery shopping to booking taxis, making calls, sending emails, and searching for information—all without needing to physically interact with devices.
Voice technology has also expanded into home automation with systems like Apple's HomeKit and Google Home, enabling users to control heating, cooling, lighting, and music with voice commands.
3. Modern Hearing Aids
By 2050, nearly one billion people are expected to suffer from hearing loss, according to WHO estimates.
To address this, major tech companies are collaborating with hearing aid manufacturers to ensure compatibility between hearing aids and smartphones, making everyday communication more accessible.
4. Video Calls
With over 2.5 billion users worldwide, video calling apps have become essential to modern life.
Previously, people with hearing impairments struggled to use mobile phones for calls. However, with video call technologies such as Skype and Apple's FaceTime, the deaf community can now make video calls, using sign language or lip reading to communicate.
5. Live Captioning
Similar to foreign language subtitles, live captioning turns spoken dialogue into text, making TV shows, movies, and presentations more accessible for people with hearing difficulties.
This innovation has also improved workplace environments, as tools like PowerPoint now offer live transcription and captioning for presentations, making them more inclusive for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.
In 2019, Google unveiled its Live Caption feature, which provides captions for any audio or video, including platforms like YouTube and Instagram, as well as personal videos.
6. Assistive Touch
Features like Assistive Touch on smartphones, available on both Apple and Android devices, allow users with limited motor functions to navigate apps and devices that require repetitive gestures such as tapping, scrolling, pinching, or dragging.
7. Touchless Technology
Some individuals are unable to use voice or sign language for communication. For them, companies like Intel have developed specialized devices. A famous example is the communication system used by physicist Stephen Hawking, who suffered from ALS and was able to give lectures and interact with the world using eye-tracking technology.
Over time, more products employing eye-tracking and head-movement control have emerged, allowing users to operate computers and smartphones without touching them.
8. Assistive Apps
It’s not just devices that are becoming more inclusive—many apps are also adapting to serve the needs of all users. For example, apps like Be My Eyes connect blind or visually impaired individuals with sighted volunteers for real-time visual assistance through video calls. Other apps help those with color blindness by announcing colors to them.
9. Smart Glasses
While Google Glass failed to make a significant impact in mainstream markets, its legacy lives on through companies like AIRA, which uses smart glasses to help visually impaired users stay connected with the world around them.
AIRA’s smart glasses link blind users with trained agents who can describe their surroundings. Other companies, like NuEyes, have developed smart glasses that help individuals with low vision by enhancing magnification, adjusting color contrast, and allowing users to read text and prices in stores.
10. Gaming and Entertainment
According to Navin Kumar, product marketing manager at Xbox, about 14% of Xbox players experience temporary disabilities, while 8% have permanent mobility impairments.
In response, Xbox has released an adaptive controller to meet the needs of disabled gamers. Future innovations may even include Braille-compatible game controllers.
Additionally, the gaming industry is developing software and games with features that adapt to the needs of players with disabilities, ensuring that they are not left out of the gaming experience.
These 10 innovations showcase how technology is evolving to be more inclusive, making digital tools more accessible to people of determination across the world.
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