Technology accessible for all
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We live in a technology world, but technology isn't always easy for everyone to access. That is why digital accessibility is so important in today's ever-changing technology world.
(YouTube: Deque Systems)
What is digital accessibility?
Digital accessibility is design of technology products and environments to help people with various disabilities not be impeded or otherwise unable to partake in use of the service, product or function (Patrizio, 2022). For the 57 million people with disabilities in the United States, visual, auditory, motor, speech, and cognitive disabilities, they rely on various assistive technologies and alternate methods of interaction to use; digital documents, web and mobile apps (Deque Systems, 2018).
While digital accessibility is an extension of the the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) principles to the use of assistive or adaptive technology, more was needed due to the influence of the World Wide Web (Patrizio, 2022). The first web accessibility guidelines were established in 1999 under the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), which is the standard rule set that defines what makes a site accessible (Deque Systems, 2018).
The WCAG has four principles:
Perceivable - Information and user interface components must be presentable to users in ways they can perceive.
This means that users must be able to perceive the information being presented (it can't be invisible to all of their senses)
Operable - User interface components and navigation must be operable.
This means that users must be able to operate the interface (the interface cannot require interaction that a user cannot perform)
Understandable - Information and the operation of user interface must be understandable.
This means that users must be able to understand the information as well as the operation of the user interface (the content or operation cannot be beyond their understanding)
Robust - Content must be robust enough that it can be interpreted reliably by a wide variety of user agents, including assistive technologies.
This means that users must be able to access the content as technologies advance (as technologies and user agents evolve, the content should remain accessible)
If any of these are not true, users with disabilities will not be able to use the Web.
(W3C, 2023)
However, just because the initiatives exist, that doesn't mean companies always adhere to them. A 2022 study by Web AIM ran accessibility analyses of more than 1 million websites and found that more than 96.8% of homepages violated some aspect of the WCAG. Violations included low contrast text, missing text alternatives for images, buttons without text and empty links (Patrizio, 2022).
(YouTube: UTS Learner Experience Lab)
Why is digital accessibility needed?
The students from the University of Technology at Sydney, in the above YouTube video, are examples of why we need digital accessibility.
Some of the barriers that they face are: audio without captions or transcripts, text that can't be converted into audio, large blocks of texts, and incorrect formatting that includes font size, style, and color scheme (UTS Learner Experience Lab, 2021).
Technology needed for visually impaired learners:
- Screen Reader
- Braille Display
- Zoom Functions
- High Contrast
Auditory impaired:
- Captions
- Transcripts
Motor skills:
- Speech to text software
- Keyboard-only interactions
Speech:
- Non vocal means of interaction
Cognitive:
- Thoughtful and organized layouts with clear direction.
(Deque Systems, 2018)
Who benefits from digital accessibility? As the students at UTS will tell you "everybody" (UTS Learner Experience Lab, 2021).
Digital Accessibility and AI
Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to enhance accessibility for people with disabilities and improve their overall quality of life (Chemnad and Othman, 2024). For example, AI-powered voice assistants such as Amazon Alexa, Apple Siri, and Google Assistant have become increasingly popular because of their ability to interpret natural language and offer user-friendly responses. In addition, AI pattern recognition algorithms have proven beneficial in several applications, including facial recognition, image processing, and object detection (Chemnad and Othman, 2024).
However, as AI technology progresses, it is crucial to closely examine its impact on accessibility and to ensure that these technologies are developed in an equitable and inclusive manner. As we move forward into the digital age, where Internet access is increasingly integral to education, entertainment, and communication, organizations are encouraged to prioritize and invest in digital accessibility. By adhering to established guidelines and standards, organizations can bridge the digital divide and ensure a fair and enjoyable online experience for all users regardless of their abilities. This not only promotes equal opportunities for individuals with disabilities, but also enhances overall usability and satisfaction for all users. (Chemnad and Othman, 2024).
Future reference: Mistakes I Used to Make in Digital Accessibility—and How to Fix Them
References
Chemnad, K., & Othman, A. (2024, February 16). Digital accessibility in the era of artificial intelligence—Bibliometric analysis and systematic review. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved July 30, 2024, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10905618/
[Deque Systems]. (2018, May 17). What is Digital Accessibility? [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/grrx2Lva7T0?si=a3ULr-jth9_77n9d
(2023, January 1). Introduction to Understanding WCAG 2.0. W3C. Retrieved July 30, 2024, from https://www.w3.org/TR/UNDERSTANDING-WCAG20/intro.html
Patrizio, A. (2022, July 1). DEFINITION: Digital accessibility. TechTarget. Retrieved July 30, 2024, from https://www.techtarget.com/whatis/definition/digital-accessibility
[UTS Learner Experience Lab]. (2021, April 6). Students Explain Digital Accessibility: Meet the Students [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/AkjLnQKX2G0?si=rJcVSlFpanp2xcFu
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