Embracing the Accessible-First Economy
“A1” is a fusion of “Accessible-first” and “AI,” designed with an accessible color palette (Black: #000000 and White: #FFD700) to represent our mission for a more inclusive world.
How A.I. and Inclusive Design Create Better Experiences for Everyone
With all the buzz surrounding GPT-4, it seems like everyone is envisioning an A.I.-dominated future filled with creative and unexpected possibilities — so much so that even Hollywood might be surprised by the ideas found in countless LinkedIn posts, articles, and tweets. Although I’m a fan of sci-fi, my intention for these discussions and this article are rooted in the positive and curious mindset of an innovator, excited to discover the meaningful impact of A.I. and on humans.
The call for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) has been reverberating around the globe. There are approximately 2 billion people worldwide living with disabilities and as we strive to create a more inclusive world, it’s essential to prioritize accessibility in design — ultimately benefiting everyone, not just those with disabilities.
As Eve Andersson, Director of Accessibility Engineering at Google, wisely said, “The accessibility problems of today are the mainstream breakthroughs of tomorrow.”
Apple highlighted how its mainstream breakthrough technology empowers people living with disabilities in its recent commercial.
From using Siri to control smart home devices to VoiceOver and Magnifier Detection Mode all possible thanks to the advancements in artificial intelligence in recent years. As the commercial highlights beautifully the focus on inclusivity supercharged by technology doesn’t just benefit a specific group; it enhances the user experience across the board.
With OpenAI launching its open API we hopefully will soon see more solutions using applications beyond text, video, music, voice, and image generation. One that is already an innovative approach to accessibility comes from Danish startup Be My Eyes. It leverages the new visual input capability of GPT-4 to create the Virtual Volunteer™ that can generate the same level of context and understanding as a human volunteer.
Credit: Be My Eyes using OpenAI GPT4 visual capabilities
Another example of how artificial intelligence can create technology that is accessible to everyone is Fast Company’s World Changing Idea SIGNS which I had the privilege of working on. We designed and engineered a sign language platform based on gesture control. SIGNS helps people with hearing disabilities to interact with smart voice assistants and also allows them to bridge the communication gap in places like airports or simply order at a drive-in restaurant using sign language.
Credit: MRM, Mark Hollering, Creative Technologist demonstrating SIGNS
The mainstream breakthrough: A.I.-enabled gesture control will also become a standard interaction experience for everyone in the near metaverse future; the one when XR/AR glasses will replace the smartphone. To avoid any confusion, this is separate from the current slowing hype surrounding the anticipated metaverse.
It’s almost infinite for every innovator to embrace an inclusive designapproach using A.I. to ultimately enhance experiences for everyone.
Here are some crucial takeaways:
Bring people with disabilities into the heart of the design process, from ideation to implementation.
Embrace an accessible-first mindset: Prioritize inclusivity in design to create better experiences for everyone, regardless of their abilities or limitations.
Understand the potential of technology: A.I. and data are enablers for inclusive design, offering unique ways to bridge gaps and adapt to users’ needs.
Make accessibility a non-negotiable aspect of design thinking, turning inclusive design into a natural reflex.
Lastly, you might have also noticed the A1 in the header image, symbolizing “accessibility-first.” And your keen eye may have also recognized its striking resemblance to “AI.” The connection is intentional to manifest how A.I. serves as a powerful enabler in our quest to design inclusive experiences for everyone.
In conclusion, designing with an accessibility-first mindset is not just a moral imperative and increases your DE&I efforts; it’s a catalyst for innovation and people.