About Me
I am Varun Manoj Kumar from SY BSC-IT.
I am a VIP 😁! – Yes, a “Very Important Person” for my family and friends and a “Visually Impaired Person” for the rest of the world!
Advancement in Technology has been a game changer in my life. When I was in school at a time when computers were not so common, I used handheld magnifiers to see small, printed text in textbooks and mini telescopes to see what teachers write on blackboards.
Life is much easier now. With the help of my computer, I can easily zoom in and out to navigate information more efficiently. I can use applications that confirm my spellings are correct. I can also change the background colour on my computer & mobile phone to a dark background as it is easier on my eyes.
Accessible Technology
Today technology is used for a lot of things in our everyday lives but if it is not designed properly, people with different disabilities cannot use them properly (estimated 15% of the population). Accessible technology is technology that is designed to meet the needs of all different users.
Inclusive Design – Design for 3% ~ Solve for 97% at the same time!
When we design user-experiences with accessibility in mind, it often leads to a better user experience not just for People with Disabilities (PWD) but for all users.
For example,
● When we provide ALT text to images on the web, it not only makes images accessible to a broader audience but also benefits search engines like Google, Bing etc. The websites with Informative ALT text are ranked higher in search results.
● When videos are provided with closed captioning, they not only provide a medium by which people who are deaf or hard of hearing enjoy the same content as others, but they also help other users enjoy the same content in a noisy environment like a restaurant or a pub.
● When an application has sufficient contrast between the foreground and the background, it not only makes it easier for people who have low vision to use the app, but it also makes the application useful in a sunny environment.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Accessibility
Artificial Intelligence is ever increasing in popularity in today’s day and age. AI revolutionizes accessibility by making inclusive experiences that can improve the lives of People with Disabilities.
The Advancements in AI have contributed heavily to the advancements in Accessibility and Assistive technology. Tools like Voice Assistants, Text to Speech (TTS), Speech to Text (STT), Text translation, Computer Vision have opened newer and easier ways for People with Disabilities to manage their daily activities.
Voice Assistance
AI has also empowered Voice Assistants like the Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa which help in automating various repeated tasks like turning on the Lights, opening the door, etc when arriving at the residence. People with various forms of disabilities can just talk in natural language to the assistants to perform the desired task.
I personally have an Amazon Echo at my home, and I use it to ask frequent questions like the time, date, listen to news etc. I have set up my college timetable and use it to manage my daily routine. I also use it for asking the spelling of words as my spellings are quite awful. Since I cannot read story books, I prefer to listen to audiobooks using my amazon echo. I really enjoy the convenience of asking my Echo to automate and perform various daily functions by just using my voice.
Text to Speech (TTS) and Speech to Text (STT)
I also use a combination of Text to Speech Services (TTS) and Speech to text (STT) in my daily tasks while using my smartphone, tablet, and computer.
With the help of Speech to Text, I can dictate text, issue commands freely by just using my voice to control my phone. Rather than typing out long e-mails, text messages, documents, I prefer to use the dictation feature present on my phone, tablet, and computer to draft my documents and emails.
On the other hand, with the help of Text to Speech, I listen to the text read aloud using the gadget’s internal /external speakers. Tools like Screen Readers such as Talkback on android, NVDA (Non Visual Desktop Access), JAWS (JAWS, Job Access With Speech,) on Windows, Voice Over on Apple Products make it easier for a VIP to operate smartphones and computers independently.
Cloud Computing
Tech Giants like Google, Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, and the like have invested heavily in making user experiences inclusive for all. Apps like the Seeing AI from Microsoft, Lookout Assisted vision from Google are one of their kind AI based apps which aim to convert the Visual world into an Audible world for people with Low Vision or Blind. These apps bring together the power of cloud computing and AI.
Careers & Employment Opportunities
Today, technological advances have improved accessibility and usability, and this has helped People with Disabilities enter and thrive in the workplace.
Based on a study at Accenture of persons with disabilities in the workplace, Artificial Intelligence, if used rightly, has the incredible potential to tap talent of people with disabilities, as well as help all workers reach their potential. The Accenture report jointly prepared with not-for-profit Disability: IN reveals that inclusive companies outperformed others and reported 28% higher revenue, double the net income and 30% higher profit margins. So, for companies that hire and support employees with disabilities, it is not just a matter of corporate social responsibility, it is also good business.
(https://www.accenture.com/_acnmedia/pdf-89/accenture.sability-inclusion-research-report.pdf)
All major technology companies are now accelerating disability inclusion and are seeing both tangible and intangible benefits of hiring disabled people. And it is heartening to see that many people from the PWD Community can achieve their goals and are placed in their dream jobs.
In Conclusion
AI powered technology has opened new opportunities for People with Disabilities and as AI continues to grow, it will give rise to innovative solutions making the world more inclusive.
So, both ‘AI’s are equally important for the PWD community.
We need “Artificial Intelligence(AI)” to help become “All Inclusive(AI) !”
