Accessibility and Equity
In this mobile Internet era, we always hear about new products with new features, and Internet software companies focus on promoting and marketing the core features of their products. And often forget about the difficulties of accessibility and Equity of software for the disadvantaged minority.
As far as I can remember, the Apple Accessibility feature is the first time I’ve heard of a significant commercial company designing software specifically for people with disabilities. Apple has designed a particular interaction logic for visually challenged users. The phone’s system automatically recognizes words on the interface, convert the text to speech to guide the user through the process, and reads out the function of the corresponding button when the user taps it.
Another example is Microsoft’s Xbox Adaptive Controller. This device is designed for users with finger difficulties. It fully understands the user’s difficulties and enlarges all the buttons so that users with disabilities can play easily.
The WAVE plugin suggests that my blog has very low contrast regarding post dates and publishers. After my observation, the corresponding text is thin and gray, which does make it difficult for users with visual difficulties. I want to find a way to change the font and color on the page.
I believe that inclusive design is not only about the needs of the average user but also about considering the needs of marginalized groups. Human beings are diverse, and we all have permanent or temporary difficulties to some extent. For example, I am very nearsighted, and often I need to enlarge the font on the interface or adjust the screen to a color temperature close to the ambient light to make my eyes feel better. Designers can’t expect users to be perfectly sound people who are dedicated to using your product. Inclusive design is a way of caring for a particular group of people and a responsibility to society.
References
Microsoft(2016). Inclusive toolkit manual.
https://www.microsoft.com/design/inclusive/
Apple(2021). Apple previews powerful software updates designed for people with disabilities.
https://www.apple.com/ca/newsroom/2021/05/apple-previews-powerful-software-updates-designed-for-people-with-disabilities/
Techeblog(2018). Xbox Adaptive Controller is an Innovative Input Device for Gamers with Disabilities. Here’s a First Look.
https://www.techeblog.com/xbox-adaptive-controller-is-an-innovative-input-device-for-gamers-with-disabilities-heres-a-first-look/
Hi Xinyi，
The Apple Accessibility feature and Microsoft’s Xbox Adaptive Controller are new to me. I was struck by the fact that these devices and features have been around for a long time to help the underprivileged. You also end by making the point that inclusive design also needs to consider the needs of marginalized people. By giving your own example, I see that you define marginalized groups as people who are physically different. Do you think there are people who are psychologically different? Are there any devices or features that serve them?
Junyi
Hi Xinyi,
The Xbox Adaptive Controller is a really creative design, and my post also has descriptions of Microsoft products, and they really do a lot of research into inclusive design. They canceled the traditional handle, and replaced it with a touch handle, which can facilitate the disabled to better enter the game.Through your post, we can see that inclusive design is not only for the daily life of disabled people, they have reason to get more attention, so as to further improve their quality of life and let them enjoy life more, this is inclusive The meaning of sexual design.
Shaomiao Yang