#inclusivedesign — Public Fediverse posts

SHOKZ, ACCESSIBILITY
SHOULDN’T BE MY JOB. 💎

Today I got angry at a pair of lightweight Shokz headphones I just paid over $200 for. Not because the headphones are bad. They’re actually rather good. I got angry because I had to charge them. I am 70 years old. I had a major stroke many years ago. I am paralysed on my left side, and I have the use of only one hand.

So something as ordinary as plugging in a charging cable can become a bloody engineering project, and then I have to admit that I just can't do it. The cable falls. The plug turns the wrong way. The socket is designed for two hands, good eyesight, good balance and fingers that work independently of each other. And suddenly, an object that is supposed to make my life easier is asking me to adapt to it. Again. That was what made me angry. This isn't really about Shokz. And it isn't really about a charging cable.

IT IS ABOUT THE THOUSANDS OF TINY BARRIERS PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ARE EXPECTED TO QUIETLY ABSORB EVERY DAY.

A door handle. A package. A keyboard. A bottle top. A heavy door. A charging cable. A shower. An article of clothing. A knife. None of these objects looks like discrimination. Nobody deliberately designed them to exclude me. But they, along with several thousand other objects, do.

They simply designed them without me or anyone with a disability in the room. And then I am expected to solve the problem. Not only pay for the item, but also come up with the disability fix so that I can use the bloody stupid thing.

For most of my life, I could solve these things. Before my stroke, the physical world largely worked for me. I didn't have to think about how many hands something required. I didn't notice where the socket was. I didn't examine a packet and calculate how I was going to hold it still while opening it.

NOW I NOTICE.

And after decades of noticing, occasionally I get fucking angry. Not because I am incapable. Because I am capable, and I am tired of wasting that capability fighting stupid little barriers that never needed to exist. Accessibility isn't a special favour for a small, unfortunate group of people.

IT IS GOOD DESIGN.

And sometimes the difference between independence and dependence is something as ridiculously small as where somebody decided to put the bloody plug.

@3goodthings
@DigitalCoup
@meditation
@economics_that_works
@disability
@pwd
@joinin

#Shokz #Accessibility #Disability #InclusiveDesign #AccessibleDesign #OneHanded #DisabilityAwareness #AssistiveTechnology

SHOKZ, ACCESSIBILITY
SHOULDN’T BE MY JOB. 💎

Today I got angry at a pair of lightweight Shokz headphones I just paid over $200 for. Not because the headphones are bad. They’re actually rather good. I got angry because I had to charge them. I am 70 years old. I had a major stroke many years ago. I am paralysed on my left side, and I have the use of only one hand.

So something as ordinary as plugging in a charging cable can become a bloody engineering project, and then I have to admit that I just can't do it. The cable falls. The plug turns the wrong way. The socket is designed for two hands, good eyesight, good balance and fingers that work independently of each other. And suddenly, an object that is supposed to make my life easier is asking me to adapt to it. Again. That was what made me angry. This isn't really about Shokz. And it isn't really about a charging cable.

IT IS ABOUT THE THOUSANDS OF TINY BARRIERS PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ARE EXPECTED TO QUIETLY ABSORB EVERY DAY.

A door handle. A package. A keyboard. A bottle top. A heavy door. A charging cable. A shower. An article of clothing. A knife. None of these objects looks like discrimination. Nobody deliberately designed them to exclude me. But they, along with several thousand other objects, do.

They simply designed them without me or anyone with a disability in the room. And then I am expected to solve the problem. Not only pay for the item, but also come up with the disability fix so that I can use the bloody stupid thing.

For most of my life, I could solve these things. Before my stroke, the physical world largely worked for me. I didn't have to think about how many hands something required. I didn't notice where the socket was. I didn't examine a packet and calculate how I was going to hold it still while opening it.

NOW I NOTICE.

And after decades of noticing, occasionally I get fucking angry. Not because I am incapable. Because I am capable, and I am tired of wasting that capability fighting stupid little barriers that never needed to exist. Accessibility isn't a special favour for a small, unfortunate group of people.

IT IS GOOD DESIGN.

And sometimes the difference between independence and dependence is something as ridiculously small as where somebody decided to put the bloody plug.

@3goodthings
@DigitalCoup
@meditation
@economics_that_works
@disability
@pwd
@joinin

#Shokz #Accessibility #Disability #InclusiveDesign #AccessibleDesign #OneHanded #DisabilityAwareness #AssistiveTechnology

SHOKZ, ACCESSIBILITY
SHOULDN’T BE MY JOB. 💎

Today I got angry at a pair of lightweight Shokz headphones I just paid over $200 for. Not because the headphones are bad. They’re actually rather good. I got angry because I had to charge them. I am 70 years old. I had a major stroke many years ago. I am paralysed on my left side, and I have the use of only one hand.

So something as ordinary as plugging in a charging cable can become a bloody engineering project, and then I have to admit that I just can't do it. The cable falls. The plug turns the wrong way. The socket is designed for two hands, good eyesight, good balance and fingers that work independently of each other. And suddenly, an object that is supposed to make my life easier is asking me to adapt to it. Again. That was what made me angry. This isn't really about Shokz. And it isn't really about a charging cable.

IT IS ABOUT THE THOUSANDS OF TINY BARRIERS PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ARE EXPECTED TO QUIETLY ABSORB EVERY DAY.

A door handle. A package. A keyboard. A bottle top. A heavy door. A charging cable. A shower. An article of clothing. A knife. None of these objects looks like discrimination. Nobody deliberately designed them to exclude me. But they, along with several thousand other objects, do.

They simply designed them without me or anyone with a disability in the room. And then I am expected to solve the problem. Not only pay for the item, but also come up with the disability fix so that I can use the bloody stupid thing.

For most of my life, I could solve these things. Before my stroke, the physical world largely worked for me. I didn't have to think about how many hands something required. I didn't notice where the socket was. I didn't examine a packet and calculate how I was going to hold it still while opening it.

NOW I NOTICE.

And after decades of noticing, occasionally I get fucking angry. Not because I am incapable. Because I am capable, and I am tired of wasting that capability fighting stupid little barriers that never needed to exist. Accessibility isn't a special favour for a small, unfortunate group of people.

IT IS GOOD DESIGN.

And sometimes the difference between independence and dependence is something as ridiculously small as where somebody decided to put the bloody plug.

@3goodthings
@DigitalCoup
@meditation
@economics_that_works
@disability
@pwd
@joinin

#Shokz #Accessibility #Disability #InclusiveDesign #AccessibleDesign #OneHanded #DisabilityAwareness #AssistiveTechnology

SHOKZ, ACCESSIBILITY
SHOULDN’T BE MY JOB. 💎

Today I got angry at a pair of lightweight Shokz headphones I just paid over $200 for. Not because the headphones are bad. They’re actually rather good. I got angry because I had to charge them. I am 70 years old. I had a major stroke many years ago. I am paralysed on my left side, and I have the use of only one hand.

So something as ordinary as plugging in a charging cable can become a bloody engineering project, and then I have to admit that I just can't do it. The cable falls. The plug turns the wrong way. The socket is designed for two hands, good eyesight, good balance and fingers that work independently of each other. And suddenly, an object that is supposed to make my life easier is asking me to adapt to it. Again. That was what made me angry. This isn't really about Shokz. And it isn't really about a charging cable.

IT IS ABOUT THE THOUSANDS OF TINY BARRIERS PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ARE EXPECTED TO QUIETLY ABSORB EVERY DAY.

A door handle. A package. A keyboard. A bottle top. A heavy door. A charging cable. A shower. An article of clothing. A knife. None of these objects looks like discrimination. Nobody deliberately designed them to exclude me. But they, along with several thousand other objects, do.

They simply designed them without me or anyone with a disability in the room. And then I am expected to solve the problem. Not only pay for the item, but also come up with the disability fix so that I can use the bloody stupid thing.

For most of my life, I could solve these things. Before my stroke, the physical world largely worked for me. I didn't have to think about how many hands something required. I didn't notice where the socket was. I didn't examine a packet and calculate how I was going to hold it still while opening it.

NOW I NOTICE.

And after decades of noticing, occasionally I get fucking angry. Not because I am incapable. Because I am capable, and I am tired of wasting that capability fighting stupid little barriers that never needed to exist. Accessibility isn't a special favour for a small, unfortunate group of people.

IT IS GOOD DESIGN.

And sometimes the difference between independence and dependence is something as ridiculously small as where somebody decided to put the bloody plug.

@3goodthings
@DigitalCoup
@meditation
@economics_that_works
@disability
@pwd
@joinin

#Shokz #Accessibility #Disability #InclusiveDesign #AccessibleDesign #OneHanded #DisabilityAwareness #AssistiveTechnology

SHOKZ, ACCESSIBILITY
SHOULDN’T BE MY JOB. 💎

Today I got angry at a pair of lightweight Shokz headphones I just paid over $200 for. Not because the headphones are bad. They’re actually rather good. I got angry because I had to charge them. I am 70 years old. I had a major stroke many years ago. I am paralysed on my left side, and I have the use of only one hand.

So something as ordinary as plugging in a charging cable can become a bloody engineering project, and then I have to admit that I just can't do it. The cable falls. The plug turns the wrong way. The socket is designed for two hands, good eyesight, good balance and fingers that work independently of each other. And suddenly, an object that is supposed to make my life easier is asking me to adapt to it. Again. That was what made me angry. This isn't really about Shokz. And it isn't really about a charging cable.

IT IS ABOUT THE THOUSANDS OF TINY BARRIERS PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ARE EXPECTED TO QUIETLY ABSORB EVERY DAY.

A door handle. A package. A keyboard. A bottle top. A heavy door. A charging cable. A shower. An article of clothing. A knife. None of these objects looks like discrimination. Nobody deliberately designed them to exclude me. But they, along with several thousand other objects, do.

They simply designed them without me or anyone with a disability in the room. And then I am expected to solve the problem. Not only pay for the item, but also come up with the disability fix so that I can use the bloody stupid thing.

For most of my life, I could solve these things. Before my stroke, the physical world largely worked for me. I didn't have to think about how many hands something required. I didn't notice where the socket was. I didn't examine a packet and calculate how I was going to hold it still while opening it.

NOW I NOTICE.

And after decades of noticing, occasionally I get fucking angry. Not because I am incapable. Because I am capable, and I am tired of wasting that capability fighting stupid little barriers that never needed to exist. Accessibility isn't a special favour for a small, unfortunate group of people.

IT IS GOOD DESIGN.

And sometimes the difference between independence and dependence is something as ridiculously small as where somebody decided to put the bloody plug.

@3goodthings
@DigitalCoup
@meditation
@economics_that_works
@disability
@pwd
@joinin

#Shokz #Accessibility #Disability #InclusiveDesign #AccessibleDesign #OneHanded #DisabilityAwareness #AssistiveTechnology

Was ist »Inklusives Design«?
Das erklärt Prof. Nora Bilz am 17. September bei der Publishing User Group Hamburg.
19 Uhr, online, kostenlos. Infos & Anmeldung:
https://pughh64.eventbrite.de

#Publishing #InclusiveDesign #InklusivesDesign
#a11y #accessibility #Barrierefreiheit

When accessibility work keeps getting pushed to the backlog, what can we do differently?

Karl McCabe is taking on that challenge at A11y Camp 2026 with 'Backlogged or checkboxed: why accessibility work gets ignored'.

When: 23–24 November 2026
Where: ICC Sydney

Save $100 with Early Bird pricing, available for a limited time.

Find out more and register: https://dub.sh/CMcqHvA

#A11yCamp #Accessibility #DesignSystems #InclusiveDesign #strategy

Online shops, membership sites, contact forms, and account systems all send emails users may need to read and act on. Are those messages accessible to every recipient?

Join Maria Maldonado for Email Accessibility in WordPress on Tuesday, September 15 at 10 AM Central.

The session will cover practical ways to improve both transactional and marketing emails.

Register now! https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/7417855082828/WN_Ol1nRzSQT_mE3oLnsJK4Uw

#WPA11yMeetup #WordPress #Accessibility #A11y #InclusiveDesign

Most conferences send you home with a tote bag. A11y Camp sends you back with skills.

You'll pick up techniques you can use on the project you're working on right now, and stay across AI, emerging technology and inclusive design.

Make your budget go further, save $100 with Early Bird pricing. Bringing the team? Save 15% when you book five or more conference tickets. Save 10% on 2 workshops.

Find out more and register: https://dub.sh/tSzTUgT

#A11yCamp2026 #Accessibility #InclusiveDesign

»Inklusives Design« ist das kommende Thema bei der Publishing User Group Hamburg. Am 17. September ist Prof. Nora Bilz zu Gast und erklärt, was genau damit gemeint ist und wie Gestaltung gesellschaftliche Teilhabe ermöglichen kann. 19 Uhr, online, kostenlos. Infos & Anmeldung:

https://pughh64.eventbrite.de

#Publishing #InclusiveDesign #InklusivesDesign
#a11y #accessibility #Barrierefreiheit

Dr. Elissa Kreiss discusses in a new podcast why the real challenge for multimodal AI is figuring out what information matters most! 👇
📺 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtQq8NspkY4
🎧 https://open.spotify.com/episode/40RF0vPLX6H4rZYMdEBA1s?si=_Nn6jm9fQlqOP6xVPhaqlw
🍏 https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/is-an-image-worth-a-thousand-words-hidden/id1805993416?i=1000784372303
📄 https://arxiv.org/pdf/2205.10646
 
#WiAIR #WomenInAIResearch #MultimodalAI #Accessibility #MachineLearning #ComputerVision #InclusiveDesign #NaturalLanguageGeneration #AIEthics

Visual design tools weren't built with screen readers in mind. So what happens when you decide to tackle that problem anyway?

Sarah Federman will take us behind the scenes at A11y Camp 2026 in her presentation 'Shapes to Sound: Making a Visual Design Tool Accessible for Screen Reader Users'.

Sarah is a designer turned engineer, and currently a Staff Frontend Engineer on Canva’s Editing Accessibility team.

Register: https://dub.sh/9II0ao4

#A11yCamp #Accessibility #InclusiveDesign

Building accessible apps is hard. Doing so without blocking your sprints is even harder.

​We're AriaWorks 👋 We’re here because we know that most accessibility issues happen at edge cases your team was never prepared for.

​We combine expert #a11y audits with technical training, turning complex guidelines into ready-to-use patterns for frontend, QA, and UX teams.

​Learn more about our work: https://ariaworks.io

​#Introduction #WebAccessibility #a11y #WebDev #Frontend #UX #InclusiveDesign

Your website may work perfectly for you. But that proves almost nothing👀
You know where to click, what things look like, and how they’re supposed to work. Your users may experience it differently.
Try navigating without the tools you normally rely on. You might uncover an accessibility barrier hiding in plain sight.

👉 Try it on your Website: https://www.accesstive.com/free-accessibility-checker/

#Accessibility #A11y #WebAccessibility #WCAG #InclusiveDesign

Next up in our designing for people with disabilities blog post series, Ela Gorla takes us through designing for people with no or limited mobility, including people who browse with a keyboard or voice.

https://tetralogical.com/blog/2026/08/19/designing-for-no-or-limited-mobility/

#Accessibility #MovingDisabilities #InclusiveDesign #Design

THE FUTURE OF ACCESSIBILITY
TECHNOLOGY IS ALMOST INVISIBLE 💎

I keep hearing about AI in terms of productivity. Writing faster. Making presentations. Summarising meetings. Saving companies money.

Fine.

But I think some of the most important uses of AI may be much more ordinary.

For disabled people, AI could remove thousands of tiny barriers that other people barely notice.

I have left-sided hemiplegia. I use only one hand.

So imagine an AI I can simply talk to.

It can write what I dictate. Read something aloud. Search the web. Fill in forms. Explain an incomprehensible government letter. Operate a computer without requiring endless clicking, dragging and menus.

It could describe what is in front of someone who cannot see it clearly.

Caption and interpret speech for someone who cannot hear it.

Help someone who struggles with language find the words they are trying to say.

Turn complicated instructions into something understandable.

Remember appointments, medications, names, routines and important details when memory is unreliable.

Help plan an accessible route before leaving home.

And eventually, perhaps, simply stay quietly with us.

If I fall while I am out walking, I would like my AI to notice, ask whether I am all right, and, if necessary, call Peter and tell him where I am.

Not because I want a machine supervising my life.

Quite the opposite.

Because I want to be able to live it safely and more fully.

The best accessibility technology disappears.

It does not constantly remind you that you are disabled.

It quietly removes the obstacle and lets you get on with your day.

That may turn out to be one of AI's greatest contributions.

Not making humans more productive.

Making more humans free.

@3goodthings
@DigitalCoup
@meditation
@economics_that_works
@startrek

#Disability #Accessibility #AssistiveTechnology #PWD #IndependentLiving #InclusiveDesign #FutureOfTech #AIForGood

Paylino, my fully accessible bill scanning and splitting app, received a huge update today.
What’s new

• Bill scanning is much faster, thanks to an all new AI model
• Items appear in the same order as on your receipt
• Greatly improved recognition of currencies and discounts when scanning
• The loading screen is now more easily readable in Dark Mode
• Lots of performance and stability improvements

Available now on the App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/paylino/id6754171927
#iOSDev #IndieDev #Accessibility #InclusiveDesign #AccessibleApps

You had exactly one job here: let customers tell vegetarian and vegan products apart, quickly and without a magnifying glass. Instead of fixing the existing accessibility gap, you doubled down and made it worse.

Do better.

#vlabel #accessibility #a11y #inclusivedesign #veganlabel #vegetarianlabel #colorblindaccessibility #foodlabeling #designfail #uxfail #accessibilitymatters #inclusivedesignmatters #vegan #veganfood

Hold on to your socks … we've just released the schedule for the upcoming Inclusive Design 24 #id24 which will take place on the 24 September https://inclusivedesign24.org/2026/ #accessibility #a11y #inclusiveDesign

Get in quick, A11y Camp Super Early Bird prices end this Friday!

Secure your ticket to attend A11y Camp 2026 in-person and save $200 if you book by Friday 14 August.

A11y Camp is Australia's largest accessibility conference, where you'll hear from leading practitioners, build practical skills, and connect with the community.

When:
• Conference 23–24 November
• Workshops 25 November
Where: ICC Sydney and Online

Book now: https://dub.sh/bFl6gDq

#A11yCamp #Accessibility #InclusiveDesign #AI

Join Hollie Woodward on 12 August for our next CPD webinar on designing communication that includes everyone. This session explores accessible communication as a mindset, not a checkbox, with practical insights for emails, documents, presentations and social media.
#altc Members can register here: https://www.alt.ac.uk/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=1104
#LearningTechnology #EdTech #Accessibility #InclusiveDesign #DigitalLearning #ALTCommunity

New workshop announced for A11y Camp Australia 2026!

Join Will Soward on 25 November for 'Designing with the NDS: Principles in Practice', a hands-on workshop exploring how to apply the Neurodiversity Design System’s principles to real-world design decisions.

Super Early Bird tickets are on sale now, but only until 14 August.

Register for Designing with the NDS: Principles in Practice: https://dub.sh/RX2aLcQ

#A11yCamp #DigitalAccessibility #Neurodiversity #InclusiveDesign #Accessibility

The Accessible and Inclusive Design Conference (AIDC) starts today and runs all week, free and online. Sessions on building learning experiences that are accessible to all and where everyone belongs. Register at https://www.theaidc.com/ #Accessibility #A11y #InclusiveDesign #EdTech

Time's ticking on Super Early Bird savings. Book your A11y Camp 2026 ticket by 14 August to secure our lowest prices.

While you're there, check out our growing lineup of speakers, explore this year's hands-on workshops, and start planning your A11y Camp experience.

You'll also save 10% when you book two workshops or add a workshop to your conference registration.

Now's the time to lock in your A11y Camp ticket.

Book now: https://dub.sh/wzUNChQ

#A11yCamp #Accessibility #InclusiveDesign #AI

New speaker announcement: Meena Das is joining the A11y Camp 2026 lineup!

In 'Who Gets Heard? Rethinking Voice Recognition and Accessibility', Meena explores why voice recognition often fails people with speech disabilities, and why that's an ethical issue not just a technical one.

Super Early Bird tickets are available now and end 14 August. Lock in the lowest price before they're gone.

Register for A11y Camp: https://events.humanitix.com/a11y-camp-australia-2026

#Accessibility #InclusiveDesign #AIEthics

Virtual tickets are back for #a11yTOConf 2026!

We know travel isn't always possible, so we're excited to once again offer a virtual conference experience—thanks to our Diamond Sponsor, CBC.

Virtual tickets are on sale now.

Already have an in-person ticket? Email [email protected] and we'll help you switch to virtual.

Learn more: conf.a11yto.com

#a11y #Accessibility #InclusiveDesign #WebAccessibility #TechConference

I'm proud to announce the launch of Blind Productions.
Blind Productions is a showcase and community I built to celebrate blind creative professionals — musicians, DJs, actors, authors, podcasters, and content creators — and to give us one place to discover each other's work, collaborate, and connect.
Here's the honest part: this is the ground floor. The doors are open, the foundation is built, and now it's time to fill it up. I'm inviting you to help shape what this becomes — a living archive that future generations can search to discover the musicians and creators who came before them, and a moderated space where we create, support one another, and network as a community.
What's here today:
• A searchable directory of blind creatives, each profile with a bio, links to their work, audio to listen to, and video to watch.
• A moderated community forum for collaboration, support, opportunities, and networking.
• Accessibility built in from the ground up — screen-reader friendly, fully keyboard operable, with adjustable text, themes, and high contrast on every page.
So here's my ask: start submitting profile suggestions. Nominate yourself. Nominate the artists you admire. Bring the people who deserve to be found. Create a free account, join the conversation, and let's build something that lasts.
This is how a legacy gets started — together.
Explore and submit: https://blind.productions
You must be 18 or older to join.
#Accessibility #BlindCreatives #BlindMusicians #DisabilityInclusion #A11y #BlindCommunity #DisabilityAdvocacy #InclusiveDesign #AssistiveTechnology #ScreenReader #VisuallyImpaired #DigitalAccessibility #BlindArtists #DisabilityPride #InclusiveCommunity

MYSTERY IN BLUE

A TRAVEL TROUBLES NOTES STORY

THE ECHO OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS

Book III: An Australia Day Mystery

CHAPTER 1: THE TIMEOUT TRAP

It was Australia Day, and the heat was enough to melt the CSS off a stylesheet. The Three Best Friends—Liam, Dax, and Dev—were driving their trusty 4WD up the winding roads of the Blue Mountains. The esky was chockers with lamingtons and snags, and the mood was “she’ll be right”.

“I reckon we camp near the Three Sisters,” Dax said, adjusting his sunglasses. “Great view, high contrast, easy navigation.”

But as they approached Katoomba, the car’s dashboard display flickered. A countdown timer appeared on the GPS screen:
SESSION EXPIRING IN 10 SECONDS.

“Dev, extend the session!” Liam yelled.

Dev reached for the “Continue” button, but the car hit a pothole. His finger slipped.

3… 2… 1…

The GPS went black. The engine sputtered. The car rolled to a halt on the shoulder of the highway.

“It’s the Timeout Trap,” Dev groaned. “The system didn’t give us enough time to interact. It violated the rule: Provide users enough time to read and use content”.

The Genial Fix

“A standard timeout is fine for security,” Liam said, wiping sweat from his brow. “But for a critical task like driving? We need an option to turn off, adjust, or extend the time limit”.

Liam pried open the dashboard panel. He found the physical timer relay. “I’m bypassing the default setting. I’m hard-coding an exception for ‘Real-time Activity’.”

He twisted two wires together. The screen roared back to life, but the map was different. The roads weren’t marked with names; they were marked with code.

“We aren’t in Katoomba anymore,” Dax whispered. “We’re in the Source Code.”

CHAPTER 2: THE RECURSIVE RAVINE

They hiked into the valley, but the path was behaving strangely. Every time they walked 100 meters, they found themselves passing the same gum tree.

“It’s an infinite loop!” Dax cried. “We’re stuck in a recursive function without an exit condition!”

“It’s worse,” Dev said, pointing to a signpost. It spun wildly, the arrows changing direction every second. “The navigation is inconsistent. One minute the ‘Home’ link is on the left, the next it’s in the footer.”

A voice boomed from the canyon walls—a distorted, echoing laugh.

“Welcome to the Echo. Navigation is fluid here. Try to find the breadcrumb trail.”

“Breadcrumbs!” Liam realized. “The Echo is mocking us. We need to create a Site Map to understand the structure of the valley.”

The Physical Site Map

Dax grabbed a stick and began drawing in the red dirt. “If the visual path is broken, we rely on the DOM order.”

He mapped the landmarks like HTML elements: : The Sky (Always visible) : The Valley Floor (Where the content is) : The River (The end of the page)

“The Loop is in the ,” Dev noticed, looking at Dax’s map. “We’ve been walking in a sidebar! We need to Skip to Main Content.”

“Skip Links!” Liam shouted. “Find the anchor!”

They spotted a hidden trail marker labeled #main-content. They jumped over the barrier, breaking the loop and landing on the true path toward the Three Sisters.

CHAPTER 3: THE VOICE OF THE SISTERS

They reached the famous rock formation, but the viewing platform was deserted. A single, massive microphone stood at the edge of the cliff, pointing at the rocks.

“To pass,” the Echo’s voice thundered, “You must speak the Password. But be warned: The Echo listens to all inputs.”

“It’s a Voice Input Control,” Dev said. “But look at the wind. It’s blowing a gale. The background noise is too high.”

Liam stepped up to the mic. “Open Sesame!”

The wind howled. The system responded: “Did you say ‘Open Salami’?”

“No!” Liam yelled. “Cancel! Undo!”

The system processed the command: “Ordering Salami.”

“It’s an Error Prevention nightmare!” Dax panicked. “For inputs that cause legal commitments or financial transactions, we must be able to reversible, checked, or confirmed”.

The Modal Trap

A holographic receipt appeared in the air, blocking their path.
CONFIRM PURCHASE?

There was no “Cancel” button. Only “Yes.”

“It’s a Focus Trap,” Dev said. “I can’t tab away from the ‘Yes’ button. We need to force a keyboard interrupt.”

“Don’t speak,” Liam whispered. “Switch input modalities. The WCAG guidelines say users should be able to switch between input modes (voice, keyboard, mouse) at any time.”

Liam plugged his portable keyboard into the base of the microphone. He typed: ESCAPE.

The receipt vanished. The “Salami” order was cancelled.

“Fair crack of the whip,” Liam muttered. “That was close.”

CHAPTER 4: THE FOG OF #CCCCCC

They descended the Giant Stairway, but a thick fog rolled in. It wasn’t just white; it was a flat, featureless gray.

“I can’t see the steps,” Dax said, freezing in place. “The contrast ratio between the stone and the fog is 1:1. It’s invisible.”

“The Echo has lowered the contrast of the world,” Dev realized. “It’s targeting users with low vision.”

Dax, the designer, pulled out his “High Contrast” visor—a pair of augmented reality goggles he used for testing.

“I’m switching to High Contrast Mode,” Dax announced. “I’m inverting the colors.”

Through the goggles, the gray fog turned black, and the stone steps glowed neon yellow.

“Follow me!” Dax shouted. “I’ve got sufficient contrast!”

The Text-Only Fallback

But then the fog thickened, blocking even the AR signal. Dax stopped. “I’ve lost the visual.”

“Don’t rely on sensory characteristics alone,” Liam recited. “Don’t rely on shape, size, or visual location”.

Liam closed his eyes. He reached out and felt the railing. It had Braille markings etched into the steel.

“The railing has a text alternative!” Liam said. “It says: ‘Step 842. Turn Left.'”

They descended the rest of the stairs by touch, guided by the tactile “Alt-Text” of the mountain.

CHAPTER 5: THE PHANTOM’S SERVER

At the bottom of the valley, they found it. Not a cave, but a bunker. The door was marked with the “Echo” symbol—a sound wave eating its own tail.

“This is where the Australian Day broadcast is coming from,” Dev said. “If we don’t fix the accessibility settings, the Prime Minister’s speech will be broadcast without captions, without Audio Description, and in a font size no one can read.”

They burst inside. The server room was unguarded, but the console was protected by the ultimate barrier.

A CAPTCHA.

But not just any CAPTCHA. It was a grid of 16 images of Australian animals.

“Select all the Quokkas,” the computer sneered.

“They all look like Quokkas!” Liam yelled. “That one might be a Wallaby! Or a small Kangaroo!”

“It’s a cognitive barrier,” Dev said. “It relies on cultural knowledge and visual acuity. It’s inaccessible.”

The Biometric Twist

“We need an alternative,” Dax said. “Look for the audio icon.”

There was none.

“Wait,” Liam said. “This system is old. It’s running on Legacy Code. It probably supports ‘Device Authentication’.”

Liam pulled out his USB key—his “Authorized User” token.

“Not requiring CAPTCHAs for authorized users,” Liam grinned, plugging it in.

The screen flashed green. AUTHENTICATED.

CHAPTER 6: THE FINAL REFACTOR

They had access. Now they had to patch the broadcast before it went live in 5 minutes.

Dev worked on the player. “I’m adding a transcript toggle. I’m ensuring the media player keyboard controls are standard.”

Dax worked on the visuals. “I’m fixing the color palette. No more red-on-green text. I’m boosting the luminance.”

Liam worked on the content. The speech was written in dense, academic English.

“I’m simplifying,” Liam muttered. “Short sentences. Plain Language. Expanding acronyms.”

3… 2… 1…

The “On Air” light turned red.

On screens all across Australia—from the pubs in Sydney to the stations in the Outback—the broadcast appeared.

It was perfect.

The captions were synced.

The Audio Description described the flag waving in the wind.

The text was readable, high-contrast, and clear.

“She’ll be right,” the Prime Minister said on screen.

“She certainly will be,” Liam smiled, collapsing into a beanbag chair in the corner of the bunker.

EPILOGUE: THE NULL ISLAND

The sun was setting over the Blue Mountains, painting the Three Sisters in gold and purple. The Three Best Friends sat on the bunker roof, eating the lamingtons that had miraculously survived the trek.

“We did good,” Dax said. “We made Australia Day accessible.”

“But who built the Echo?” Dev asked, holding up a strange, black microchip he had pulled from the server.

Liam took it. Etched into the silicon were coordinates.

0°N 0°E.

“Zero Zero,” Liam whispered. “That’s Null Island. The place where bad data goes to die.”

“There’s no land there,” Dax said. “It’s just ocean off the coast of Africa.”

“That’s what the maps say,” Dev said, his eyes gleaming with a new mystery. “But the code says otherwise. Someone is building a digital fortress at Null Island. And they just pinged us.”

Liam stood up, dusting the crumbs off his shorts.

“Well,” he grinned. “I’ve always wanted to go on a cruise.”

“Pack your togs,” Dax laughed.

“And your keyboards,” Dev added.

The Three Best Friends looked at the horizon. The Blue Mountains were behind them, but the Ocean of Null was waiting.

New Podcast Episode: InnoSearch AI – Redefining Accessible Online Shopping

In Episode 145 of White Canes Connect, Patrick Long and Bryan Vuong share how InnoSearch is making online shopping, flight booking, and food/grocery delivery accessible for blind and low-vision users through a screen-reader friendly platform and phone line.

Listen here 👉 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/innosearch-ai-redefining-accessible-online-shopping/id1592248709?i=1000728863984

#Accessibility #BlindCommunity #InclusiveDesign #AssistiveTechnology #InnoSearchAI #AccessibleShopping #WhiteCanesConnect

Interview with Paul McDonagh-Smith, Senior Lecturer MIT Sloan School of Management

https://vimeo.com/867648293?share=copy

Interview with Paul McDonagh-Smith at Hannover Messe. Senior Lecturer at MIT Sloan School of Management & Digital Capability Leader at MIT Sloan Office of Executive Education. Advisor to NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Paul invented and innovated with XR & metaverse across multiple industries and is Faculty Director on MIT Sloan Business Implications of Extended Reality (XR): Harnessing the Value of AR, VR, Metaverse and More. At Hannover Messe with Siemens Industry. #SIEX

Introduction:

The metaverse, a collective virtual shared space created by the convergence of virtually enhanced physical reality, augmented reality (AR), and the internet, is a rapidly growing domain. As we delve deeper into creating metaverse products, platforms, and solutions, we encounter a myriad of challenges and opportunities. One critical aspect that demands our immediate attention is the inclusion and diversity within the metaverse solutions we are building.

The Importance of Inclusion:

When constructing metaverse solutions, it is imperative to reflect on questions regarding inclusion. We must ensure that the solutions we build are genuinely inclusive and do not introduce another layer of exclusion to certain groups of humans and communities. The essence of creating an inclusive metaverse is to foster an environment of equity and diversity, allowing users from various backgrounds to interact and coexist harmoniously within the virtual realm.

Addressing Inclusion from the Outset:

To build inclusive metaverse solutions, it is crucial to address questions of equity, diversity, and inclusion right from the beginning, even before contemplating the technological elements and tools required. This proactive approach ensures that the solutions conceived are inherently inclusive, preventing the amplification of cognitive and cultural biases from our physical world into the virtual and digital environments we are creating.

Breaking the Echo Chamber:

To truly realize an inclusive metaverse, we need to break through the echo chamber and overcome the inherent biases that exist in our physical world. It is essential to ensure that these biases are not imported and amplified in the virtual environments we are building. By addressing these biases, we can create digital spaces that are more equitable and diverse, reflecting a broad spectrum of perspectives and experiences.

Opportunities for Inclusion:

Rather than perceiving these considerations as challenges, we should view them as opportunities—opportunities for fostering inclusion, diversity, and equity within the metaverse. By embracing these opportunities, we can create metaverse solutions that not only value diversity but also generate more business value. The incorporation of diverse perspectives can lead to the creation of richer, more immersive, and more engaging virtual experiences, ultimately contributing to the overall success and growth of the metaverse.

Conclusion:

As we stand on the brink of a new era marked by the advent of the metaverse, it is our responsibility to ensure the creation of inclusive, diverse, and equitable virtual spaces. By addressing issues of inclusion and diversity at the initial stages of design and development, we can build metaverse solutions that are truly representative of our diverse global community. Embracing these opportunities for inclusion will not only enrich the metaverse experience for all users but also unlock unprecedented business value, paving the way for a more inclusive and equitable digital future.

https://antoniosantos.blog/2023/09/24/how-can-we-create-a-more-inclusive-metaverse/

#AugmentedReality #DigitalEquity #digitalInclusion #DiversePerspectives #EquityAndDiversity #InclusiveDesign #InclusiveMetaverse #MetaverseDevelopment #MetaverseSolutions #MITSloanSchoolOfManagement #PaulMcDonaghSmith #Siemens #SiemensIndustry #VirtualEnvironments #virtualReality

As might be obvious @jesshmitchell, the world of #OpenEducation isn't all rosy and there's a lot of othering in this field. Thankfully, Jess and others are doing their part to help us ensure we walk the walk when we wax poetic about #InclusivePedagogy, #InclusiveDesign, and #InclusivePractices in general.

As for the Fediverse itself, we'll need to ensure it eventually becomes a space for deep allyship. Part of the technical setup might help... yet not suffice.