Google Innovates for Access

May 2019 – In anticipation of Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD), Google unveiled several accessibility initiatives that seek to improve daily living for people with disabilities. One such invention is the new Live Caption feature on Android phones that will transcribe any audio or video in real time regardless of the audio’s source. For example, captions can be generated from audio recordings of an in-person conversation or audio feedback on a maps app.  It also allows users who are nonverbal to respond by typing. In efforts to innovate for access, Google is also working on two additional initiatives: Project Euphonia and Live Relay. The former project utilizes artificial intelligence to decipher people with speech impairments’ words and transcribe them. The latter project, Live Relay, assists with making phone calls more accessible for people with hearing disabilities. Google CEO Sundar Pichai shared that “Building for everyone also means ensuring that everyone can access our products. We believe technology can help us be more inclusive and (artificial intelligence) is providing us with new tools to dramatically improve the experience for people with disabilities.” [Source: Shaun Heasley, DisabilityScoop]