A Reminder on Accessibility Features and Design Awareness

In a recent post on Tech Radar, technology writer Cameron Faulkner reflected on the importance of accessibility features in​ ensuring people with different types of disabilities can use technology. Touch interfaces and voice-activated devices have allowed many people to use devices and technologies hitherto unavailable/inaccessible to them. After watching a student who was blind activate the accessibility features on a tablet computer, Faulkner wrote, “this tablet’s usefulness had grown exponentially for her with just a few quick adjustments. It was an awe-inspiring experience wherein that moment, I realized that it isn’t just a luxury item with which people can waste time reading, playing games and watching movies. For some people, these settings allow them to do things that would otherwise be impossible.” Nevertheless, Faulkner reminds us there is still a long way to go to ensure accessibility for all. Rather than designing accessibility features as an afterthought, technology companies and designers should incorporate inclusion in their design philosophies from the outset. Every user, regardless of ability, can benefit from easier, more intuitive forms of interacting with software and devices. Source: Cameron Faulkner, Tech Radar.