Navigating a More Inclusive Future: AI and Accessibility
02.15.22
By Amy Wood, Guest Author
Manager, Accessible Events & Real Estate / Travel, Salesforce
Navigating a More Inclusive Future: AI and Accessibility
As leaders in audience engagement, we’re always looking for ways to enhance how brands connect effectively with their audiences, which includes addressing the needs for accessibility and inclusion for those with disabilities. With the promise around Artificial Intelligence and newer tools such as Generative AI, InVision invited Accessibility Events Manager and expert Amy Wood to provide her perspective on the state of AI as it affects inclusivity, key considerations, and what to watch for. Amy is no stranger to InVision, and she last joined us for an informative webinar on Accessibility and Events.
Read on for her important perspective and insights!
Artificial intelligence has created some pretty amazing solutions in the world of disability, inclusion and accessibility. Various industries are rapidly adopting AI-powered solutions, introducing cutting-edge technology and software designed for individuals with disabilities. The disability community can benefit significantly from AI, offering them greater independence in navigating the world.
Generative AI technologies, in particular, add a new dimension to accessibility. When used the right way, they become this awesome resource–making the world a bit friendlier.
Let's dive into useful AI-powered tools:
AI-Generated Captions: Think of it as a magical language translator for videos and audio. It helps everyone understand multimedia content better, whether you're deaf, learning a new language, or just tuning in from a noisy place. Captions keep everyone in the loop!
Alt Text: This is like a storyteller for images. It describes what's happening in a picture, making it easier for folks with visual disabilities. Plus, it's SEO-friendly. AI can whip up alt text like a pro.
Text-to-Speech and Speech-to-Text: Imagine your words turning into text or vice versa. It's super handy, especially for those who find typing a bit tricky. Also, it's like having a friendly voice read digital text aloud, making it a breeze for people with vision or learning disabilities.
It’s all good and well, but here's the plot twist – AI, as amazing as it is, still has its challenges. AI captions sometimes struggle with different voices, and there are hilarious (but sometimes embarrassing) slip-ups. Like at a basketball game, where the Star-Spangled Banner got a wild AI makeover: "Stars. Pass Through the Payroll. Bus Fire."
Autonomous delivery robots cruising down sidewalks have become more common in the U.S. This innovative delivery service has been life-changing, especially for the disability community relying on it for food or medicine.
Yet, the story takes an unexpected turn when a wheelchair user tweeted that a sidewalk robot became a bit of a roadblock, literally. As reported, a sidewalk robot blocked her access to a curb cut in the sidewalk, leaving her stuck in a busy street. Using a wheelchair, she was unable to maneuver around the stalled sidewalk robot, thus creating a sticky and potentially dangerous situation. “We need to build a technological future that benefits disabled people without disadvantaging them along the way.” (Bloomberg)
We’re also seeing examples where AI is being utilized to support the disability community, however, where it may inadvertently pose challenges due to bias and insufficient information:
- AI-generated image descriptions through ALT text provide valuable context for people with vision disabilities, though occasional inaccuracies may arise. For example, one AI-generated image description of a girl holding a turtle wrongly depicted the image as a "girl holding a large chocolate donut." The case can be made that, at least for the time being, humans need to be involved in the creation of ALT text.
- Overlay accessibility widgets on websites, while attempting to enhance accessibility, fall short by missing 70% of Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) issues. They also disrupt users' existing assistive technology tools, creating additional barriers.
In conclusion, AI assistive technology holds immense promise for supporting greater accessibility and inclusivity. The examples shared are just a sneak peek into how AI is changing the accessibility landscape. Developers, researchers, and policymakers must work together and continue investing in AI accessibility to perfect and sharpen these tools – in order to ensure positive and meaningful change for people with disabilities.
Need help designing inclusive brand experiences? Contact us at info@iv.com. For more on Amy Wood’s work on Accessibility, visit her on LinkedIn.