Regardless of the fact that most people nowadays use the term “disability” to describe someone who has lesser or no skills (in eyesight, speech, IQ, etc.) and that it is a lot more acceptable phrase than “handicapped,” “disability” will be lumped in with “handicapped.” There has been much more success with digital accessibility in the last few decades.
As an example, the more people start understanding the difficulties that persons face and the need for digital equity, the status of what it means to be disabled grows. Even though most people are unaware of what digital accessibility entails, business executives, government officials, and legal experts are increasingly aware of the need to assist people who require assistive technology in making reasonable worthwhile use of technology.
The gap between disabled and non-disabled people is narrowing as technology becomes more generally available, and digitalization makes it easier for everyone to utilize. Even while we are not yet at the point where we can declare that specialized technology has addressed all of the problems that a person with a handicap may experience, it has made overcoming life’s challenges much simpler. Although some individuals believe that science and technology will one day remove all or the great majority of ailments, they recognize that this day will be many years away.
However, having your website inspected helps you to get a head start on supporting visitors with these limits right away. QualityLogic may send personnel to your site to look for ways to improve the pages. Whether it’s improved colors, easier-to-read text, or more music and graphics, you’ll see an immediate increase in visitors.
Issues From the Past
To appreciate how much technology has gone in the preceding 50 years, consider how a blind person communicated, traveled, and shopped in the mid-twentieth century. Telecommunications, keyboards, and Braille materials were less common.
Because books, periodicals, and newspapers were mailed to us by blind-specific libraries, we needed more access to them. The labels on the prescription bottles and soup cans were covered, and the buildings lacked Braille signage. It was possible to hear but not see what was on television.
It Was Challenging to Get Around
Unless you lived in a big city with public transportation, taxis were prohibitively expensive if they were available in your area. The ability of passengers to travel by train or aircraft was still being assessed. There must be something that can help us navigate or discover ourselves. It wasn’t easy to handle substantial indoor events, necessitating the need for orientation services or government assistance.
Purchases Made for Personal Use
Even if you are employed and can go around on your own, you will require items and facilities from your company or the firm’s owner. This support was only provided in extreme cases. Some people shop without assistance, albeit it can be a stressful experience.
A Successful Transition
Technology has come a long way in the last 50 years! The examples below show what good, accessible technology and a host of imaginative ideas have done for us 50 years later, bolstering our autonomy and propelling us up the equality ladder in a number of ways.
Technology that Improves Communication
Zoom enables us to collaborate on a variety of devices, including mobile phones and PC workstations. We make reports from any area with a Wi-Fi or mobile signal by using word processing programs, email, and text messaging. We can read practically any magazine, book, or newspaper that piques our interest. Prescription bottles, as well as canned, boxed, and packaged foods, are now widely available.
This has been made feasible by excellent assistive technology such as screen readers, magnifiers, automated captioning systems, and instantly available digital information. We may now watch a range of television programs thanks to the rise of descriptive video services (DVS). The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires most buildings to provide Braille markings on room signs and elevator controls.
It’s Easy to Plan a Trip
Rail and airplane travel is now considered safe in many areas of the world, and smartphone ridesharing makes it simple to move around cities. GPS has increased our alternatives while also making walking and driving more convenient. Augmented reality programs like AIRA and Be My Eyes broadcast live help from sighted individuals to our mobile devices, allowing us to effortlessly navigate new environments such as massive skyscrapers.
Internet Shopping Has Become Commonplace
In the previous five years, the ability to have almost anything delivered directly to one’s door has made it a lot easier to get what one wants. Not only has online shopping enabled us to have items mailed to us, but it has also provided us with access to products and services that we would only know about if we had shopped in a physical store. Grocery deliveries will continue regardless of the COVID-19 outbreak, thanks to DoorDash and GrubHub.
Things have gotten much better, but they are still far from perfect. Accessibility still needs a lot of work to improve and become the norm (expectation). PDFs and online forms are commonly inaccessible to individuals with impairments because they lack essential qualities that allow them to be used. We could simplify travel if we had more options for where to go, but shopping on many etail sites still needs to be improved. Life now, however, is vastly superior to life even twenty years ago.
QualityLogic and other software providers have helped companies get on the right track by making their web pages more digitally accessible. Businesses with a well-educated workforce may create software game plans and designs that everyone can use.
Technology Has Helped Accessibility
Advances in technology have aided us in accomplishing basic tasks that most people take for granted. Although technology has facilitated great development, most of it has also been designed to simplify the lives of most people. The proverb goes, “One person’s convenience is another person’s accessibility.” Food delivery benefits many people, but it is especially vital for those incapable of driving or navigating a grocery store because of eyesight impairment.
As technology progresses, the gap between disabled people and those who are not impaired will narrow even further. Wearable technology, for example, will be able to see, hear, and understand what is going on around us thanks to 5G networks and ultra-fast AI and ML systems. Access to websites, multimedia, mobile apps, and traditional office paperwork is rising, despite the fact that certain digital data is still being examined.
Technology is penetrating every aspect of our lives, from the touch displays on our smartphones and workout equipment to the climate controls in our homes. To achieve our goal of complete inclusion, we require unrestricted access to a diverse range of digital materials.
Although technology innovation has improved millions of people’s lives, digital equality is still a long way off. Whatever your point of view, digital access is here to stay. Accept it while working to improve it via education, training, and collaboration. It will no longer be regarded as a tool for making our life easier and more enjoyable. Stay away from specific skill sets. It will serve as a blueprint for effective digital marketing.
Enhance Your Website’s Usability
If you operate a business and want to make your website more digitally accessible, contact QualityLogic. We believe that everyone has the right to access, regardless of health or handicap. We will collaborate with you to educate and design a plan that will allow everyone to visit your website.
We also use Wi-SUN test tools to assist companies in the smart energy business in developing products that operate on wireless intelligent utility networks. This testing comprises assessing hardware and software compatibility and functioning to ensure that whoever uses the devices can provide dependable solutions and outstanding customer support.
Please visit the QualityLogic website or contact us right now to learn more about the industries and services we represent. Regardless of the type of software solution you want from us, we promise to provide cutting-edge work and prioritize you at all times.