Google's Accessibility Battles https://plus.google.com/+LaurenWeinstein/posts/GkfFmgmgYLe
When I have some time, I plan a new formal blog post on this, but several events have come together to make this "short" note seem appropriate now. There's news today of interesting Google project not previously discussed publicly, essentially the building of a "Star Trek" type "comm badge" (currently paired to a smartphone) that could act as a fast voice I/O interface for computer-based assistant and search services, etc. (Some versions of this story have incorrectly claimed the project was begun and then cancelled -- this is NOT the case -- it is a very active project.) It's quite fascinating and fits neatly into various concepts I've discussed over the years for "pervasive accessibility" to computing resources -- where you could just speak your request wherever you happen to be (inside or outside) -- a popular sci-fi meme. Of course, a big problem with voice input/output-based interfaces in public is that so many people are so incredibly obnoxious and uncaring about how they impact the people around them -- particularly in crowded spaces. On the other hand, the positive potentials are also significant, as I discussed in: "As We Age, Smartphones Don't Make Us Stupid -- They're Our Saviors" - http://lauren.vortex.com/archive/001094.html. Such devices can also bring notable accessibility improvements, one area where Google, frankly, continues to disappoint - "UI Fail: How Our User Interfaces Help to Ruin Lives" - http://lauren.vortex.com/archive/001112.html. I think a lot about accessibility issues -- not only because, hey, I'm getting older like everyone else, but every day my inbox features queries from persons with Web services accessibility issues for which they're desperately seeking advice. With Google's launch a few days ago of a new version of G+ -- which currently appears in some significant ways to be a step backwards from the legacy G+ in terms of accessibility -- those queries have only increased. However, since the new G+ is very much a work in progress and is completely opt-in at this point (and you can opt back out at any time after opting-in), I am mainly discussing these new G+ issues over on G+ itself, and will withhold a more formal discussion in that context until the interface changes (there have already been some improvements) resulting from user feedback have settled down a bit. Basically, all of these major Web firms need to have someone dedicated to accessibility as their main job at the VP level -- or at least at a very high level -- that cuts across all teams and projects. Accessibility principles need to be applied across the board, a checkoff that is required to be approved before launches (much as privacy is now at some companies -- sometimes only as a result of litigation, however). And while you obviously can't have an age based requirement for such a job, the job requirements could definitely include both personal experience and understanding of these issues, and an understanding of the firms' systems at both technical and policy levels. --Lauren-- Lauren Weinstein ([email protected]): http://www.vortex.com/lauren Founder: - Network Neutrality Squad: http://www.nnsquad.org - PRIVACY Forum: http://www.vortex.com/privacy-info Co-Founder: People For Internet Responsibility: http://www.pfir.org/pfir-info Member: ACM Committee on Computers and Public Policy Lauren's Blog: http://lauren.vortex.com Google+: http://google.com/+LaurenWeinstein Twitter: http://twitter.com/laurenweinstein Tel: +1 (818) 225-2800 / Skype: vortex.com I have consulted to Google, but I am not currently doing so. My opinions expressed here are mine alone. _______________________________________________ nnsquad mailing list http://lists.nnsquad.org/mailman/listinfo/nnsquad
