Inclusive Technologies

We know that all the assistive technology compatibility and built-in accessibility features don’t mean a thing if the user never learns about them.  Retail has often been the Bermuda Triangle of accessibility.  The bottom-line fever of the undertrained, commission-driven sales staff makes customized service unlikely.  Now Computers Made Easy in Fort Worth offers another model of retail.  It caters to people with disabilities and the rest of us who nervously wonder if we can operate the latest gadget or program.  The name alone is relaxing!  Let’s hope this becomes a chain, and reminds its big box brethren that customers come in all shapes and sizes.

Computer store bridges technology gap for seniors and disabled - Fort Worth Business Press

I watched Clint Eastwood’s “Gran Torino” last night.  For those who haven’t seen the movie, Clint plays an aging bigot in a shifting neighborhood who gets caught up in gang violence after his wife’s death.  Clint’s crusty persona sprays bitter contempt onto the changing world around him as his own health fails.

There’s a scene with his son and daughter-in-law on his birthday that stayed on my mind.  They arrive with presents: a reacher and a big-button phone.  Needless to say, Clint does not express his appreciation; his subsonic growl builds as they cautiously suggest moving to an assisted living facility.  We don’t get to see Clint’s explosion, but we do see the pair hurriedly leaving in exasperation at their own attempt to reach out to him.

My first reaction, of course, was “Thanks, Eastwood, you dipstick, for thoughtlessly stigmatizing accessibility and usability to score shallow cinematic points!  Just what the world needs, another portrayal of comfort and convenience as sissified and demeaning.”  I slept the righteous sleep of the professionally self-justified.

I awoke less so.  People on the receiving end of our beneficence *do* have reactions of reluctance, resistance, and rejection.  Are they all dysfunctional fools, or are they just paying resentful attention to the social markers invisibly embossed on every manufactured object?  If an upscale watch means “I’m stylish and rich”, what does a reacher mean?  And what does giving someone a reacher mean?

When “practitioners” look at a reacher we see an elegant interaction between the sophisticated, painstaking domains of clinical insight and design excellence, and we’re right.  It’s just that someone else looking at it sees a prop for a tragedy, and they’re right, too.

I’m sure we’re all doing as much as we can to trim the stigmatic overtones from highly usable and assistive products, and I wouldn’t want anyone to slack off because those efforts are not always rewarded with elder-glee.  But I think we’d better pay more attention to how the recipient views the exchange.  Sometimes it’s not the chrome-plated heart of the gadget I can’t do without; it’s the chrome-plated face on the dipstick who gives it to me.

No matter where you stand politically, this campaign ad video shows the real-life, everyday need for more and better accessible technology.

Ubisoft, maker of many popular games, has implemented a policy of captioning all of its internally developed titles.  This will add text to all gameplay screens.  Is it an option? A default? Will it include sound effects?  Stay tuned…

But wait — there’s more!  Ubisoft works with Handicap International to support abilitytogether, an online resource on disability, which includes a game called Handigo that simulates disabilities to build awareness.

Gamasutra - Ubisoft Backs Hearing-Disabled Gamers With Subtitles Initiative

San Francisco is considering a law that would require TVs in public locations (lobbies, restaurants, airports, etc.) to display captions at all times.  What a great idea, and why not?  The capability is already built in, and this would provide a robust channel for communicating with deaf and hard of hearing people about emergencies, at the very least.  But don’t fine the scofflaws; make them wear a scarlet ASL instead!

SAN FRANCISCO / Bill would require captioning on TVs

This is why we’re concerned about biometrics; the current Section 508 regulations require accessible alternatives.

The Herald Online **News**

Add another link to another accessibility value chain!  You can use “Advanced Video Search” to find captioned videos on Google.  It’s a single checkbox, near the bottom of the search form.  This will not only make captioned videos easier to find, but may encourage some videomakers to caption their work — building the culture of accessibility.

Unfortunately, this feature is not yet on YouTube, which is owned by Google — when, please?

Google Advanced Video Search

Josh Blue is pretty damn funny!  He doesn’t “suffer from”; he kills!  Check out his YouTube video here.

Here’s a story about a few people who need to be put away for a while so they can think.

About 3% of those with seizure disorders are susceptible to seizures when they see flashing content of certain sizes and frequencies. That’s why we have accessibility regulations that limit flashing in electronic interfaces and content. But some folks thought that hacking the Epilepsy Foundation with seizure-causing animated GIFs was a cool idea. While we wait for the long arm of the law to do its job, how about going to the Foundation and leaving a donation?

Hackers attack epilepsy site with flashing images

There’s a new device on the market that has video clips of 4500 ASL signs.  You could use it to learn ASL on the subway, or even try brief, impressionistic ASL conversations.  Perhaps.
Krowns handheld teaches you sign language