To Boldly Go: The New Frontiers of Accessibility
Summary
Key Insights
-
•
Early computing accessibility was easier because interfaces were text-based and users relied on command-line interactions.
-
•
Assistive technology started as expensive, third-party hardware or software separate from the main computing system.
-
•
Apple’s introduction of VoiceOver was a watershed moment, making touchscreen accessibility mainstream and built-in at the OS level.
-
•
Before integrated accessibility, screen readers required complex reverse engineering and custom drivers, especially in graphical environments.
-
•
The gaming industry is currently repeating historical cycles of accessibility neglect, relying on third-party hacks rather than built-in APIs.
-
•
Virtual and augmented reality platforms still lack native accessibility support and rely on inspiring hacks for any accessible experiences.
-
•
Artificial intelligence poses both opportunities and risks for accessibility, needing careful bias prevention and privacy protection.
-
•
Cloud-based apps raise new accessibility challenges due to forced update cycles and DRM limiting third-party accessibility enhancements.
-
•
Blockchain and crypto apps present unique accessibility hurdles because of decentralization, complex interfaces, and unclear jurisdictional governance.
-
•
Designing for people with disabilities leads to innovations that improve usability for everyone, providing large potential market advantages.
Notable Quotes
"Those of us who do not understand history are doomed to repeat it."
"Accessibility used to be considered an inspiring hack, something available only to the lucky few."
"Apple’s innovation with VoiceOver on iOS changed the world by making accessibility a built-in, first-party responsibility."
"It took competitors over seven years to catch up to where Apple is with voice dictation and accessibility."
"When we design for the edges, we get the middle for free."
"There are no screen readers built in for VR/AR yet; accessibility is still considered a hack in these spaces."
"How do we train AI models to prevent bias and preserve privacy, especially considering disability data is often seen as medical data?"
"With cloud apps, users don’t get to choose when to upgrade, which challenges maintaining accessibility continuity."
"Blockchain apps aren’t located in one country or jurisdiction, making legal enforcement of accessibility laws difficult."
"The first organization to solve accessibility for new modalities like AR/VR will gain a massive, lasting advantage."
Or choose a question:
More Videos
"Prioritization work is a political process, and politics are hard to do in technology."
Mark Interrante Harry MaxAI for Prioritization (3rd of 3 seminars)
July 11, 2024
"No VP or director has direct responsibility at board level. It’s the C-executives who ultimately decide."
Patrizia BertiniThe (r)evolution of designOps: It’s Time to Think (really) BIG
September 11, 2025
"Reducing buttons from six to two and including peripheral information facilitated buying and editing while increasing conversion by 10%."
Shan ShenTranslating UX Terms into Business Contexts
November 29, 2023
"If you’re not investing or quitting something, what is the point of having a strategy?"
Adam ThomasSurvival Metrics – Making Change in a Fast, Data-Informed, and Politically Safe Way
December 6, 2022
"Research is inherently a silo-busting activity because customers experience the whole, not just parts divided by departments."
Robin BeersResearch as a Catalyst for Organizational Transformation
March 12, 2021
"Accessibility defects are bugs. If it’s a P1 blocking bug for an accessibility issue, treat it like any other P1 bug."
Sheri Byrne-HaberAccessibility at Scale
June 9, 2021
"To me, sweating the pixel means paying attention to the details of interactions and keeping our eye on quality as designers."
Joseph MeersmanSweating the Pixel: Scaling Quality through Critique
June 10, 2021
"You gotta write that charter to get clarity with your team."
Deanna Washington Bria Alexander Jon Fukuda Saara Kamppari-Miller Farid SabitovConnecting the Ops: Plenary Panel and Closing Circle
September 9, 2022
"Civic designers are in a privileged position; with privilege comes the power to empower the voices of those we serve."
Aaron Stienstra Lashanda HodgeLeveraging Civic Design to Advance Equity and Rebuild Trust in the US Federal Government
December 8, 2021
