AI can level the playing field for all abilities

In recent weeks, I have joined several European and UK accessibility discussion groups which, aside from interrupting my sleep patterns (I live in Australia), have been real eye openers (pun intended) to what is happening globally in the accessibility space.

For me, what I have really enjoyed is knowing that the work we are doing ‘down under’ in sunny Brisbane with Meet Aandi is not something we are doing in isolation. There are people working as start-ups like me, or as a part of big tech, who are leading the charge on the future of digital accessibility and inclusivity.

What excites me in this space is that we are getting close to a time when the technology we use can work for all, rather than be made for some with ‘add-ons’ for those the specific technology may not suit.

What do I mean by that?

Let’s think about it. In every country there are accessibility standards that have been set to ensure that all people can access and consume information. However, how many pieces of information that are written every day consider and meet these standards? I would say although its increasing, and there is a desire to do things better, there is still a long way to go. Why? Because for most it’s not on their radar, and for those who are trying - there are simply too many hurdles to leap.

Accessible design is about one thing – inclusion. If you have something worth saying, why not say it so everyone can understand? Long gone are the days where print is the only format that matters. Even then, people are far more likely to read something that is easy to read.

Information for the future

The more we look at screens as a society, the worse our eyesight gets. The harder it is to see, the less information that isn’t accessible you’ll be able to take in. Let’s face it, convenience and digital versions of information is the way of the future. Future-proofing your information means making it easier to understand.

This is where AI comes in. The next wave of AI can include these standards, and in that way provide every piece of information in a form that mirrors an individual’s needs. Without judgement on what that person’s particular needs are, AI can level the playing field; making that piece of information perfectly in tune with the needs of that one individual user.

Boy, that’s an exciting future!

It’s a future where all abilities are simply a part of being human, and since humans are complex, we can use AI to address the complex, so the information is delivered how you choose to consume it.

I know that I want to be a part of this future. Which is why, with the help of my team, we have launched a new online tool through Meet Aandi that intuitively reviews (using remote learning) all aspects of written and visual video communications. Producers of video who use Meet Aandi’s tool can ensure that people with hearing loss, low vision, reading or language difficulties can access their information in a format that best suits them. A new tool to level the playing field for all abilities and all-sorts.