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From Frustration to Delight: Real Accessibility Wins in Everyday Products
Manage episode 484231708 series 3474034
When we're constantly fighting for baseline accessibility compliance, it's easy to miss the quiet victories happening around us. In this candid conversation, returning guest Steve Tyler shares refreshingly positive experiences that demonstrate what's possible when companies truly commit to inclusive design.
Steve recounts his surprisingly delightful experience switching to EE broadband, discovering Braille labelling physically built into the router and an online contract process that automatically detected his screen reader use. Rather than the typical accessibility nightmare, the system seamlessly adapted to provide an equivalent experience. Similarly, his HP printer delivered unexpected independence through a fully accessible app that allowed him to complete tasks like checking ink levels and even creating personalized greeting cards without assistance.
These examples highlight what accessibility advocate Kevin Carey called the "peer normative equivalent" experience – being able to accomplish the same tasks, at the same time, for the same price, with comparable effort as anyone else. This stands in stark contrast to the frustrating reality that 95% of websites remain inaccessible and disability employment rates have shown minimal improvement over 60 years.
Looking toward the future, we explore how AI might transform accessibility through conversational interfaces and intelligent agents that could help navigate complex systems. However, this technology also raises important questions about privacy, trust, and the preservation of human connection. As Steve powerfully reminds us, "Put humanity back into tech development" – because the most successful innovations recognize that behind every accessibility need is a human seeking not just functional access, but an equivalent, dignified experience.
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Chapters
1. From Frustration to Delight: Real Accessibility Wins in Everyday Products (00:00:00)
2. Welcome Back, Steve Billish (00:00:02)
3. The State of Accessibility (00:01:23)
4. A Surprising Broadband Experience (00:05:02)
5. The Sniffing Techniques Debate (00:10:30)
6. The Delightful HP Printer Experience (00:14:10)
7. AI Assistants and Future Possibilities (00:21:30)
8. Putting Humanity Back in Tech (00:30:54)
266 episodes
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