Sign up to save tools and stay up to date with the latest in AI
bg
bg
1

Rethinking Accessibility In The Age Of AI

Dec 02, 2024 - forbes.com
The article discusses the importance of digital accessibility and how AI can help improve it. The author, Swati Kirti, Group Director of Data Science at Walmart, highlights that while physical accessibility features are often considered, digital accessibility is frequently overlooked. She emphasizes the need to make digital tools more accessible and user-friendly, and criticizes the current practice of treating accessibility as an afterthought in the development process.

Kirti suggests that AI can play a significant role in enhancing digital accessibility by identifying user struggles and friction points. She also discusses the potential of converging digital and physical accessibility, using insights from online behavior to improve in-store experiences. She mentions the concept of a large action model (LAM), which combines AI and IoT to assist people with both digital and physical tasks. The article concludes with a call to change the approach towards accessibility, making it a priority from the start of any project.

Key takeaways:

  • AI can significantly improve digital accessibility by tracking how people use a website or app and highlighting where they encounter difficulties.
  • There is a need to integrate digital and physical accessibility, using insights from online behavior to enhance the in-store experience for customers with accessibility needs.
  • The convergence of AI and IoT in the form of large action models (LAMs) can revolutionize accessibility by performing tasks based on voice commands, particularly benefiting people with physical disabilities.
  • Accessibility should not be an afterthought but should be incorporated from the start in both digital and physical spaces, with AI offering new ways to understand and improve the experience of those who are often left behind.
View Full Article

Comments (0)

Be the first to comment!