digital accessibility

Accessibility of the New York Public Library’s Picture Collection: A Critical Assessment

/ / Design Critiques

The New York Public Library’s Picture Collection is a trove of over 1.5 million images, ranging from vintage postcards to historical photographs. Digitized as part of NYPL’s Digital Collections, these images serve as resources for artists, researchers, and educators. However, many of these digitized images lack essential features, particularly alternative text. Providing context is central […]

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Assistive Technology: Siri, Apple’s Virtual Assistant

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Siri is Apple’s AI-powered virtual assistant, integrated into the company’s devices like iPhones, iPads, and Macs. It enables hands-free interaction through voice commands, assisting users with tasks like messaging, navigation, and scheduling. As an assistive technology, Siri enhances accessibility by enabling hands-free control, voice dictation, and screen reading, supporting users with disabilities and making technology

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Assistive Technology: Refreshable Braille Displays

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Refreshable Braille displays are electronic devices that convert digital text into tactile Braille characters, enabling people who are blind or have low vision to read digital content. These devices exemplify both the Social Model and Medical Model of disability, as they both accommodate individual needs while helping remove barriers to digital information access. The development

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Assessing the Accessibility of Notion

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Accessibility is the foundation of truly inclusive digital tools, ensuring every user, regardless of ability, can engage seamlessly. In this post, we turn our attention to Notion—a powerful platform celebrated for its versatility and innovation—and evaluate its accessibility features. How well does it support users with diverse needs? Using a combination of WCAG compliance evaluations

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CUE1

Assistive Technology: CUE1

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This Small Wearable Device Reduces Parkinson’s Symptoms It is often only after an experience that we understand the problems, the right questions to ask, and the possible solutions. In 2015, an industrial designer, Lucy Jung worked on assistive technology for people with motor control difficulties. Her projects included a pen with high-frequency vibrations to help

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Proloquo2Go

Assistive Technology: Proloquo2go (iOS)

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Proloquo2Go is an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) digital technology designed to assist people who cannot speak, such as those with aphasia or autism, to communicate with others. By tapping on symbols and constructing sentences, users can have their thoughts voiced aloud. This technology provides individuals with speech impairments a means to express themselves, reduces

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Assistive Technology: Closed Captions

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Closed captions are more than just words on a screen—they’re the keys to unlocking stories for everyone. These little lines of text create a world where everyone can tune in effortlessly. Bridging language gaps, this assistive technology lets everyone experience video-based media. What is CC? According to the NYC Audio Description and Captioning Guide, ‘Captions‘

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Assistive Technology: Nagish (Call Captioning App)

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Nagish is a communication app designed specifically for individuals with hearing loss, offering a suite of AI-powered tools to improve accessibility. Its standout feature is real-time speech-to-text and text-to-speech capabilities, which allow users to participate in conversations without needing a third-party interpreter. The app also provides customizable text display options and voice modulation for personalized accessibility.

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Screenshot of Macbook Pro Settings Tab showing main Voice Control Settings

Assistive Technology: Voice Control (macOS)

/ / Design Critiques

Introduction Voice Control is an assistive tool that was first introduced to Apple laptops and computers in 2019 through the macOS Catalina software update. It allows users with physical disabilities to fully use their device, boasting the ability to navigate a desktop and its applications and interact with on-screen activity using voice commands. Stand Out

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Assistive Technology: Bloomberg Connects App

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What is Bloomberg Connects? The Bloomberg Connects app provides free digital guides to over 550 museums, galleries, gardens, public art, festivals, historic sites, and more, expanding access to arts and culture around the world. The app offers the ability to learn about current exhibitions at a portfolio of participating cultural partners through dynamic content exclusive

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