Design Critiques

What makes some designs good and others bad? Why do some designs work while others don’t? Posts in this category offer thoughtful design critiques of modern digital interfaces, with commentary inspired by Don Norman’s “The Design of Everyday Things.”

Assistive Technology: Closed Captions

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: Speechify: A Game-Changer for People with Dyslexia and ADHD

Speechify is an app designed to make reading more accessible for those with reading challenges, especially people with dyslexia or ADHD. It converts written content into audio, allowing users to listen to books, articles, or even PDFs, making reading less overwhelming. Here’s a closer look at three key features of Speechify and how they make

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Cruise Bolt Autonomous Vehicle Service

Assistive Technology: Cruise Bolt (autonomous vehicle service)

Cruise is a company that is testing the use of autonomous (self-driving) vehicles (AVs) as a taxi service in Dallas, Houston, and Phoenix. Cruise retrofits Chevrolet Bolts into AVs. An AV is an assistive technology: it does not have the usual physical requirements for driving, and so people with many different disabilities could benefit from AVs. 

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Assistive Technology: Microsoft Seeing AI

Introduction Microsoft Seeing AI is a free app designed to assist people with visual impairments by turning their camera into an AI-powered narrator. The app recognizes text, faces, objects, and scenes, providing real-time descriptions that enhance the independence of users with blindness or low vision. It transforms the visual world into an audible experience. Overview

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Assistive Technology: Nagish (Call Captioning App)

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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