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.”

A person pressing the Accessible Pedestrian Signal to cross the street in New York City

Assistive Technology: Accessible Pedestrian Signals

Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS) are devices that help people who are blind or have low vision cross streets safely by providing audio and other forms of tactile information. The APS devices fall under the Social Model of Disability, which focuses on creating an accessible world where everyone is included and can participate in society. While […]

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Proloquo2Go

Assistive Technology: Proloquo2go (iOS)

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

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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