Accessibility concerns all of us. Broken hands, noisy environments, and many other factors can affect how we interact with the product. A good example is high color contrast so everyone can read the content.
The Problem
Accessibility is frequently discussed in the context of one-of-a-kind or niche technologies such as websites and apps. However, UX designers nowadays often work on connected products with multiple digital and physical touchpoints. Furthermore, the products are no longer independent of one another. They exist as part of larger ecosystems or service networks. This adds to the end user's complexity.
Today we can find more and more digital services in all areas of our lives. We use connected home appliances in our homes, voice interfaces to interact with cars while driving, or order at a selfish kiosk in a restaurant instead of talking to an employee.
Designers should consider the accessibility of individual components within a service and the interactions between those components.
The Opportunity
Accessibility design requires us to better interact with and understand our users. Approaches that challenge us to think differently. It is therefore not surprising that historically, accessibility has often benefited all users, including those without disabilities. Doors that automatically open for wheelchair users also help people who have to touch their hands when entering a building. Closed captions on videos are essential for hard-of-hearing users. This feature is also helpful for all users, such as older people or those who use content in noisy environments.
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In addition to avoiding legal issues and associated costs, accessibility design increases the product's customer base. Disability statistics can be biased and dependent on the definition and cultural understanding of disability. However, we can learn from searches that about 10-20% of people live with one or more disabilities. Estimates range from 60-70% in older populations, as many people develop disabilities with age. As savvy customers age, they'll want to continue using digital products. As a result, the number of customers will increase even more.
This is something that large technology companies like Google, Microsoft, Alibaba, and Apple are aware of. They are known to put significant resources into making their products with more accessibility. Apple is frequently regarded as the industry leader in this regard. The company pioneered accessibility features and is constantly improving product accessibility.
Social Implications
Designing for accessibility is necessary because ignoring this topic can result in unethical or illegal user exclusion. Inaccessible digital products keep people from reaping the benefits of technology and participating in certain aspects of our society.
There are various theoretical models of how we as a society think about disability and what we associate the term with. The social model of people with disabilities is essential for designers to understand.
Making our world more accessible
In our environment, It is virtually impossible to make every object or service accessible to everyone. For example, most traditional thermostats are inaccessible to blind users. Digitizing these products has the potential to make them usable to a broader audience. We can connect the smart thermostat to an app that can be used with a screen reader. Therefore, the thermostat is functional for the blind. Accessibility design has the potential to create entirely new possibilities for many users, so make the most of it.
Accessibility principles
As these terms cover a wide range of technologies and applications, there are no specific guidelines or rules for IoT or connected products. On the other hand, being aware of applicable policies and laws can be an excellent start.
WCAG 2.1
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines: These principles help make digital content more accessible. For most countries, accessibility guidelines are based on WCAG.
EN 301549
Accessibility regulations for ICT products and services in the EU are most relevant to the public sector and extend beyond software applications. They consider all consumer technology, from tablets and e-readers to ATMs.
Device-specific instructions
Instructions for real-world products (such as phones or washing machines) would still be relevant if these devices were enhanced digitally (AKA Smart versions).
European Accessibility Act
This new regulation aims to remove barriers created by differences between accessibility rules in different countries. Many affected companies will be subject to higher standards, for example, those who provide banking or transportation services. (The law will be in full force by 2025).
Law represents political and social awareness. He emphasized that accessibility is an important topic. But accessibility is not about checking a list of legal requirements.
Following a set of rules does not automatically mean a good user experience for people with disabilities. Theme integration throughout the product development process is equally important. Only then can we avoid creating barriers and make emerging technology truly beneficial and equally valuable to all of us.
How do you make good design decisions without guidance?
Not all components of an IoT service need to be fully accessible as long as the entire system is accessible and provides the same quality of experience for all users.
Consider the previous example of an intelligent thermostat linked to an accessible app. The device itself is still inaccessible to the blind. A designer might wonder if apps alone provide a comparable experience. Perhaps user research reveals a strong need for some essential features to be available on a physical device without an internet connection.
Quality experience, in this case, may require tactile buttons or vibration feedback on the device. There is usually more than one way to provide access. For this reason, designers and other stakeholders need to assess the quality of experience, feasibility, and desirability of different accessibility solutions in their projects.
In this context, it is more important for designers to understand the fundamentals of accessibility, develop skills to identify accessibility issues, and link them to a solution. It will become increasingly difficult to rely on simple checklists once products become more complex. Designers can use the POUR principles to guide themselves.
POUR
POUR is an acronym for 4 principles. According to the Internet Accessibility Bureau, accessible technology is:
- Perceivable
- Operable
- Understandable
- Robust
Designers can apply the principles to any product or service, regardless of the underlying technology. Principles can guide the accessibility design process when attempting to make decisions that a set of regulations or rules cannot adequately address.
Conclusion
By designing for accessibility, we create a product that is inclusive for all users. This not only benefits people with disabilities but also improves usability for everyone. When we design our websites and applications with these principles in mind, we create an experience that is unique and user-friendly for all of your customers. Let us help you create a website or application that meets WCAG 2.0 accessibility standards so that everyone can benefit from your product.