We’re ignoring a huge problem in tech — accessibility
Recently, when answering questions on Quora, I came across someone asking what robot vacuum border strips were. Because I have a terrible case of over-achiever, I explained not only what they were, but also why they exist: at my company Narwal, we offer these for people who don’t want to or can’t use the app. While most people hear this and imagine these strips are for the elderly after their own experience trying (and probably failing) to explain to their grandparents how to use social media, my mind went elsewhere: who else might need this? After all, I’ve seen enough YouTube product reviews to know that some products that might seem useless to me are actually extremely useful to others, especially people with disabilities.
So who else might need border strips? They’re good for the technologically impaired, to be sure, but there it doesn’t end there. Blind people, for example, would likely struggle to set virtual no-cleaning zones without help; with boundary strips, they can do it themselves. People with Parkinson’s or other illnesses which affect motor control would likely also have an easier time placing a long strip than drawing a tiny line.
Thinking about this, then, I started to wonder, just how accessible is technology today? Because even at my company, the barrier strips were primarily made for people who don’t use apps, not for those with disabilities. In today’s tech, who is being left out, why should we care, and what should we do about it?
#1: Who is being left out?
The most obvious barrier to tech use is economic factors. A person’s economic context may prevent them from accessing up-to-date hardware, and even if they can, they may not have the other requirements needed to effectively use it. While over 80% of people in the US now have smart phones (over 95% if only counting people from 18–49 years old), over 1/5 of US households don’t have home internet, severely limiting the usability of their phones. Even if you do have a phone and internet, if you’re living paycheck to paycheck, keeping your phone charged all the time might not be an easy decision. Fortunately, tech is getting cheaper, but there’s still progress to be made to make it truly accessible.
Disabilities are the other major barrier to using technology, and one that is given much less attention. Coming up with a list of what disabilities have and what impact on technology use is seemingly impossible as there are so many different struggles that come with different disabilities. There are, however a few examples that can illustrate the issue. Take dyslexia, for instance: it affects 20% of all people, for whom word-heavy instruction manuals may be torturous to get through. Or consider people with mobility issues, either due to age or illness, who might find plugging in electronics might be painful or even impossible. If a person is deaf or hard of hearing, they might miss auditory error messages or other notifications. The potential difficulties are endless and affect more people than we might initially imagine. And yet, many in tech, few consider these issues when designing products.
#2: Why should we care?
From a human point of view, it’s obvious: everyone, regardless of the economic situation, level of ability, or any other factor should be able to use and access modern technology. 73% of Americans say they cannot imagine life without the internet; why should we let that be a reality for others, then? What right do we have to decide that some people should not be able to use our products simply because we think it is too much of a bother to include them?
Not everyone will buy the human argument, however. I can’t imagine Bezos or Zuckerberg will read my article and suddenly have a change of heart. Fortunately, inclusivity is good for business too. Any new person who might access your product is a new potential customer, no matter who they are. In fact, people with disabilities are a fantastic market for tech products. While they might not be enough of a market on their own, they still make up 15% of the population, and in many cases, they have the strongest need for technology products. For example, online shopping is a major advancement in technology, which for most people is convenient, but not necessary. For people with motor limitations or anxiety disorders, however, it can save a lot of stress and trouble. The more accessible we make our product to that market, the more loyal and long-term customers we’ll have.
#3: What can we do?
While economic barriers to purchasing certain tech can often be overcome as cheaper imitation products hit the market, accommodating those with disabilities takes more intentional effort. At the bare minimum, people with disabilities should be included in focus groups and product trials; ideally, they’re included in the whole product design process. Including those with disabilities in product design is a really smart move, actually, because they are most aware of the design flaws of products. Narwal’s own founder came up with the idea for a self-washing function not because he’s a genius, but because he listened to his father who had back pain. That pain made him more aware of how annoying it was to wash mops, which was the exact inspiration our founder needed.
Beyond including disabled people in product development, there should also be a culture of inclusivity at the company itself. This means hiring people of diverse identities and highlighting the importance of accessibility to all employees. By doing so, you not only have more diverse perspectives when designing your product, you also make the workplace happier and more efficient as workers feel seen and have their needs accommodated. In short, awareness and inclusivity isn’t just the right thing to do in tech — it’s the smart thing to do, and it’s time we started giving it the attention it deserves.
How do you think technology is failing to be inclusive? What companies do you think are setting the best example? Do you think Besos or Zuckerberg will read my Medium post? Leave a comment to let me know.
Hope you enjoyed reading! If you liked this article and are interested in technology, cleaning, or society, feel free to follow me. Otherwise, if you’re interested in learning more about accessibility in tech, here are some articles you might want to read. The Tech Disability Project is also worth checking out.
