National Council on Disability explores emerging technology trends and provides strategies for change

 

WASHINGTON, Dec. 27 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -The National Council on Disability (NCD) today released Over the Horizon: Potential Impact of Emerging Trends in Information and Communication Technology on Disability Policy and Practice -- a policy paper that explores key trends in information and communication technology, highlights the potential opportunities and problems these trends present for people with disabilities, and suggests some strategies to maximize opportunities and avoid potential problems and barriers.

    
The technologies used in information and communication products are

advancing at an ever-increasing rate. Devices are getting smaller, lighter,

cheaper, and more capable. Electronics are being incorporated into

practically everything, making a wide variety of products programmable, and

thus more flexible. Computing power is increasing exponentially.

    
According to NCD chairperson John R. Vaughn, "The more reliant society

becomes on technology to perform fundamental aspects of every-day living,

how we work, communicate, learn, shop, and interact with our environment,

the more imperative it is that people with disabilities have access to that

same technology, and the more costly will be the consequences of failure to

ensure access."

    
This paper discusses technology trends that present opportunities for

universally designed products, and for improved availability, usability,

and affordability of assistive technology that can have significant impact

on quality of life for people with disabilities. The first trend discussed

is the ever-increasing computational power plus the decreasing size and

cost of technology -- resulting in technology that is more portable,

affordable, and for which it is easier to build in access. Second, advances

in interface technology are creating new opportunities for better assistive

technologies, more accessible mainstream technologies, and entirely new

ways for users to control both. Third, new advances will soon enable people

to be connected to communication and information networks, at any time,

wherever they are -- making real time assistance only a button press or voice command away.

Finally, the proliferation of virtual places via the way we approach communications, education,work, and commerce -- increasing access to goods and services without the

need to leave home.

    
Many of the same technological advances that show great promise of

improved accessibility, however, also have the potential to create new

barriers for people with disabilities. The following are some emerging

technology trends that are causing accessibility problems.

    
In addition, the incorporation of new technologies into products is

causing products to advance beyond current accessibility techniques and

strategies. The rapid churn of mainstream technologies, that is, the rapid

replacement of one product by another, is so fast that neither assistive

technology nor technology-specific accessibility standards are keeping

pace. Without action, the gap between the mainstream technology products

being introduced and the assistive technologies necessary to make them

accessible will increase, as will the numbers of technologies for which no

accessibility adaptations are available.

    
The paper sets forth the following issues for action:

    * Maximize the effectiveness of assistive technologies and lower their

      cost. Key strategy: Foster results oriented R & D all the way to

      commercial availability.

    * Maximize the accessibility of mainstream information and communication

      technology products, so that people with disabilities and seniors can

      use standard products as they encounter them. Key strategies: Increase

      funding for research, proof of concept, and commercial hardening of

      approaches to accessible design of mainstream products to advance

      understanding in this area.

    * Ensure that access to the Internet and other virtual environments is

      provided, as it has been to physical places of public accommodation.

    * Address new barriers to the accessibility of digital media caused by

      digital rights management, including when visual and audio rights are

      sold separately.

    * Base all policy regarding information and communication technology

      accessibility on a realization of the importance of the business case.

      Where a solid business case cannot be built based on market forces

      alone, create accessibility regulations and effective enforcement

      mechanisms that provide a clear profit advantage to those who comply and

      a disadvantage to those who do not.

    * Create accessibility laws and regulations that are not technology

      specific, but are based on the functions of a device.

    * Ensure that up-to-date information about accessible mainstream

      technology and assistive technology is available to and being used by

      the public.

    
"The policies we adopt today will determine whether the technology of

the future empowers people with disabilities, enabling them to work, learn,

communicate, shop, and live independent, productive lives as full and equal

members of society," Vaughn concluded.