Today’s computer users with disabilities can use their PCs with greater ease through various aids: text-to-speech, closed captioning, and mouth sticks, to name a few. Artificial intelligence adds more capabilities to PCs, making them even easier to use.
- What Is AI-Powered Accessibility?
- How AI Improves Computer Accessibility for People with Disabilities
- The Benefits of AI for People with Disabilities
- Future Trends: How AI Will Shape Assistive Technology
What Is AI-Powered Accessibility?
Artificial Intelligence or AI are computer systems designed to mimic human intelligence: language comprehension, image recognition, problem-solving, and process improvement. Thanks to subsets like Machine Learning and Deep Learning, AI computers continue to improve without explicit programming.
“Computer accessibility” is a general term for hardware and software enabling people with disabilities to use their electronic devices with minimal issues. Examples range from specialized keyboards and mice to text-to-speech and keyboard shortcut programs.
Accessible computing, assistive technology, and a11y are other terms for computer accessibility. Computer usability, which is sometimes used for accessibility, is not the same thing. Instead, usability measures how easily (or not) a feature can be operated by a user without any assistive aids. Drop-down menus are examples of computer usability.
How AI Improves Computer Accessibility for People with Disabilities
As previously mentioned, computer accessibility can be achieved through hardware and software aids. AI works strictly with the latter, running on computers like a medical AI box PC.
Some of the assistive software they bolster include:
AI and Screen Readers: Enhancing Text-to-Speech Technology
People who are blind or have vision impairments use screen readers and similar text-to-speech software to find, interpret, and audibly read text displayed on their screens. AI ensures the accuracy of the material, especially context. It may also translate foreign languages into the user’s desired language before reading them aloud.
Facial Recognition and Lip-Reading: AI for the Visually Impaired
Another aid for people with low vision or blindness is AI-based facial recognition software, which can describe people’s identities on the screen, such as friends, family members, blocked profiles, etc. Beyond recognition, AI can provide audio descriptions of those people’s emotions expressed during real-time chats. Lip-reading through Deep Learning can also convert an image’s lip movements into text or audio.
Alt Text Generation: Making Digital Content More Accessible
Writing the alternative text descriptions, or alt text, read by screen readers and similar software can be time-consuming for webpage developers. AI can take over the task, automatically generating the descriptions based on its scans of the images and video.
Today’s AIs can analyze and summarize large amounts of complex information, such as comprehensive health records or CHR. Such summaries can also be helpful for people with cognitive impairments or learning disabilities.
Voice Command and Dictation: Hands-Free Computing for Mobility Impairments
People with mobility issues can navigate their PC and its numerous features using voice commands. Example: writing messages and letters through dictation software. AI can make the process easier and faster by using predictive text to suggest word(s) in real time.
AI-enhanced assistance can be expanded to include the user’s home, making it into a smart room. Voice commands allow users to turn on/off lights, control the home’s HVAC, and direct security cameras, to name a few. Many of these actions can be automated at the user’s discretion.
The Benefits of AI for People with Disabilities
Assistive technologies were developed to aid people with disabilities live independently and participate actively in society. AI contributes to that goal by providing:
- A means to create equal opportunities and inclusive work environments regardless of the employees’ abilities.
- Access to online features and services allows people of all abilities to participate fully and equally as netizens.
- The breakdown of language barriers, including non-spoken ones like sign language, aids people in communicating over shared tasks and interests.
- Personalized tools to accomplish personal and societal goals, from finding work to voting as an independent person.
Future Trends: How AI Will Shape Assistive Technology
Artificial intelligence is a recent development, and its use in assistive technology is still being explored. The following are just some of the innovations being examined or are in the works.
- Personalized assistive technologies: AI subsets like Machine Learning and Natural Language Processing tailor accessibility aids that meet each person’s unique requirements.
- Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality: AR and VR headsets are adapted with assistive technologies, allowing people with disabilities to experience the unique sensory experiences of those realities.
- Mobile devices and wearables: Devices like watches and tablets can be controlled through voice commands and gesture-based technologies.
Cybernet’s AI Solutions for Computer Accessibility
People with disabilities face many challenges in today’s high-tech world. Thankfully, that same technology provides solutions through computer accessibility, like text-to-speech tools. Artificial intelligence expands tools, making it even easier for users to lead independent lives as productive members of society.
Contact the team at Cybernet Manufacturing if your company handles computer accessibility and is looking for AI PCs. Our team members are knowledgeable and will happily cover how our healthcare, industrial, and enterprise computer lineups provide the right AI solutions to meet your wants and needs.