Global Accessibility Awareness Day 2023: Tech Innovations for Inclusion

Accessibility advancements are thriving with Apple's assistive access and Google's visual Q&A, enhancing user experience for all.

### Global Accessibility Awareness Day 2023: Tech Innovations and Updates
* 🌍 Today marks the **12th Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD)**, a significant occasion for tech companies to announce **accessibility-related updates and features**.
* 📱 Apple leads the charge with its new Assistive Access feature, designed to **simplify the iOS interface for users with cognitive disabilities**, featuring **larger buttons and streamlined apps**.
* 🗣 Notable features of Assistive Access include an **emoji-only keyboard** and the ability to communicate through **video messages**, catering to users' preferences.
* 🧑 Apple also introduced **Live Speech and Personal Voice features**, allowing users to type messages that are spoken aloud during calls and enabling those at risk of losing their voice to create a **synthetic voice that resembles their own**.
* 🤖 Google announced its Visual Q&A feature as part of the Lookout app, allowing visually impaired users to **ask follow-up questions about images**, enhancing their **understanding of visual content**.
* 📄 Adobe revealed plans to automate PDF accessibility tagging, which will help **improve the usability of PDFs for those using screen readers**, although the **effectiveness of this tool remains to be seen**.
* 🎮 Sony's Project Leonardo has been renamed the Access Controller, aimed at providing **customizable gaming experiences for users with diverse accessibility needs**, though **pricing and release dates are still pending**.
* 💡 The conversation around accessibility continues to evolve, highlighting the **importance of inclusive design in technology** and the ongoing efforts of major companies to **address these critical needs**.

### Tech Updates: Accessibility, AI, and New Hardware Announcements
* 💻 The discussion begins with skepticism towards major tech companies, particularly Adobe and Intuit, highlighting concerns about their **societal impact and practices in America**.
* 📱 A question arises regarding a new iOS setting aimed at simplifying user experience, with the consensus being that it is an **opt-in feature** that requires **significant navigation to disable**.
* 👂 Samsung updates its Galaxy Buds 2 Pro, adding **two new levels of ambient sound control**, enhancing user experience for those who prefer to **hear their environment** while using the earbuds.
* 🎮 Xbox introduces new accessibility settings in its app for PC, including options to **disable background images and animations**, catering to users with **cognitive disabilities**.
* 🗣 WebEx collaborates with Voice IT to improve communication for individuals with speech impairments, implementing AI tools for **better captioning during calls**.
* 🧑 In a Senate hearing, Sam Altman of OpenAI advocates for AI regulation, presenting a **stark contrast to past tech leaders' evasiveness**, while also addressing the **urgent need for thoughtful regulation** in the rapidly evolving AI landscape.
* 💊 Google announces AI tools aimed at **accelerating drug discovery processes**, showcasing its commitment to **leveraging technology for advancements in healthcare**.
* 🎬 A new film titled "The Creator" is highlighted, centering on a war against AI, reflecting **current societal concerns** regarding the implications of artificial intelligence.

### The Rise and Fall of Blackberry: Insights from Recent Tech Events
* 🎙 The podcast discusses the implications of podcast exclusivity, highlighting how platforms like Spotify **lock content** and how the New York Times is navigating this with **exclusive shows** while keeping others **accessible**.
* 🔍 Microsoft Build is on the horizon, with anticipation building around **numerous leaks and potential announcements**, indicating a **busy week ahead** for tech news.
* 📺 Charlotte shares her experience at Google I/O, particularly her impressions of **Project Starline**, a holographic video call technology that aims to **enhance remote communication**.
* 📱 The discussion shifts to the Blackberry movie, detailing the **rise of the Blackberry phone** and its **eventual decline**, with insights into the film's portrayal of key figures like **Mike Lazaridis** and **Jim Balsillie**.
* 🎬 The movie captures the essence of Blackberry's innovation, including the introduction of **BlackBerry Messenger**, and how it struggled to adapt to the smartphone revolution represented by the **iPhone**.
* 🎮 The hosts also touch on the release of "**The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom**," sharing their **initial experiences and thoughts** on its gameplay mechanics and challenges.
* 💻 The conversation wraps up with a call for listener engagement, encouraging **feedback on tech products and upcoming events**, while also acknowledging the **nostalgia surrounding Blackberry's legacy**.

How Apple and Google are highlighting accessibility | Engadget Podcast

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Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) 2023 is highlighting the importance of accessibility, with major companies like Apple, Google, and Adobe making significant announcements.

Apple's assistive access is a key focus, as the company has consistently led in providing accessibility-oriented updates.

The event marks its 12th year, with tech companies increasingly using this day to announce their commitment to accessibility.

Apple's Assistive Access and New Features

Apple has introduced Assistive Access, a new feature in iOS and iPadOS, aimed at simplifying the interface for users with cognitive disabilities.

The feature offers a two-by-three layout with larger buttons, fonts, and streamlined apps, allowing users to focus on specific contacts and communication methods.

Additionally, Apple announced Live Speech and Personal Voice, which provide users with the ability to type and have their words spoken aloud during calls, and to record phrases to recreate a familiar voice, respectively.

Apple's and Google's AI Innovations for Accessibility

Apple has been focusing on AI for computer vision and photo-related tasks, with recent updates for accessibility products.

Google's new Visual Q&A feature uses generative AI to assist visually impaired users by providing image descriptions and allowing follow-up questions for more detail.

Both companies are expanding their accessibility features, with Apple's Point and Speak in Detection Mode offering personalized assistance for users with visual impairments.

Enhancing Accessibility Through Technology

A new feature is being developed to read out text and provide guidance on appliance usage, benefiting not only the visually impaired but also anyone struggling with small fonts.

Apple's approach to augmented reality and eyewear with cameras aims to provide real-time assistance in reading and navigating tasks.

Google's live caption feature is expanding to more languages and will globally offer crowdsourced accessibility information for places by the end of the year, while also exploring the potential of generative AI to improve accessibility solutions.

Adobe's New AI for PDF Accessibility and Sony's Access Controller

Adobe announced an AI tool to automate adding accessibility tags to PDF documents, aiming to help visually impaired users navigate more effectively.

The tool will be available through an API and in Acrobat Pro and Reader by June, potentially streamlining the process of tagging old documents.

Sony's Access Controller, designed for users with diverse accessibility needs, offers customizable button placements and analog stick caps, but a release date and pricing are still pending.

Big tech companies are facing criticism for their negative impact on society, with Intuit's tax practices being a notable example.

Apple's new iOS setting for simplification is opt-in, requiring significant menu navigation to turn off.

Samsung and Xbox have introduced small updates for accessibility, while WebEx is partnering with Voice IT to provide better captioning for individuals with speech impairments.

Microsoft's Acquisition of Nuance and AI Regulation

Microsoft's acquisition of Nuance, the maker of Dragon Naturally Speaking, is significant for the company's push towards AI-driven personal assistants.

Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, is actively seeking regulation for the AI industry, contrasting with the evasive approach of other tech leaders.

The ongoing need for inclusive design and accessibility in tech is emphasized as a continuous effort, not just a seasonal focus.

The Impact of AI Technology and Regulation

AI technology, particularly in language translation and lip-matching, raises concerns about its potential for misuse, such as deepfakes.

The race for AI dominance mirrors the historical race for the nuclear bomb, with fears of its impact on global power dynamics.

Google's AI tools are aiming to revolutionize drug discovery, while the film "The Creator" explores the theme of a war against AI.

The Creator, directed by Gareth Edwards, depicts a war between humanity and AI after a nuclear bomb is dropped in Los Angeles.

The film's unique twist involves a child AI that needs protection, set against a backdrop of large-scale action.

Amazon also announced new Echo hardware, including affordable Echo Buds and a new product, the Echo Pop, as part of their strategy to make Alexa more accessible.

Montana's TikTok Ban and iPhone-Windows 11 Syncing

Montana's governor has signed a bill banning TikTok in the state, set to take effect in 2024, with the company facing daily fines for non-compliance.

The ban has raised questions about enforcement and its impact on users.

Meanwhile, Microsoft's phone link iOS app for Windows 11 is now available, aiming to sync iPhone messages and notifications with Windows desktops.

Busy Week of Tech Announcements and Events

The week has been hectic with several notable tech announcements, including WhatsApp's new privacy feature and Instagram allowing GIF comments.

Uber is rolling out teen accounts and offering a toll-free phone number for rides.

The New York Times is launching a standalone app for audio journalism, aiming to provide exclusive podcast shows for users.

Holographic systems are being compared to life-size screens, with the discussion focusing on their necessity and impact.

Project Ghost's furniture-first concept is praised for its comfortable environment, while Google's aggressive technology raises questions about its long-term viability.

The conversation also touches on the challenges of Google's internal culture and its impact on product sustainability, alongside a review of the Beats Studio Buds Plus as a more affordable alternative to the AirPods Pro 2.

The speaker trusts the AirPods Pro 2 enough to buy them again and appreciates Apple's support for privacy.

They discuss the Blackberry movie, which portrays the rise and fall of the company and its founders, Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie.

The film's compelling storytelling and strong acting, particularly by Glenn Howerton and Jay Baruchel, make it a significant portrayal of Blackberry's impact on the mobile market.

The movie effectively portrays the genius work of Lazaridis in shrinking devices and maximizing network efficiency.

It highlights the introduction of BlackBerry Messenger as a game-changer for free and instant texting.

The pivotal scene of watching the iPhone keynote foreshadows BlackBerry's decline, while the irony of the company's future in China adds a poetic twist to the story.

Review of Recent Media: Blackberry Movie and Zelda Game

The Blackberry movie has a shaky camera style in the first 15 minutes, but the rest of the film improves visually.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is now fully released, offering a challenging and unique gameplay experience.

The game features overwhelming building systems and a power that allows players to rise through ceilings, showcasing Nintendo's unconventional approach to game design.

Discussion on Tech Topics and Audience Engagement

The conversation touched on various tech-related issues, including Amazon's environmental impact and the need for regulation.

There was a strong audience engagement, with comments on BlackBerry nostalgia and the potential for the Activision deal to go through.

The discussion also included the Pixel Fold's unique features and the possibility of running Graphene OS on it.