Special Contribution: Visiting the Accessibility Discovery Centre (ADC)

As a supplement to my Column titled ‘ European Accessibility Act: Promoting Inclusive Customer Experiences ’, and based on observed initiatives during my business trips to Europe, I am contributing the following article on accessibility/inclusivity.

When in the UK, I had the privilege of visiting Google’s London-based Accessibility Discovery Centre (ADC) - a hub dedicated to promoting and advancing digital accessibility and inclusivity. Located on the fifth floor of Google’s UK head office in the bustling King’s Cross/St. Pancras area, the ADC stands as a beacon of advocacy and innovation - with the goal of both sharing insights and shaping the future of digital interactions across diverse communities.

Hans Zimmermann, ADC Coordinator, was to be my knowledgeable, passionate, and charitable host for the tour. Upon entering the Centre, the first, outside the U.S, I was greeted by a profound sense of purpose and commitment in both Hans’ words and the design of the center itself. Divided into two principal areas - a Workshop and Research Lab zone, and an Assistive Technology demonstration zone - the space itself was thoughtfully designed with inclusivity in mind, even down to tactile ADC signage.

Regarding the signage, Hans mentioned that when initially positioned it was too large to be fully accessible so an additional, replica tactile sign on a much smaller scale was produced and affixed to the wall. When introducing this anecdote, Hans mentioned the words “progress over perfection” and “putting awareness into action,” these words truly resonated and highlight the iterative approaches to ensuring accessibility and inclusion.

The ergonomic layouts of the Workshop and Research Lab zone featured spaces for collaboration and co-design with accessibility-related communities - such as academics, industry, and advocacy groups - as well as whiteboards posing questions such as “how would you navigate your computer without using your fingers or hands?” and “what features of your phone might be most important if you could not hear?” The area was also home to a braille Lego set , a braille edition of Harry Potter, as well as diversity-related awards.

Underscoring the center's ethos of accessibility as a fundamental human right, the Workshop space set the stage for an even more immersive learning experience in the Assistive Technology demonstration zone.

On one side, there were several workstations, each devoted to various assistive technologies. The first, demonstrated Vision-related technologies, including a Braille reader.

Next, was a Hearing-related workstation in which multiple assistive technologies were situated. One example was live transcription of a news video. Another consisted of an LED lamp connected to Google Home’s matter-enabled devices for the purpose of visually indication, through colored illumination, of sound-only events - such as a baby crying or a doorbell ringing.

The final workstation was dedicated to Dexterity & Cognition. During my time looking at the stations, I was introduced to a number of technologies such ChromeVox - a built-in screen reader for Chromebooks, TalkBack - an accessibility feature that assists the visually impaired interact with their Android devices using touch and spoken feedback, Apple’s Live Speech , CoughDrop , and Google’s Look to Speak .

The center also displayed various other experiential tools and assistive devices, including a steady spoon , an Eone Bradley tactile watch , and a vibrating alarm clock.

Each workstation illustrated the transformative impact of accessible technology on daily living. Witnessing firsthand how these innovations empower individuals with diverse abilities reaffirmed the profound significance of inclusive design in fostering independence and equal participation.

Opposite from the workstations was the ADC Arcade - this consisted of 3 workstations demonstrating the role of assistive technology in gaming. The first was computer that facilitated the playing of a soccer game with a chin joystick and finger switches. Through placing their chin on adapted joystick and moving their head in their desired direction, users could maneuver players.

The next station demonstrated a game playing through use of a head switch. The final computer facilitated the playing of car-racing game Dirt Five via the use of eye-tracking technology. Users controlled the car by moving the focus of their eyes - up for accelerate, left and right for steering, downward for braking/reverse. At first, adjusting to such controls was very difficult ... and I was roundly beaten by Hans.

Reflecting on my visit, I’m inspired by the collective efforts to remove barriers and herald a more inclusive digital future. The Centre truly highlights the importance of empathy, innovation, and collaboration in partnership with the power of technology in creating a world where everyone can thrive. Armed with newfound knowledge and a renewed commitment to accessibility, I look forward supporting inclusivity through my professional endeavors and beyond. For further information on the above or more general accessibility-related enquiries, please do not hesitate to be in contact.