The hottest Accessibility Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics

Hello AI Agents: Goodbye UI Design, RIP Accessibility

Jakob Nielsen on UX • 180 implied HN points • 21 Feb 25
🕹 Technology AI agents User Experience Web Design Automation Accessibility
  1. AI agents will change how we interact with the internet by doing tasks for us, making traditional user interfaces less important. Instead of users browsing websites, agents will handle everything, like shopping or booking trips.
  2. Accessibility might become less relevant as AI agents can adapt content for the individual needs of users with disabilities. These agents will tailor their actions and communication according to what each user prefers or requires.
  3. As AI agents become more capable, the way content is designed will shift. Websites may need to focus more on how agents can access and analyze information rather than on making things visually appealing for human users.

Note on Tonight's ATW Livestream: 8 pm ET, also on Substack

TK News by Matt Taibbi • 2227 implied HN points • 18 Nov 24
🎙 Podcasts Livestream Accessibility Media Content creation Audience engagement
  1. The show is trying new ways to make it easier for people to watch. They want to reach more viewers by streaming it on different platforms.
  2. The livestream will be available on X/Twitter and the Substack app, helping more people join in.
  3. Viewers will get an email notification when the show goes live, so they won’t miss it.
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Providing X-Rays, MRIs and CT Scans to Higher-Weight Patients

Weight and Healthcare • 479 implied HN points • 18 Mar 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Healthcare Patient Experience Accessibility Inclusivity Empathy
  1. Know the weight and size capacities of your equipment and facilities to provide better care to higher-weight patients.
  2. Understand the diverse needs of all patients and create protocols to ensure a positive experience for everyone, including those with disabilities and neurodivergence.
  3. Communicate openly and proactively with patients about accommodations, accessibility, and equipment capabilities to enhance their experience and educate them about available options.

Better Data Science: How To Design Visualizations that Work

Data at Depth • 79 implied HN points • 05 May 24
🕹 Technology Data science Visualization Accessibility Aesthetics Design principles
  1. Start with defining the function you want the audience to perform with the presented data before creating visualizations that support it
  2. Implement aspects like affordances, accessibility, and aesthetics to ensure your visualizations are clear, usable, and visually appealing for the audience
  3. Achieving acceptance of your data visualization involves following established design principles like direct labeling, thoughtful use of color, alignment, and the data-ink principle

Making Them Laugh, Making Them Think

Everything Is Amazing • 882 implied HN points • 16 Apr 23
🔬 Science Research Publication Awards Accessibility Communication
  1. Substack has launched a new feature called Notes, resembling Twitter but with a more positive tone.
  2. Legal language is often unnecessarily complex and difficult to read due to factors like jargon and convoluted sentence structures.
  3. The Ig Nobel Prizes celebrate quirky and humorous scientific research, shedding light on interesting discoveries with a touch of lightheartedness.

Democratization of Design

The Intersection • 138 implied HN points • 31 Jan 24
🪑 Design Digital Design AI Tools Design process Accessibility
  1. Design tools like Canva have democratized design, making it accessible to everyone, but the quality of design produced may not always meet professional standards.
  2. AI-powered design tools aim to streamline design processes, but they require a fundamental understanding of design to be used effectively.
  3. While tools like Canva have made design accessible to non-designers, the quality of work ultimately depends on the skills and capabilities of the individuals using the tools.

Disability & travel writing: a cocktail for discrimination?

Talking Travel Writing • 235 implied HN points • 05 Sep 23
🏝 Travel Accessibility Inclusivity Representation Challenges Awareness
  1. Mainstream media often overlooks accessible travel information, despite the significant number of people with disabilities and chronic illnesses who could benefit from it.
  2. Inclusive practices in the travel industry, like accommodating carers or partners of disabled travelers, can lead to enriching experiences and genuine representation.
  3. Challenges faced by disabled individuals in the travel writing industry, and the importance of raising awareness and creating a more inclusive environment.

AI With “Computer Use”: Agents, Accessibility Fix, Facilitating Usability Tests

Jakob Nielsen on UX • 27 implied HN points • 07 Nov 24
🕹 Technology AI User Experience Accessibility Automation Research Methods
  1. AI can now operate computers just like humans, which means it can click, type, and understand what’s on the screen. This makes using computers easier for everyone, especially for those who struggle with traditional interfaces.
  2. AI agents are expected to take over simple tasks for users, like booking hotels or managing reservations, making life more convenient. However, understanding personal preferences may take some time for AI to improve.
  3. AI's capability to watch and analyze user interactions can help conduct usability studies more effectively. This could lead to better products, as AI can help gather insights about how real users behave.

#18: Amtrak's Next Generation Trains Look Awesome

Bureau of Adventure • 3 HN points • 17 Aug 24
🏝 Travel Transportation Design Experience Accessibility
  1. Amtrak is introducing new long-distance trains that enhance the passenger experience. The new designs aim to improve comfort with better sleeping compartments and dining options.
  2. The new trains will have special lounges for first-class passengers. This means they will have a place to relax, get snacks, and enjoy drinks that coach passengers won't have.
  3. Accessibility is a big focus, allowing more people to enjoy train travel. The trains will include features like lifts to upper levels and wider aisles to make it easier for everyone.

Accessibility Has Failed: Try Generative UI = Individualized UX

Jakob Nielsen on UX • 89 implied HN points • 29 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Accessibility AI User Interface UX Design
  1. Traditional accessibility methods have not significantly improved computer usability for disabled users, prompting the need for a new approach like Generative UI for tailored user experiences.
  2. Accessibility has faced challenges due to high costs and ultimately creating a subpar user experience, especially for blind users with auditory interfaces.
  3. Supporting older and low-literacy users has been more successful with current methods, highlighting the importance of considering their needs alongside generative UI for wider user inclusivity.

#2 - How to make a good text field

A Good Interface • 79 implied HN points • 10 Aug 23
🕹 Technology Design User Interface Video Games Accessibility
  1. A good text field is displayed at the right time - only show it when needed, use alternatives like toggle switches or choice lists when possible.
  2. A good text field has clear label - make labels short, precise, and avoid overusing technical language.
  3. A good text field gives visual feedback - ensure visual cues like hover, active, focus states are properly incorporated to guide users.

How to become a Self-Driving Car Engineer in 2023

What's AI Newsletter by Louis-François Bouchard • 78 implied HN points • 11 Apr 23
🕹 Technology AI Automation Ethics Cybersecurity Accessibility
  1. To become a self-driving car engineer, leverage AI and automation to streamline workflows and boost productivity.
  2. Becoming a self-driving car engineer involves diving into the industry, understanding LiDAR technology, and debunking myths.
  3. Developing self-driving cars raises ethical concerns regarding safety, liability, data privacy, and accessibility, requiring collaboration across various stakeholders.

In Colorado: Wheelchair Repair Law Is Already Transforming Lives

Fight to Repair • 59 implied HN points • 13 Feb 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Accessibility Advocacy Legislation Mobility Rehabilitation
  1. In Colorado, a new wheelchair repair law is enabling individuals like Bruce and Robin to have greater control over their power wheelchair settings and functions, previously controlled exclusively by manufacturers.
  2. Access to programmer applications under the law is streamlining repairs for power wheelchair users in Colorado, providing quicker diagnosis and solutions for malfunctions.
  3. The success of the wheelchair repair law in Colorado has inspired interest in similar legislation in other states, with potential challenges and opportunities for the disability community in promoting repair rights.

A UXer's guide to neurodiversity

UX Psychology • 158 implied HN points • 13 May 22
🕹 Technology Design Neurodiversity Inclusion Accessibility User Experience
  1. Neurodiversity encompasses a wide range of neurological variations in the human population, emphasizing the positive aspects and uniqueness of different thinking styles and cognitive functions.
  2. When designing for neurodiversity, consider factors like font choice, error prevention, clear copywriting, sensory issues, and consistency in design to create inclusive user experiences.
  3. In the workplace, it's important to foster understanding and flexibility to support neurodiverse individuals, from adjusting hiring practices to creating accommodating work environments and providing education and resources.

Audit for Creating A Size-Inclusive Healthcare Office

Weight and Healthcare • 239 implied HN points • 18 Dec 21
🏥 Health & Wellness Body positivity Accessibility Equality
  1. Perform an audit to ensure a healthcare office is size-inclusive, considering the needs of individuals of all sizes and abilities.
  2. Regularly self-audit for any instances of potential weight-based discrimination and address them proactively.
  3. Provide accommodations like wide chairs, suitable medical equipment, and positive representations to support the health of diverse individuals.

Using :has() pseudo-class to style parent elements

Perspectiv | LAB • 2 HN points • 21 Jul 24
🕹 Technology Web Development CSS Accessibility Design Patterns
  1. The :has() pseudo-class in CSS lets you style a parent element based on its child elements. This means you can change how a parent looks if it has kids that meet certain criteria.
  2. One practical use is to display error messages more clearly. You can make a parent element look different, like changing colors, when there's an error message inside it.
  3. This technique also helps with accessibility. You can use it to highlight parent elements for users who may need visual signals, based on child elements with special attributes.

Using AI in education, Part 1

Solresol • 19 implied HN points • 12 Dec 23
🚌 Education AI Language Accessibility Translation Globalization
  1. Consider using AI for translating educational materials to make learning more accessible to students with different language backgrounds.
  2. Engaging students by providing educational content in their native language can improve their learning experience and motivation.
  3. Discuss the evolving importance of improving English fluency versus providing education in native languages to cater to global diversity.

Fried Egg Golf at the Meadow Club

Wigs on the Green • 19 implied HN points • 09 Nov 23
🎾 Sports Golf Culture Events Accessibility
  1. The event at the Meadow Club in Fairfax highlighted a positive shift towards accessibility in golf culture.
  2. Attending such exclusive golf events can lead to unexpected and enriching experiences, like networking with industry professionals.
  3. Events like Fried Egg Golf can play a role in reshaping golf culture to be more equitable and open to all.

The abstraction trap

Sunday Letters • 79 implied HN points • 08 May 22
🕹 Technology Software Design User Experience Accessibility Programming Abstraction
  1. Abstraction helps make complex things simpler, but not everyone understands it like tech people do. It's essential to remember that what seems easy to us can be quite confusing for others.
  2. When designing software, we should think about how users perceive it. Not all users will understand the technical thinking behind it, so we need to create a user-friendly experience.
  3. We have to be aware of our biases and design for those who find abstraction difficult. Gathering user feedback and constantly improving is key to making software accessible.

Retrofitting is part of accessibility

Andrew's Substack • 2 HN points • 18 Jul 24
🕹 Technology Accessibility App Development Bug Fixing
  1. It's best to build products with accessibility from the beginning to save costs and get better results.
  2. Making an app accessible later can be challenging and lead to a backlog of accessibility bugs.
  3. In the real world, retrofitting for accessibility may be necessary, and it's valuable to focus on educating teams, ensuring new developments are accessible, and tackling a subset of accessibility issues at a time.

What Even Is a Private Golf Club and Why Are Most So Difficult to Play?

Wigs on the Green • 4 HN points • 01 Mar 23
🎾 Sports Golf Events Accessibility
  1. Private golf clubs in the US operate under specific tax codes that restrict advertising and require revenue from members only.
  2. UK private golf clubs have more general tax-exempt rules, allowing them to accommodate visitors and non-members more freely.
  3. American private clubs can host occasional events for outsiders and benefit from the prestige of hosting tournaments.

Apple Tysons Corner: A new chapter

Tabletops • 2 HN points • 18 May 23
💼 Business Retail Customer Experience Sustainability Accessibility Design
  1. Apple Store at Tysons Corner underwent a comprehensive redesign, emphasizing the return of the Genius Bar and innovative product discovery spaces.
  2. Accessibility was a key focus, with lowered tables and widened aisles to enhance wheelchair accessibility, along with hearing loop systems for those hard of hearing.
  3. The store showcases fresh takes on traditional Apple Store features, such as Avenues and Apple Pickup, with new design elements like sustainable materials and updated layouts.

Hang Sơn Đoòng

Thái | Hacker | Kỹ sư tin tặc • 0 implied HN points • 11 Jul 17
🏝 Travel Exploration Sustainability Tourism Accessibility Debate
  1. Exploring Hang Sơn Đoòng in Phong Nha Kẻ Bàng National Park is a unique and awe-inspiring experience.
  2. Visiting Hang Sơn Đoòng makes one contemplate life's brevity and the importance of preserving natural wonders for future generations.
  3. The debate over accessibility to Hang Sơn Đoòng reflects a balance between promoting tourism for economic benefits and ensuring fair access for all individuals, including those with physical limitations.

[in case you missed it] Data Science Weekly - Issue 386

Data Science Weekly Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 18 Apr 21
🕹 Technology Data science Machine Learning AI Accessibility Visualization
  1. Chartability focuses on making data visuals more accessible for people with disabilities. It's about ensuring everyone can understand the information presented.
  2. Data observability is important as companies handle more data, helping them maintain data quality. This can prevent issues like missing or stale data from affecting business decisions.
  3. Using advanced learning techniques like Graph Neural Networks can improve how we process complex data structures. These techniques can reveal deeper insights into various systems.

Why progressive enhancement

Andrew's Substack • 0 implied HN points • 09 Oct 24
🕹 Technology Web Development Accessibility Performance Software Design User Experience
  1. Progressive enhancement means creating websites that work well without JavaScript first, and then adding more features for those who do have it. This approach helps make sites more accessible for everyone.
  2. Using native HTML elements in progressive enhancement leads to simpler code, which means less client-side state management and easier overall development.
  3. It often results in better performance since the browser handles more tasks. Less JavaScript code can lead to faster and more focused functionality in applications.

Understanding contrast ratio and accessibility

UX Psychology • 0 implied HN points • 14 Jan 22
🕹 Technology Accessibility Design User Interface
  1. Contrast ratio in design refers to how bright or dark colors appear on interfaces, impacting user perception and accessibility.
  2. Color blindness can affect how individuals perceive contrast, emphasizing the importance of designs that accommodate diverse visual needs.
  3. Adhering to WCAG guidelines for contrast ratios is crucial in ensuring accessibility for visually impaired users, but context and user-specific preferences should also be considered in design decisions.

invisible terminal

Kotobago Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 20 Sep 23
🕹 Technology Computing Accessibility Interfaces Storage
  1. Ubiquitous computing may not always involve augmented displays, but could include no display at all.
  2. Consider exploring how blind individuals use computers and the tools they use for programming.
  3. Blob storage can offer a modern alternative to conventional filesystem navigation by eliminating the need for creating folders.