I believe one of the core responsibilities of interaction designers is to create technology/products that are accessible and intuitive for everyone. I found Cathy Wolf’s story inspiring in demonstrating how important technology can evolve to fit the needs of people. The development of a communication system controlled by eyebrow movements shows how technology can empower individuals with severe physical limitations. Even when her physical abilities declined because of ALS, technology and its design allowed her to continue working in the human-computer interaction field and remain connected with the world.
It was fascinating to learn that people created widespread things like emails, electric toothbrushes, audiobooks, and closed captioning to help those with disabilities, driven by concern for their loved ones who faced challenges. This makes me realize that designing for accessibility is beneficial not only to consumers with disabilities but also to the entire community, enriching the experience for everyone involved.
To fulfill this responsibility of making what we design available to everyone, the first step might be to stop assuming that everyone interacts with technology in the same way we do. Diversity in abilities, experiences, and preferences should guide our design decisions. By putting ourselves in the shoes of our users, we get valuable insights into the potential problems they might face. This empathetic approach, which is also the first phase in the design thinking process, allows us to design interfaces that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also functional for everyone. The one-size-fits-all philosophy and ‘designing for the majority’ ideology are far behind us. With the advanced technology we have now, I think it is the perfect time to design accessible interactions for everyone.
