Accessible Technology for People with DisabilitiesEve AnderssonManager, Accessibility Engineering

From Exclusion to EmpowermentUNESCO International ConferenceNew DelhiNovember 2014

Google's mission is to organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful.

1. Platforms

Android

TalkBack

• Built-in screen reader on Android phones/tablets

• Hear spoken output• Explore and interact with device by touch

• Helps people who are blind or text-impaired

BrailleBack

• Free app• Combined speech/braille experience• Pairs with various refreshable braille displays

• Helps people who are blind

Magnification

• Built-in zoom & large text options• Helps people with low vision

Captions

• Specify options (language, text, and style) for closed captioning

• Helps people with hearing impairment

Switch Access

• Allows control of device with hardware switch• Helps people who have mobility impairment

Just Speak (Beta)

• Accessibility service to launch applications and activate on-screen controls via spoken command

• Helps people who have mobility impairment

Open Platform

3rd parties can build their own services for Android using Accessibility APIs and other APIs. Example:

Chrome OS

Chrome OS Accessibility Features

● Make the cursor bigger (so it's more visible on the screen)● Turn on high contrast mode (makes the screen easier to read)● Turn on spoken feedback (describes what is happening on the

screen)● Turn on sticky keys (allows shortcut keys to be typed in sequence,

without pressing modifier keys at the same time)● Turn on the screen magnifier (enlarges items on the screen)● Automatically click when the cursor stops (click without using your

mouse)● Turn on the on-screen keyboard (shows a keyboard that can be

clicked with a mouse)● Support for refreshable braille displays

Glass

A Few Glass Features

• Front-facing Camera• Accelerometer• Spoken input/output• Runs on Android

2. Products

YouTube

Automatic Captioning

Transcript Synchronization

Hangouts

Real-time Captions

• Live transcription through StreamText• Local transcription from inside the Hangout

Sign Language Interpreter Mode

Keyboard Shortcuts

Helpouts

Docs and Drive

Docs and Drive

• Improved screen reader support• Support for braille displays• Keyboard accessibility• Zoom support• High-contrast mode improvements

Classroom

Many More Products & Features

www.google.com/accessibility

3. Programs

Research Grants

• Semi-annual application cycle (next: April 15)• Up to $150k• Assigned a Google sponsor

Google for Nonprofits

Google for Education

Thank You

www.google.com/accessibility