The speed with which new technologies have been implemented into our daily lives is incredible. If you had asked someone 15 years ago “do you think you will ever control the lights and heating in your home from your phone?” they probably would have said “no, that’s crazy!”. But here we are in 2018 and most us all have a home assistant sitting in our living rooms or kitchens that can do exactly that.
The Introduction
Accessibility plays a huge role in UX design. How it works and what feels the most natural are crucial things to consider. Many devices have been made accessible so that they can cater to visual impairments, deafness/hard of hearing or to help people with other disabilities to still get the full experience of using a device or even help them with their daily activities.
To address this topic, Mobile UX London is hosting a meet up next month covering different aspects of accessibility in UX, hosted at Oracle’s office in Moorgate. Join us for some exciting talks on how we can make a service that is accessible to all, no matter their digital skills or disabilities.
No-one Should Be Left Behind
With all of this amazing technology evolving, the older generation are at risk of being left behind. Although they may think it’s full of great ideas, they don’t understand how to use these devices simply because they weren’t brought up with it or they’re cautious of change. We have to look at the mindset of slower adopters to new technology. Think of the saying “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!” – why should I replace my usual TV with a smart TV that has all the special features? We need to explain the benefits that newer technologies can bring. For instance, there are devices out there that can help with memory loss or give reminders to take medications. All of these things could prove very beneficial for the older generation.
The Low Down
Designers and Developers are mastering how to make their products accessible but there is always more to learn about how the user will use the device. One of the problems faced is how to keep a user engaged when existing products are too complicated or too unique for slow adopters to get to grips with. Taking into account the different needs of each user is also becoming increasingly complex as more and more people take up new technologies. This is made even more difficult when designers and developers may not be fully aware of the needs of all users. This includes the older generations and those with disabilities. That is why our May meet-up is themed on accessibility in UX and how we can start to address these challenges.
The meet-up will be on the 15 May at Oracles offices in Moorgate. To find out more and sign up, click here