Whether you’re creating services, physical products, or software, inclusive design is essential. Inclusive design means making products accessible to, and usable by, as many people as possible. Voice user interfaces (VUIs) are a terrific tool for accomplishing this goal.
Using Voice Interfaces to Make Products More Inclusive
Whether you’re creating services, physical products, or software, making products accessible to, and usable by, as many people as possible is essential. Voice user interfaces (VUIs) are a terrific tool for accomplishing this goal. An estimated 62 million people in the U.S. have motor or mobility impairments. VUIs are now available on hundreds of millions of devices, and are already being used to assist people with managing communication such as emails and texting, and controlling home devices. It’s not just about physical impairments, however. For people with dementia, voice assistants are a non-judgmental way to help with medication reminders, as well as with answering the same questions over and over without having to ask their caregiver. The benefits of voice technology and inclusive designs, however, make sense for everyone. Many of us experience temporary impairments. For example, someone carrying groceries (or a baby), who is temporarily unable to use their hands, or whose speech is impaired during a heavy cold or flu, can be aided by voice-enabled AI. Even something as simple as forgetting your reading glasses can mean you can’t read your phone; being able to use voice in these cases can really make a difference. Voice technology truly can help all of us.