The tech industry's accessibility report card for 2021

In spite of all the advancements we’ve seen in tech, the industry as a whole has consistently neglected people with disabilities. There have been some improvements, including video call apps like FaceTime, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Hangouts and more adding better support for sign language interpreters and closed captioning. And, this year, Instagram and TikTok finally added stickers that enable automated captioning for speech in videos, too. But major organizations continued to make decisions that exclude people with disabilities. The organizer of E3 2021, for example, failed its deaf and hard of hearing viewers during its live streamed show.There are too many individual transgressions and improvements to exhaustively detail here. Due to their sheer size, though, tech’s largest companies wield the greatest influence over what the rest of the industry does. By holding them accountable, we have a better chance of seeing widespread change in the way tech thinks about inclusive design. Here’s how Apple, Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Meta (formerly Facebook) and more did to improve the accessibility of their products and services in 2021.AppleApple has led the way in inclusive design for years, and in 2021 the company continued to launch new features that made its products easier for those with disabilities to use. In addition to updating its screen reader, VoiceOver, to enable better descriptions of images for the visually impaired, Apple also launched several new products.... Continue reading at 'Engadget'

[ Engadget | 2021-12-31 21:00:34 UTC ]
News tagged with: #back catalog #product design #growing commitment #kindle

Other Publishing stories related to: 'The tech industry's accessibility report card for 2021'


International book markets make 'significant' gains in first half of 2021

International book markets have made significant gains in the first half of 2021, defying the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, according to a survey carried out by charts and market research data supplier GfK Entertainment. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-08-24 00:32:33 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #coronavirus pandemic


AI startup Boomy looks to turn the music industry on its ear

Music publishers have been on a spending spree in recent years, buying the catalogs and copyrights for songs of famous musicians at a frantic pace. Last December, Universal Music Publishing Group bought up Bob Dylan’s entire discography in a deal estimated at more than $300 million. Similarly,... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2021-08-22 16:00:37 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #michael jackson #user base #moving forward #top line #youtube videos #copyright law


Amazon to open US department stores, WSJ reports

Amazon plans to open several large physical retail locations in the US that will operate like department stores, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-08-20 23:13:54 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #amazon plans #department stores


Apple's AirPods Pro fall to $180, plus the rest of the week's best tech deals

The internet was awash with tech deals this week, with some of the best coming from Apple and Amazon. Apple's AirPods Pro dropped to $180 while the MacBook Pro M1 received at $200 discount. Amazon kicked off its "off to college" sale by reducing the prices of its Echo speakers, including the... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2021-08-20 15:50:10 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #complete collection #wild hunt #two-year subscription #no-logs policy #account supports #connected devices #buying advice #kindle


This Week's Bestsellers: August 23, 2021

Tucker Carlson's latest, 'The Long Slide,' is #3 in the country. Plus four of the 10 bestselling books of the week are backlist TikTok favorites, and a biography of NBA superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo takes its shot. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-08-20 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #tucker carlson


Pandemic Missed Connections: August 19, 2021

In this fifth and final installment of our series, we asked editors to tell us about a book of theirs, published during the pandemic, that they wish had gotten more love. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-08-19 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #final installment #asked editors


Soaring June Sales Boost 2021 First Half Bookstore Sales

Bookstore sales skyrocketed 811% in June over a year ago, and finished the first half of 2021 with a 30% increase over the first six months of 2020. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-08-17 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #bookstore sales #bookstore


Travel publishers report sales uptick but warn it may take years to return to normal

Travel publishers have reported an uptick in sales in recent months as coronavirus restrictions have eased. However many warn it may be “years” until things return to normal, with some pivoting towards popular UK and activity-based guides.     Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-08-16 11:20:27 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #things return #travel publishers #recent months #coronavirus restrictions


Industry Notes: Guadalajara Publishers and Bookstore Honors in Barcelona

Industry Notes: In Mexico, seven independent publishers form an alliance, and Spain's Liber program honors the 100-year-old Balmes bookstore. The post Industry Notes: Guadalajara Publishers and Bookstore Honors in Barcelona appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-08-13 20:06:29 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #barcelona appeared #bookstore


Pointing out racism in books is not an ‘attack’ – it’s a call for industry reform | Monisha Rajesh

I was called aggressive for criticising passages in Kate Clanchy’s memoir. But the real problem lies deep in the overwhelmingly white world of publishingIt started with a tweet. Kate Clanchy, author of Some Kids I Taught and What They Taught Me posted on her Twitter account that a reviewer on... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2021-08-13 13:51:20 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #inhumane treatment #current president #philip pullman #ableist tropes #memoir #book published


Book Deals: Week of August 16, 2021

Leslie Jamison re-ups at Little, Brown; Simon & Schuster buys a book on Anne Frank; and more. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-08-13 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book deals #anne frank


This Week's Bestsellers: August 16, 2021

Among the hardcover fiction debuts are two August book club picks that delve into thorny relationships between women. Plus 'Black Boy Joy,' which our starred review called a "luminous middle grade anthology," lands on our children's fiction list, and manga continues its march toward bestseller... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-08-13 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #fiction list #manga #book club


Pandemic Missed Connections: August 12, 2021

In this fourth installment of our series, we asked editors to tell us about a book of theirs, published during the pandemic, that they wish had gotten more love. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-08-12 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #fourth installment #asked editors


Book industry figures condemn abuse of Clanchy critics in open letter

An open letter, signed by more than 150 figures from the book industry, has condemned the abuse suffered by Monisha Rajesh, Professor Sunny Singh and Chimene Suleyman following their criticisms of Kate Clanchy.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-08-11 17:31:27 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #open letter #book industry #kate clanchy


Book Club Picks for August 2021

The summer months may be slowly drawing to a close, but there are loads of books still to read. We’ve rounded up more than August book club selections, ranging from escapist fiction to deep dives into serious issues. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-08-10 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ve rounded #escapist fiction #deep dives #book club


Religion and Spirituality Bestsellers: July 2021

July bestsellers saw a return to favorite authors and titles. 'The Women of the Bible Speak' remained #1 in nonfiction. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-08-10 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #spirituality bestsellers #favorite authors #bible speak #remained #1


4 Takeaways From Top Publishers’ Earnings Reports This Week

Several dominant digital media publishers--BuzzFeed, Dotdash, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal--all disclosed the state of their financial health this past week, and taken together the findings reveal some of the key trends shaping the industry. While the four companies face... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2021-08-06 21:11:12 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #past week #top publishers #digital media


HarperCollins reports record profits as global revenue grows 19%

HarperCollins has reported “record profits”, with global revenues growing 19% in the financial year ending 30th June 2021, according to figures from parent firm News Corp.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-08-06 19:17:08 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Remembering the British Publishing Industry’s David Whitaker, ISBN Pioneer

Recalled as being opinionated, decisive, and difficult as well as insightful, innovative, and impressive, David Whitaker died on August 4. The post Remembering the British Publishing Industry’s David Whitaker, ISBN Pioneer appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-08-06 15:55:42 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #david whitaker #isbn #british publishing


Book Deals: Week of August 9, 2021

St. Martin’s picks up a new kids’ book from the duo behind the CreativeSoul Photography studio, Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie sell two to Morrow, and more. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-08-06 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book deals