The tech industry still has a long way to go when it comes to accessibility

As many in the accessibility community will tell you, inclusive design isn’t an endeavor that’s “one and done.” It’s a continuous, ongoing effort to ensure that as new products and services are made, people with different needs or disabilities aren’t left out. Over the last three years, Engadget has produced a report, in addition to our regular coverage, that looks back on the developments in the tech industry that impact the accessibility community, focusing on the largest companies like Apple, Amazon, Google, Microsoft and Meta. Of course, there are plenty of other big companies to consider, like Uber, Airbnb, Netflix and more. But the six we’ve selected have an outsized impact and influence on the industry..Last year, we saw significant developments that could pave the way for more accessible designs in future, such as the opening of Microsoft’s Inclusive Tech Lab. In October, the University of Illinois (UIUC) partnered with Amazon, Apple, Google, Meta and Microsoft on a Speech Accessibility Project to improve voice recognition for those with atypical speech patterns that AI algorithms rarely consider. But there were also major setbacks, such as Elon Musk dismantling the accessibility team at Twitter, amid everything else that happened in that hellhole.All around the industry, we saw pieces of news that showed greater interest overall in accessible products and design. According to LinkedIn’s vice president of engineering, Erran Berger, there has been a 33 percent... Continue reading at 'Engadget'

[ Engadget | 2023-01-16 15:00:07 UTC ]
News tagged with: #mainstream audience #apple books

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Year-End Russian Book Publishing Industry Assessment: ‘Seriously Difficult’

The downturn in print book sales in Russia may have been as deep as between 50 and 70 percent, according to editor Svetlana Zorin. The post Year-End Russian Book Publishing Industry Assessment: ‘Seriously Difficult’ appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-01-04 14:35:09 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #print book #russian book


The (wonderful, life-saving) Libby app is becoming more accessible.

The Libby app came into my life early in the pandemic, when in-person trips to the library weren’t possible and indie bookstores were up against massive USPS delays. The app—which allows users to instantly borrow ebooks from their local libraries—was an incredible gift. Twenty-two months, one... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2022-01-03 17:41:14 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #libby app #indie bookstores #ebooks


Tech that can help you stick to your New Year’s resolutions

Regardless of how 2021 went for you, 2022 is another chance for all of us to make the new year better than those that came before it. We set New Year’s resolutions with the best of intentions, but it’s no wonder that so many people fail after just a few weeks – old habits die hard. Just as it’s... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2022-01-01 14:34:42 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #kindle unlimited #audiobook lovers #local bookstore #people recognize #8-inch display #battery life #wireless earbuds #file types #bookstore #audiobook #kindle #cookbook


Apple's latest AirPods drop to $140, plus the rest of the week's best tech deals

With Christmas right around the corner, now's the time to make sure you have all your gifts in check and grab any last-minute holiday gifts you may need. Thankfully, there remain a good number of tech deals available, and a good portion of them are still slated to arrive before the holiday if... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2021-12-17 16:45:01 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #echo dot #compact design #google assistant #product page #early january #music service #extra perks #buying advice #kindle


Creative Access data shows sharp decline in financial stability for publishing staffers

Creative Access has released research to coincide with its 10-year anniversary, revealing the disproportionate impact of Covid-19 on people from under-represented groups in publishing, including a sharp decline in financial stability. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-12-17 03:20:02 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #creative access #10-year anniversary #disproportionate impact #under-represented groups #sharp decline


Snap, Nielsen: Snap Ads Drive Double the ROI for CPGs vs. Industry Benchmarks

Snap Inc. commissioned two analyses from Nielsen to help it quantify sales driven by ads on the Snapchat platform for advertisers in the consumer packaged goods and beauty categories in the U.S. The company said in a blog post that advertisers are turning to measurement strategy market mix... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2021-12-16 22:30:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #nielsen


Bookstat: Ellis scales the chart at long last

J R Ellis’ Murder at St Anne’s (Thomas & Mercer) has clocked in as the Bookstat e-book number one for the week ending 11th December, marking the author’s first number one in the chart. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-12-15 10:37:54 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #e-book


Apple's second-gen AirPods drop to $100, plus the rest of the week's best tech deals

If you're still on the hunt for good tech gifts to give this year, you still have time to grab some that will arrive before the holidays. Apple's second-generation AirPods are on sale again for $100, while the Fitbit Charge 5 fitness tracker is back down to $130. Both Amazon's Kindle and a few... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2021-12-10 16:45:43 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #compact design #tap-to-snooze feature #google assistant #favorite vpns #two-year subscription #no-logs policy #wide range #music services #rechargeable battery #buying advice #kindle


Open Access: Germany’s Knowledge Unlatched Acquired by Wiley

Announcing its acquisition of Knowledge Unlatched, Wiley stresses the need to simplify open-access transactions for both libraries and publishers. The post Open Access: Germany’s Knowledge Unlatched Acquired by Wiley appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-12-03 04:15:48 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #open access #knowledge unlatched #libraries


The Open Access Race: Springer Nature Announces One Million Articles

Saying 34 percent of all its articles and 16 percent of its primary research is published under open access, Springer Nature proclaims leadership in the field. The post The Open Access Race: Springer Nature Announces One Million Articles appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-12-02 14:38:35 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #open access #springer nature


The best Cyber Monday tech deals you can get for under $50

Maybe you've crossed all of the big items off your gift list for the year, but you're still on the lookout for stocking stuffers that aren't the typical picks. There are plenty of options in the tech space that are both small and affordable, and Cyber Monday deals have made a good number of them... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2021-11-29 18:00:23 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #prime video #totally wireless #motion alerts #temperature monitoring #companion app #deals homepage #@engadgetdeals #products recommended #editorial team #affiliate commission #kindle


The best Black Friday tech deals we could find

It's officially Black Friday and that means if you didn't snatch up any of the early deals that came and went earlier this month, now's the time to shop. Despite kicking off the holiday season (unbearably) early this year with a deluge of deals, retailers are still have some compelling Black... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2021-11-26 11:15:21 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #apps plan #monthly charge #first-time customers #creative fields #returning customers #sleep stories #stress management #$5/monthget #@engadgetdeals #products recommended #editorial team #affiliate commission #kindle


The best Black Friday tech deals that are already available

While we've had weeks of early Black Friday deals already, Thanksgiving has brought additional sales, some of which we expect to continue through Black Friday proper. This has been a trend for the past few years — if you happen to be online and searching for Black Friday deals a few hours before... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2021-11-25 21:15:26 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #apps plan #monthly charge #first-time customers #creative fields #returning customers #sleep stories #stress management #$5/monthget #deals homepage #@engadgetdeals #products recommended #editorial team #affiliate commission #kindle


Small supply chain changes can green up the industry, key players say

Key high street retailers, printing companies and publishers are enacting changes in their supply chains to reduce their carbon footprint, delegates at the The Bookseller's FutureBook conference heard.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-11-22 08:54:37 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #key players #printing companies #supply chains #carbon footprint


Publishing industry 'needs to collaborate' to improve sustainability

The publishing industry needs to collaborate in order to improve its sustainability, because the size of the challenge is “so enormous” FutureBook audiences were told today.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-11-20 06:42:09 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publishing industry


Industry must innovate and look outside London, FutureBook told

The industry must source talent in innovative ways and focus on hiring differently and looking outside London if any tangible progress is to be made on representation, The Bookseller’s FutureBook Conference heard. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-11-20 01:33:30 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #futurebook told #innovative ways


'Revamp marketing and publicity’, Gay and Uviebinené urge industry

Publishers and industry "gatekeepers" need to rethink and “revamp” the way they market books, authors Roxane Gay and Elizabeth Uviebinené have said. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-11-19 17:39:30 UTC ]
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Bose's QuietComfort 45 headphones drop to $279, plus the rest of the week's best tech deals

We're officially one week out from Black Friday and it seems most retailers have launched at least a portion of their deals and sales already. You can find the exhaustive list on our deals homepage, but we've gathered the highlights here. Bose's new QuietComfort 45 headphones remain on sale for... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2021-11-19 16:45:10 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #popular programs #normal rate #no-logs policy #connected devices #@engadgetdeals #products recommended #editorial team #affiliate commission #kindle


Amazon's data capture changed industry like never before, FutureBook told

Amazon has changed the publishing ecosystem more than anything else due to its “proprietary” capturing of data, FutureBook delegates have been told.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-11-19 15:38:24 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #futurebook told #publishing ecosystem


Podcasters on sharing industry knowhow

A number of those working within the publishing industry are turning to podcasts to demystify the trade and share their career advice. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-11-12 11:00:36 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publishing industry