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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Industry Notes: IPA Election Results; McIntosh Combines Crown and Random House

In organizational and corporate changes this month, the International Publishers Association's elections refresh committees while Penguin Random House US repositions Crown Publishing. The post Industry Notes: IPA Election Results; McIntosh Combines Crown and Random House appeared first on... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-10-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Minnesota Business Magazine To Cease Operations | Industry Notes

Minnesota Business Magazine Shutters Minnesota Business magazine announced that its November/December edition will be its final issue before ceasing operations. According to a reported statement by executive editor Megan Effertz in Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal, the publication’s nine... Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2018-10-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #productive people


Heads roll at 'Cosmopolitan' amid the magazine industry roller coaster

If bloodletting in the magazine industry seems to come in waves, that might be because it does. Last week, Hearst Magazines axed some three dozen staffers, including Michele Promaulayko,... To view the full story, click the title link. Continue reading at Crains New York

[ Crains New York | 2018-10-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #heads roll #magazine industry #dozen staffers


Heads roll at 'Cosmopolitan' amid the magazine industry rollercoaster

If bloodletting in the magazine industry seems to come in waves, that might be because it does. Last week, Hearst Magazines axed some three dozen staffers, including Michele Promaulayko,... To view the full story, click the title link. Continue reading at Crains New York

[ Crains New York | 2018-10-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #heads roll #magazine industry #dozen staffers


Kobo's audiobooks are now accessible through CarPlay

Kobo has been slinging ebooks for years now, but it's still pretty new to the whole audiobook craze -- the Canadian company (and Rakuten subsidiary) only added spoken-word content to its catalog about a year ago. Thankfully, Kobo recently made it a... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2018-10-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #canadian company


Industry Notes: Richard Charkin Opens Mensch Publishing; LBF Opens Award Submissions

Two items from London: Publishing Perspectives columnist Richard Charkin announces a new publishing venture, and London Book Fair opens submissions for its 2019 International Excellence Awards. The post Industry Notes: Richard Charkin Opens Mensch Publishing; LBF Opens Award Submissions appeared... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-10-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publishing venture


The Frankfurt Book Fair and France’s Literary Season Address Accessibility Issues

Frankfurt Book Fair and Technische Universität Darmstadt have teamed up on accessibility studies, and France's 'Literary Season for All' is bigger than ever, in its sixth year. The post The Frankfurt Book Fair and France’s Literary Season Address Accessibility Issues appeared first on Publishing... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-10-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Industry Notes: Man Booker’s Shortlisted Authors, London Book Fair’s Literacy Charity

The Man Booker Prize for Fiction (October 16) is preceded by a series of events with shortlisted authors, and London Book Fair has opened its search for its official 2019 literacy charity. The post Industry Notes: Man Booker’s Shortlisted Authors, London Book Fair’s Literacy Charity appeared... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-10-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #man booker #shortlisted authors #literacy charity


Industry Notes: Marrakesh Treaty; Bologna Carle Award; Kids’ Black Detectives in the UK

The United States is ready for implementation of the Marrakesh Treaty, pending a presidential signature. Meanwhile, Bologna gets an award and Knights Of gets a new book series. By Porter Anderson, Editor-in-Chief | @Porter_Anderson 40 Nations Have Ratified and Implemented Marrakesh he... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-09-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #marrakesh treaty #book series #porter anderson #american publishers


Industry Notes: Copyright Clearance Center’s Frankfurt Programming; Changes Ahead for LitAg

As the world's largest book industry trade show prepares to undergo some construction updates in coming years, this year's longtime Frankfurt sponsor announces key programming events for the upcoming book fair. The post Industry Notes: Copyright Clearance Center’s Frankfurt Programming; Changes... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-09-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #litag appeared #coming years


Industry Notes: 2020 World Book Capital; Political Book Sales in the US; PRH Names New CFO

Kuala Lumpur is the 2020 World Book capital; more political books in the US released and compete with growing sales of Woodward's 'Fear'; and PRH has a new CFO. The post Industry Notes: 2020 World Book Capital; Political Book Sales in the US; PRH Names New CFO appeared first on Publishing... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-09-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #kuala lumpur #political books #growing sales


OUP offers free dictionary access to UK state schools

Oxford University Press (OUP) is offering primary and secondary schools in the UK free access to the online Oxford English Dictionary to mark the company’s 90th anniversary. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-09-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Another tech billionaire turns media mogul

Where Jeff Bezos goes, other tech billionaires follow. The latest titan to invest in print media is Salesforce founder Marc Benioff who, along with wife Lynne, is buying Time magazine. The pair are using $190 million from their personal fortune to bu... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2018-09-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #jeff bezos #print media #$190 million #personal fortune


EU copyright law may force tech giants to pay billions to publishers

Legislation opposed by firms like Facebook and Google and groups warning of detrimental consequences for the internetMusic companies, film-makers and media publishers could be in line for billions in payouts after EU lawmakers voted to accept controversial changes to copyright rules that aim to... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2018-09-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #proposed legislation #digital age #paul mccartney #european parliament #news article


Industry Sales Dipped 1.4% in First Half of 2018

The 2018 sales decline was mainly due to a 13.6% drop in sales in the K-12 instructional materials segment. The two main consumer categories had gains with adult book sales up 4.2% and children’s/young adult sales inching up 0.3% over the first half of 2017. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-09-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #6% drop


Long, hot summer proves good for books

Despite the heatwave and the World Cup in Russia, the UK print market sold 42 million books for £344.2m between the first week of June and the third week of August, via Nielsen BookScan's TCM. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-09-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #world cup #nielsen bookscan


Bloomsbury buys chicken industry probe

Bloomsbury will publish Grilled, about the fight for better conditions for farmed chickens, from American campaigner Leah Garcés. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-08-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Industry Notes: Amazon ‘Prime Book Boxes’ for Children; National Book Festival September 1

Having tested the program on an invitational basis for three months, Amazon rolls out its children's book boxes offer to the US Prime membership. And the Library of Congress holds its annual National Book Festival this weekend. The post Industry Notes: Amazon ‘Prime Book Boxes’ for Children;... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-08-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #amazon rolls #prime membership


'Godfather of the industry' Michael Sissons dies

Veteran literary agent and "godfather of the industry" Michael Sissons has died aged 83. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-08-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Industry Notes: Penguin Random Opens Education Site, Cengage Unlimited Provided by Two Campuses

A new Penguin Random House site for educators markets curriculum-relevant titles from both the frontlist and backlist. And two programs are providing tens of thousands of Cengage's new subscription to students. The post Industry Notes: Penguin Random Opens Education Site, Cengage Unlimited... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-08-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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