April Monthly Newsletter

Dear Valued Readers,

Join us as we delve into the April edition of Continual Engine’s monthly newsletter. This curated collection of news articles and the most recent updates is tailored to keep you informed of the latest trends and developments in accessibility and AI trends.

In this edition, we have included the following information:

• 2024 Round Table Conference: Continual Engine will be presenting virtually at this event focusing on the significance of video accessibility.
• Latest advancements in accessibility include Google Maps Improving Accessibility, WhatsApp Integrating Meta AI for Better User Interaction, ChatGPT Now Reads Responses Aloud, and GE Appliances Enhancing Access for Visually Impaired Consumers.
• Empowering stories include Blind Marathon Runner Finds Strength in Disability, and Duo with Disability Pursues “Impossible” Dream in a Record Attempt.
• News articles include State Department Font for Employees with Disabilities, Xbox Leader’s Hidden Disability Revelation, Google Opens Accessibility Discovery Centre in Ireland, Justice Department’s Web and App Accessibility Rule, Hotels Improve Accessibility – More Work Ahead, Government Contractors Drive Tech Accessibility, MakeMyTrip and Microsoft Team Up for AI Travel Booking, EU’s Green Claims Directive Aids Consumers, Concerns Marketers, AI Could Enhance ESG with Human Oversight.

We hope that you will find this edition to be both engaging and informative. Please feel free to reach out to us with any feedback or questions you may have.

Warm Regards,
Continual Engine

I. Upcoming Events

1. Continual Engine Will Be Presenting At The Round Table Conference 2024

II. LATEST ADVANCEMENTS IN ACCESSIBILITY

1. Accessibility in Google Maps

You can use a screen reader, keyboard shortcuts, and other features to make your Google Maps experience more accessible.

2. WhatsApp to Integrate Meta AI Directly Into Search Bar for Enhanced Accessibility

WhatsApp is likely to transform user interaction through the integration of Meta AI into the search bar, aiming to improve efficiency and accessibility through AI assistance.

3. ChatGPT Gets New Accessibility Feature, Can Now Read Its Responses Aloud to Users

ChatGPT has received a new accessibility feature that can be helpful for people with visual impairments. The artificial intelligence (AI)-powered chatbot by OpenAI announced a Read Aloud feature on Monday that can read out its written responses. The new feature is a different functionality from the voice chat feature that was introduced in September 2023 and uses the AI model’s multimodal capabilities.

4. GE Appliances Improves Access for Visually Impaired Consumers

For quite some time now, people with vision loss have gained increasing audible access to digital displays and touch screens on electronic devices.  Such advances in accessibility have not yet materialized in most major household appliances. Meanwhile, we figure out what we need from the appliance and how to get the job done.

III. EMPOWERING STORIES IN THE NEWS

1. Blind Marathon Runner ‘Found Strength’ Through Disability

A blind runner believed to be the first to complete a marathon without being tethered to a guide has said he found “strength” through his disability. Yahya Pandor, who is from Gloucester and now lives in Swindon, lost his sight during the pandemic after being diagnosed with macular degeneration.

2. Duo with Disability with ‘Impossible’ Dream in Record Bid

“We are equal underwater.” That’s the mantra of Shaun Gash and Mohammed Salim Patel, two friends looking to break down barriers in scuba diving – and set a world record while they are at it. Paraplegic Shaun and Salim, who is blind, have joined forces with the only instructor who would help them achieve what others had told them was “impossible”.

IV. News Articles On Accessibility

1. State Department Switches to More Accessible Font for Employees With Disabilities

The State Department will begin using Calibri font in its official communications to boost accessibility for employees with disabilities, The Washington Post first reported this week. A department spokesperson confirmed the change to HuffPost on Thursday.

2. Xbox Leader for Inclusive Gaming Opens Up About Her Own Hidden Disability

Katy Jo Wright has gotten to know the personal stories of many people with disabilities in her 24 years at Microsoft, first as a recruiter and now as the head of a global effort to make gaming more inclusive. She’s learned from gamers with limited mobility, engineers who have low vision, and people who are neurodivergent and love puzzle games — and it’s helped her build more inclusive teams and products.

3. Google Opens Accessibility Discovery Centre in Ireland

Google has opened a dedicated accessibility space where Google engineers, researchers, and wider product teams will focus on driving new innovations in accessible technology to help remove some of the barriers that people with disabilities face every day.

4. Justice Department to Publish Final Rule to Strengthen Web and Mobile App Access for People with Disabilities

Attorney General Merrick B. Garland today signed a final rule under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to ensure the accessibility of web content and mobile applications (apps) for people with disabilities. This final rule clarifies the obligations of state and local governments to make their websites and mobile applications accessible.

5. Hotels Have Come a Long Way with Accessibility — But There’s Still So Much Work to Be Done

Eager to shower and get to bed after a late-night arrival in Brussels last summer, my husband and I were disappointed — but not surprised — to find that my wheelchair didn’t fit into the bathroom of our supposedly accessible hotel room.

6. The Economic Impact of Accessibility: How Government Contractors Drive Innovation and Growth Through Tech Accessibility Programs

In today’s digital age, accessibility has emerged as a critical component of technology development and deployment, with profound implications for economic growth and societal inclusion. Government contractors, tasked with providing a wide range of products and services to public agencies, play a pivotal role in driving innovation and fostering economic prosperity through their engagement in accessibility programs.

7. MakeMyTrip Partners with Microsoft to Offer AI-Powered Travel Booking in India

Planning a trip can sometimes feel overwhelming, especially if you’re not familiar with navigating apps or websites. To make travel booking simpler and more accessible for everyone, MakeMyTrip, a leading Indian online travel company, has joined forces with Microsoft. This collaboration brings the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to travel booking in India.

8. Consumers Win with EU’s Green Claims Directive, But Marketers Fear ‘Greenhush’ Fallout

The liberty with which brands make unsubstantiated sustainability claims is set to shrink following new EU rules that seek to curb misleading eco-marketing. Under the Green Claims Directive, opens new tab, which passed the European Parliament earlier this month with an overwhelming majority, large European companies will be required to provide scientific validation before using terms such as “eco-friendly”, “biodegradable” or “sustainable”.

9. AI Could Supercharge ESG, But Only If People Remain in Charge

The boom in ESG (environmental, social, and governance) investment has been driven by data. Ratings, rankings, indices, and datasets are powering the revolution in sustainable finance. Now, there’s a new kid on the block: artificial intelligence (AI). Data providers boast incredible-sounding capabilities. They promise to unearth hidden connections and reveal the truth about corporate impacts. But can we trust the hype?