January Monthly Newsletter

january monthly newsletter - continual engine

Dear Valued Readers,

We are happy to present the January edition of the Continual Engine monthly newsletter for the new year – 2024. This edition is a compilation of key news articles and insightful updates, dedicated to keeping you informed about the latest trends and developments in the realms of accessibility and learning.

In this issue, you can learn about the following:

  • Upcoming Zero Project Conference 2024 that Continual Engine will be attending and presenting
  • Past events that Continual Engine attended, include the 2024 ATIA Conference in Orlando, Florida
  • Recent blogs on accessibility include AI’s Impact on Enterprise Documents and Emerging Trends in Digital Accessibility for 2024
  • News articles include Discrimination Against Travelers with Disabilities, AI in ESG Reporting, Reducing Car Dependency, Technology Aiding Individuals with Disabilities, The Importance of Accessibility Jobs, AI in Energy Systems, and Challenges in Achieving Accessible Cities Despite Legislative Progress.

 

We hope that this monthly edition of the newsletter helps you keep track of the important trends in accessibility and continues to provide valuable insights. Please reach out to us at contact@continualengine.com with any feedback or questions.

Warm Regards,
Continual Engine

 

I. Upcoming Events

1. Continual Engine will be Attending and Presenting at the Upcoming Zero Project Conference 2024

Continual Engine is going to attend and present at the in-person Zero Project Conference 2024 (#ZeroCon24). This year, innovations and sessions will be centered around the topics of Inclusive Education, and ICT.

Our contribution to the event includes an informative session titled “Free Resources to Increase Web Accessibility”. Our CEO/Founder, Mousumi Kapoor, will be a distinguished speaker alongside four other experts representing various fields. The presentation is scheduled to take place on Friday, February 23, 2024, from 13:40 to 14:40 in Vienna, Austria.

As a quick recap, our solution, PREP- PDF & Document Remediation Platform, had reached the final round and made it to the coveted Zero Project Shortlist this year.

We invite you to be a part of the event and connect during #ZeroCon24. We believe our shared interests could lead to meaningful discussions or collaborations.

If you are planning to visit the Zero Project Conference, or eager to discover our suite of accessibility solutions, please feel free to reach out to us at contact@continualengine.com to arrange a meeting. We look forward to seeing you at the conference.

 

II. Past Events

1. Continual Engine Attended the 2024 ATIA Conference

Continual Engine (CE) attended the Assistive Technology Industry Association (ATIA) 2024 Conference, which was scheduled from January 25 – 27, 2024, and was held in Orlando, Florida. If you had the opportunity to stop by our booth or join our session, thank you for your interest in our solutions.

If you were unable to attend the event, we have compiled some key takeaways from the conference to keep you informed:

  • The imperative of creating adaptable and accessible learning environments, celebrating diversity as the cornerstone of enriched learning experiences.
  • Mastering effective research and note-taking is crucial for academic and professional success, and understanding how technology, especially with a co-design approach, can address the unique needs of individuals with neurodivergent conditions and enhance inclusivity in learning environments.
  • The synergy of the UDL framework and inclusive technologies to empower students with diverse tools, strategies, and resources for equitable educational experiences.

If you want to learn more about our AI-enabled accessibility solutions, PREP and Invicta™, please feel free to connect with our SVP, Growth & Strategy. Alternatively, you can reach out to us at contact@continualengine.com to schedule a meeting or request further information.

 

III. Featured Blogs

In the rapidly advancing digital landscape, accessibility has become a pivotal aspect of content dissemination, especially in the context of enterprise documents. As businesses navigate diverse audiences, the imperative to ensure accessibility takes center stage.

In the ever-evolving digital landscape, organizations and businesses must prioritize creating online environments that are not only user-friendly but also inclusive for individuals with diverse needs. In 2024, several accessibility trends are set to shape the way we approach digital experiences.

 

IV. News Articles On Accessibility

II. LATEST ADVANCEMENTS IN ACCESSIBILITY

A photograph is worth a thousand words, even if you can’t see it. Mobile phones have become lifelines for so many in the past couple of decades. Several tech companies are prioritizing accessibility for those with disabilities to make sure they are able to enjoy and utilize as many functions as possible. Google’s new Pixel ad for Super Bowl 58 focuses on a life-changing accessibility feature.

Accessibility is always improving, but 2023 saw one of the most significant accessibility breakthroughs since the advent of the accessible smartphone. GPT4, produced by Open AI, is a Large Language Model (LLM) that can accept both text and images. In summary, you can converse with an LLM much like you would with a person, and it will respond in a manner closely approximating human interaction.

 

III. EMPOWERING STORIES IN THE NEWS

A record-breaking disabled sailor has described a plan to circumnavigate Britain as his “most daring and demanding” challenge. Geoff Holt MBE, from Fareham, Hampshire, will set off from London in a powerboat on 13 May. The 58-year-old, who was the first quadriplegic sailor to cross the Atlantic, hopes to raise £1.2m for his disability charity Wetwheels.

 

IV. News Articles On Accessibility

Australia’s former disability discrimination commissioner, Graeme Innes, has settled his dispute with Adelaide Airport. His complaint to the Human Rights Commission was lodged after being denied access to a body scanner with his assistance dog in May 2022.

The disclosure of environmental, social and governance issues is increasingly a red button topic for investors and companies. Faced with new mandatory disclosure rules, they continue to grapple with ongoing challenges around the lack of standardization in myriad disclosure standards and frameworks.

Congestion, air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions have plagued cities globally for years. Attempts to coax urban dwellers away from private cars, or to untangle the congestion they cause, have had mixed results, so could artificial intelligence provide the catalyst needed?

An old caretaker’s house has been turned into a smart home showcasing assistive technology. The property on Leechmere Industrial Estate in Sunderland demonstrates technology aimed at improving the lives of people with disabilities.

Today, Polio has been entirely expunged from the United States thanks to the Polio vaccine developed in 1955. Backtrack a century or so, however, and the poliovirus was a major health concern for Americans far and wide.

Energy is getting more complicated. The growing use of renewables is clearly positive for the planet – but the fact that the wind is not always blowing and the sun is not always shining creates headaches for energy system operators. Their job of matching supply to demand is becoming harder than ever before.

Amid a complex web of disability civil rights legislation in Canada and the United States, one could easily be lulled into thinking that the work is done. Some of this legislation is now several decades old; more recent additions include accessible design standards and guidelines and barrier-free elements of building codes.

Editors:

Debangku Sarma

Digital Marketing Associate
Continual Engine

Vijayshree Vethantham

Senior Vice-President, Growth & Strategy
Continual Engine US LLC

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