Commentary
The Legacy of Steve Jobs and Accessible Technology
By John M. Williams
I met the late, legendary genius Steve Jobs twice in San
Francisco. One meeting took place in 1990, the other in 1993. Both times I
asked him if Apple was making its products accessible to people with
disabilities. 
In our first meeting, which lasted 20 minutes, accessible
Apple products for people with disabilities weren't on his radar screen. He was
annoyed that I brought up the subject. He told me so and then abruptly left.
Three years later, he was more receptive to the idea of
accessible technology for people with disabilities from a manufacturer’s
perspective. “If they can use my products, they can buy them,” he
said with a gleam in his eye.
In our second meeting, Jobs asked me how long I had
stuttered. When I told him, I then asked why he wanted to know.
“I know someone who stutters," he said. "You remind
me of him.”
Then Jobs asked, “Is there any technology on the
market to help someone who stutters?”
I told him yes, and we said good-bye.
I don’t know what changed him between 1990 and 1993
-- maybe nothing. Maybe all along, his goal was to make Apple products
accessible. I believe he recognized the economic benefits of expanding a
consumer base for Apple’s products among people with disabilities.
Recently, an Apple employee told me: “It is an Apple
policy that our products are usable by people with disabilities. Mister Jobs
stressed this policy repeatedly.”
I know that Apple claims that for decades it has provided
new and innovative solutions for people with disabilities, allowing them to
access and use the Mac, the iPod, the iPhone, the iPad and Apple TV.
When Steve Jobs died on October 6th, he left
this legacy for people with disabilities:
- Standard features in Apple products include assistive
technology. For example, the iPhone, the iPad, the iPod and the Mac OS X
include screen magnification and VoiceOver, a screen-access technology, for the
blind and visually impaired. To assist those with cognitive and learning
disabilities, every Mac includes an alternative, simplified user interface that
rewards exploration and learning. And, for those who find it difficult to use a
mouse, every Mac computer includes Mouse Keys, Slow Keys and Sticky Keys,which
adapt the computer to the user's needs and capabilities.
- Inventions such as Braille mirroring, which enables
deaf and blind children to work together on the same computer at the same time;
the world’s first screen reader that can be controlled using gestures; and
captioning of downloadable digital movies, are prime examples of Apple
innovation.
- As part of Apple’s commitment to accessibility,
its retail associates are specially trained to serve customers with
disabilities.
- Consumers can learn how Apple technology is being used
to address the needs of students by visiting Apple’s special education
page. If consumers have comments or suggestions about accessibility, they can
send an email to accessibility@apple.com.
- Apple's accessibility website highlights all the
accessibility technologies for people with visual, auditory, physical or motor,
literacy and learning, and language and communication disabilities. It also
features third-party products and Section 508 information.
- Since 1985, Apple has been committed to helping people
with disabilities access their personal computers. Apple's commitment to
accessibility is evident throughout the Mac OS X operating system, which is not
only easy to use but also includes a wide variety of features and technologies
specifically designed to provide access to users with disabilities. Apple
refers to these features collectively as universal access and has integrated
them into the operating system so they can be used in conjunction with a vSince
1985, Apple has been committed to helping people with disabilities access their
personal computers. Apple's commitment to accessibility is evident throughout
the Mac OS X operating system, which is not only easy to use but also includes
a wide variety of features
- Apple works to make products and technologies
accessible to all people, including those with a range of disabilities. Apple
offers products such as its Mac OS X operating system with accessible speech
recognition, zoom-text enlargement features, closed captioning and special
hardware. Other products, such as the Apple iPhone, are equipped with
accessible features such as visual voicemail, zoom, TTY support, large fonts,
hands-free usage and alternative alerts.
In a recent filing with the U.S. Patent and Trademark
Office, Apple has indicated that it is seeking to patent a method for
connecting IOS (a type of software) devices to accessories that could act in
place of a touch screen. A person with mobility impairment could, for example,
use a joystick to control an IOS device. And an individual who is visually
impaired could “see” the screen using a Braille attachment. The
accessories would be linked to the touch-screen device via a wireless
connection or a physical one.
I have been told that Apple is making its iPhone and iPad
more user friendly for people with disabilities. But because the products all
use touch screens, however, some with visual or mobility impairments may have
trouble using them.
Steve Jobs is to be congratulated for his policy of
making Apple’s products accessible to people with disabilities. I believe
Apple will continue his legacy, and the lives of people with disabilities will
continue to benefit.
John Williams can be contacted at
jwilliams@atechnews.com. |
