Creating inclusive experiences, virtually
Working for Ad Hoc has made me much more aware of accessibility issues, or in the broader framing I prefer, inclusivity. Because the underlying question should not be “how do we accommodate edge cases,” but “how do we make sure everyone (or at least as many as possible) is included in what we create?”
In my work, what we create are digital services. Of course designing and building inclusively applies to the physical world as well. Curb cuts enable wheelchair users to be included in pedestrian traffic (as well as stoller pushers, cane users, and any number of others).
But lately (and selfishly) I have become much more aware of experiences, and other forms of inclusivity. There is a democratizing factor to the online world. Access to digital has brought payments to rural Africa, and affordable classes to aspiring software developers in India.
Now those of us who used to have the privilege of travel are finding ourselves with limited movement. Suddenly, a whole new swath of experiences has become available to ease our wanderlust virtually.
What I realized is that beyond the fun of learning to mix drinks with a bartender in the UK or preparing coffee with a coffee farmer from Colombia, these entrepreneurs have the potential to make their worlds more accessible to people who couldn’t or wouldn’t have traveled for in person activities due to lack of funds, health, mobility issues, or any number of other reasons.
While this is exciting, I do worry that much of this will go away. Once travel resumes, that bartender will likely earn more money from in person tours than hosting events online. But I hope that many of the creators of these experiences see the value they are creating, and find ways to make this new inclusivity sustainable.
It isn’t just entrepreneurs treading into new territory. I’ve been exploring museums from afar, with exhibits ranging from high resolution photos to full VR walkthroughs. A virtual walkthrough of the Dalí Theatre-Museum does not make me yearn to visit it in person any less.
My concern, beyond the issue of financial sustainability, (ultimately museums and businesses small and large need revenue), is how to enable this new inclusivity without creating new barriers. The highly visual nature of many of these experiences adds to the accessibility challenges already experienced by individuals with visual impairments. For that matter, any potential challenges created when technology is not implemented with inclusivity in mind can be compounded.
As we navigate our hybrid-social-distanced-virtual world of uncertainties, is it possible to ensure that all spaces, services, and experiences are equally inclusive of all people? As I learn more, I will admit that I am honestly not sure, but that it is possible to grow awareness of not excluding people, and that we should always be mindful of the variety of factors that can create exclusion, and actively work against them.
