Signal 4: Smart cities for the blind
How can we make smart cities work for the visually impaired? That’s the question Mike Hess, the executive director and founder of nonprofit Blind Institute of Technology, asks himself everyday. In his interview with Smart Cities Dive, Mike argues that companies designing smart cities technology need to be inclusive of people with disabilities. He says that applications that are developed with inclusion and accessibility in mind are better applications overall and cites self-opening doors and curb cuts as examples of such phenomena.
Unfortunately, not a lot of companies and civic leaders actively design their cities with people with disabilities in mind. Often times, decision makers focus on clients, constituents, and interests with deeper pockets and influence. While research found (2) that people with disabilities have significant purchasing power people still stereotypically think that disabled people are a burden for taxpayers.
One solution would be to convince a city and a technology company to work on a smart city technology aimed for impaired person in mind, but that can benefit all citizens. After technology is implemented and proven to improve lives of different types of people in the city, it would be easier to convince other companies and officials to use technology to help the disabled, and, ultimately, other constituents.
1. https://www.smartcitiesdive.com/news/can-smart-cities-work-for-the-visually-impaired/533188/
