Our tour of the Google Accessibility Discovery Centre
A few weeks ago, 11 members of our Product Team went along to the Google Accessibility Discovery Centre tour.
The group was made up of developers, product designers, user researchers, content designers and product managers.
We’re working on making our products and services more accessible and it’s important for all disciplines to advocate for accessible design. So when Catherine told us about the tour, many of us jumped at the chance to go along.
What is the Google Accessibility Discovery Centre
Google’s Accessibility Discovery Centre is a space where people collaborate, co-design and learn with the accessibility and disabled communities.
The centre was built with local partners like the The Royal National Institute of Blind People, the Royal National Institute for Deaf People and Everyone Can, and Google’s internal Disability Alliance employee resource group.
They have opened up this space for others to come along and use it. So we got in touch to see if we could go along and they gave us a tour.
What’s at the centre
The centre has 4 main areas:
- research lab — with equipment to record usability testing sessions
- assistive experiences — with accessories that simulate certain impairments and assistive tech you can use in daily life
- workshop — to ideate, collaborate and read
- Accessibility Discovery Centre arcade — to try games equipment designed for people who cannot use things like games controllers
We got to look at brail versions of books, hear about products designed at the centre, try out some games and see assistive technology in action.
What we learnt
- How we’re meeting accessibility requirements as a council
When we asked about accessibility standards and practices Google use, it was familiar to us and covered things we’re already doing.
“We know a lot about accessibility already and are hitting the mainstream / must have accessibility checklists like good labelling so screen-readers can read things well, which felt really really nice.”
Also nice to learn about accessibility through games made for leisure. As a council we rarely get to think about fun!”
- Connie, Research Lead
2. The importance of testing early
“Testing for accessibility at the early stages of design and development will be good for everyone. It will save a lot of time and cost compared to making those accessibility changes once in production.”
- Alieid, Developer
“The main thing for me was the “Shift Left” idea, about designing/testing for accessibility as early as poss in development”
- Alex Ferrand, Product Manager
4. How far accessible tech has come
We think about assistive technology a lot in our work at the council. But we tend to think from the perspective of accessing our website and services.
At the council there’s an ongoing project around Assistive Technology Enabled Care which takes this much further and gives residents practical solutions and options that help them continue to live independently.
It was nice to also see this from the perspective of entertainment and things that enrich our daily lives, not just basic access to practical things.
As a product designer in local government, the opportunity to visit the Google Accessibility Discovery Centre was genuinely thrilling. Lately, accessibility design has also taken center stage in our work, as we’re committed to developing digital products that cater to all users. Seeing what tools we can incorporate in our design is inspiring.
- Man-ning, Product Designer
“Just how far accessible and assistive tech has come in such a short time. Nothing like this was going on (at least on this scale) even 20 years ago. The kids playing video games with their eyes was extraordinary”
- Laura, Content Designer
Reflections
- We use assistive tech without realising it
One of the big reminders for us was how embedded assistive technology is in our daily lives now. It shows how designing for accessibility first makes things better for everyone.
“Realised that we are all constantly using assistive tech e.g. ‘hey google’ / Siri, captions on youtube, slowing down videos when listening to complex issues, transcriptions, alarm vibration + sound to get me out of bed (there are lots more I am sure!)”
- Connie, Research Lead
2. People aren’t always aware of accessibility solutions
With lots of work in this space, it can be hard to keep up with new innovations. People interested and working in the Digital and Product spaces may read newsletters or look out for new releases. But what about people in the local community that could really benefit from knowing about and using these technologies in their daily life?
“How can we make sure that these solutions are known and available to everyone who needs them?”
- Karolina, Digital Inclusion and Training Lead
3. With so much innovation, it’s an exciting time to be in this field
Our visit was an eye-opener as we explored the wide array of assistive tools available for creating inclusive gaming experiences.
I only wish we had more time to engage with the accessibility analyst present, delving into their review process for new products and the feedback mechanisms they employ to facilitate improvements.
I can’t wait to see how Accessibility Design Standards (ADS) will shake up the world of digital design. It’s an exciting time to be in this field!
- Man-ning, Product Designer
4. Accessibility can empower people in their daily lives
The tour is a great opportunity to refresh your perspective on what matters. We design with accessibility in mind and try our best to test with people with a range of different access needs but hearing stories from people’s daily lives rebuilds that empathy.
“There are things in people’s personal or home lives we just don’t think about. Using assistive technology to detect the sound of a baby crying and alerting a parent with a hearing impairment by lighting up an object is such a simple yet important thing.”
- Alysia, Content Lead
Best bits
“Seeing children be able to do typical children’s things and experience normal, everyday things like playing Fifa with friends. Absolutely loved that!”
- Laura, Content Designer
“I enjoyed seeing how Google had worked with partners like RNIB on the space, and how they showcased some of the assistive tech those organisations provide. It reminded me of the massive impact accessibility can have on people’s lives and inspired me to think more creatively about how we design things here.”
- Eleanor, Senior Content Designer
“Being able to control and navigate a visual car using my eyes was awesome!”
- Alieid, Developer
