Sight Tech Global Agenda Announced

Sight Tech Global Conference: Advancing Accessibility Through Technology

The second annual Sight Tech Global conference is scheduled to take place virtually on December 1st and 2nd. This event is offered free of charge and will bring together leading global authorities.

These experts will focus on cutting-edge technologies, with a particular emphasis on AI, and its application to accessibility and assistive technologies.

The conference is specifically designed to benefit individuals who are blind or visually impaired.

Main Stage Agenda Highlights

We are pleased to unveil the agenda for the main stage sessions. These ten sessions, expertly moderated, will feature fireside chats and panel discussions.

The sessions represent a diverse range of current projects and initiatives.

Participants include representatives from major technology companies such as Apple, Microsoft, Google, and Amazon.

Upcoming Breakout Session Announcements

In the coming days, we will be announcing an additional six breakout sessions. These will provide opportunities for more focused exploration of specific topics.

Registration Information

Registration is now open and completely free. The event will be held virtually and has been designed to be fully compatible with screen readers.

Secure your spot today to engage with the forefront of accessibility technology.

Sight Tech Global – December 1st: A Summary of Key Sessions

Accessibility Innovations Through Machine Learning at Apple
Apple continues to pioneer accessibility advancements, building upon the success of iPhone and VoiceOver. The company is now focusing on integrating machine learning – a branch of artificial intelligence – to leverage data from phone sensors and enhance understanding of the surrounding environment. This emerging technology holds significant potential for improving accessibility features.

The session featured insights from Jeff Bigham, Research lead for AI/ML accessibility at Apple, and Sarah Herrlinger, Senior Director of Global Accessibility Policy & Initiatives, Apple. Matthew Panzarino, Editor-in-Chief of TechCrunch, served as the moderator.

Seeing AI: The Convergence of Computer Vision, Lidar, and Audio AR
Recent updates to Microsoft’s Seeing AI application demonstrate the power of combining cutting-edge technologies. The app now utilizes computer vision and lidar to identify objects and position them accurately in 3D space. This allows for a more immersive experience, with audio announcements seemingly originating from the objects themselves.

Users can also establish virtual audio beacons to locate specific features, like doorways, and utilize haptic feedback to perceive the room’s boundaries. These capabilities are driven by advancements in AR, computer vision, and the iPhone 12 Pro’s lidar sensor.

Saqib Shaikh, Co-founder of Seeing AI, presented the technology, with Devin Coldewey, Editor at TechCrunch, moderating the discussion.

W3C ARIA-AT: Enhancing Web Accessibility Through Interoperability

A significant challenge in web accessibility is the lack of interoperability among screen readers. Unlike web browsers, which generally function consistently across platforms, developers must test their code with multiple screen readers – JAWS, VoiceOver, NVDA, and others – to ensure accessibility.

The W3C ARIA-AT project aims to address this issue, paving the way for a new era of web accessibility. A live breakout session with project members, including King and Fairchild, followed this presentation on December 2nd.

Matt King, Accessibility Technical Program Manager at Facebook, Mike Shebanek, Head of Accessibility at Facebook, and Michael Fairchild, Senior Accessibility Consultant at Deque, were key speakers. Caroline Desrosiers, Founder and CEO of Scribely, moderated the session.

The “Holy Braille”: A Novel Tactile Display for Braille and Graphics
Access to braille remains limited compared to printed text for individuals who are blind. Existing refreshable braille displays typically offer only a single line of text, providing a restricted reading experience, particularly when dealing with extensive documents or visual content like charts and graphs.

The American Printing House for the Blind (APH) and HumanWare are collaborating on the development of the Dynamic Tactile Device (DTD). This innovative device will render multiple lines of braille and tactile graphics simultaneously, offering a more comprehensive reading and learning experience.

Greg Stilson, Head of Global Innovation at APH, discussed the project. A live Q&A session with Stilson and Andrew Flattres, Braille Product Manager at HumanWare, followed the presentation. Will Butler, VP at Be My Eyes, served as the moderator.

Indoor Navigation: Overcoming GPS Limitations

While GPS and navigation apps empower individuals with visual impairments to navigate outdoors independently, indoor navigation presents unique challenges. GPS signals are often unavailable indoors, and obstacles like furniture and doorways require precise localization.

Combining technologies such as inertial navigation, audio AR, lidar, and computer vision may provide a solution. Successful implementation requires mapping indoor spaces, establishing accurate indoor positioning, and designing accessible user interfaces.

Mike May, Chief Evangelist at GoodMaps, Paul Ruvolo, Associate Professor of Computer Science at Olin College, and Roberto Manduchi, Professor of Computer Science at UC Santa Cruz, shared their expertise. Nick Giudice, Professor of Spatial Informatics at the University of Maine, moderated the discussion.

Sight Tech Global December 2

The Evolving Role of Alexa: A Shift Towards Proactive Assistance
As homes integrate more technology, including AI, sensors, and computer vision, a truly immersive experience is emerging. Currently, a significant portion – one in five – of Alexa smart home interactions are initiated without direct voice commands. With Alexa’s growing ability to anticipate user needs and act accordingly, what impact will this have on accessibility features?

Beatrice Geoffrin, Director of Alexa Trust, Amazon
Dr. Prem Natarajan, Vice President of Alexa AI, Amazon

Innovative Solutions: New Advances in Assistive Technology
Throughout history, inventors have consistently sought to improve the lives of individuals with visual impairments. Notable figures like Mike Shebanek (Apple’s VoiceOver) and Jim Fruchterman (Bookshare, Benetech) exemplify this dedication. Today’s innovators benefit from a wealth of affordable technologies, such as lidar and high-speed networks, accelerating the pace of development. This session will highlight three product innovators pioneering new tools for the blind and visually impaired.

Cagri Hakan Zaman, Co-founder of Mediate and SuperSense
Kürşat Ceylan, Co-founder, WeWalk Technology
Louis-Philippe Massé, Director of Product Management, HumanWare
Moderator: Ned Desmond, Executive producer and founder, Sight Tech Global

Achieving Product Accessibility: Best Practices and Validation
While awareness of accessibility is increasing, even well-intentioned teams can struggle to implement effective solutions. A crucial element is close collaboration with user communities to gather feedback and understand specific requirements. This collaborative approach doesn’t necessitate compromises; instead, it leads to improved products for all users. This session features experts at the forefront of accessibility in product development.

Christine Hemphill, Founder and Managing Director, Open Inclusion
Alwar Pillai, Co-founder and CEO, Fable
Sukriti Chadha, Product Manager, Spotify
OIiver Warfield, Senior Product Manager for Accessibility
Brian Fischler, Commissioner, All Blind Fantasy Football League; stand-up comedian
Moderator: Larry Goldberg, Head of Accessibility, Yahoo

Android’s Dominance: Accessibility for the Majority of Mobile Users
The Android operating system, developed by Google, powers nearly three-quarters of mobile phones globally, surpassing Apple’s iOS. For individuals with blindness or low vision, Google’s Lookout app is a key resource, leveraging Google’s extensive AI infrastructure, including computer vision and Google Maps. This session will explore Google’s strategy for capitalizing on the accessibility potential of Lookout.

Eve Andersson, Director of Accessibility, Google
Andreina Reyna, Senior Software Engineer, Google
Warren Carr, Blind Android User Podcast

Navigating the Final Steps: Autonomous Vehicles and Ridesharing Accessibility
The convenience of summoning a ride via smartphone is significant, but locating the vehicle, particularly when visually impaired, can present challenges and safety concerns. This session will examine how rideshare and autonomous vehicle companies are addressing the accessibility of the final few feet between rider and vehicle.

Kerry Brennan, UX Research Manager, Waymo
Marco Salsiccia, Accessibility Evangelist, Lyft
Eshed Ohn-Bar, Assistant Professor, Boston University
Moderator: Bryan Bashin, CEO, LightHouse, San Francisco

Registration for this complimentary, virtual event is now open.

Sight Tech Global is presented by the Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired. We extend our gratitude to our sponsors: Ford, Google, Humanware, Microsoft, Mojo Vision, Facebook, Fable, APH, and Vispero. For sponsorship opportunities, please reach out to us. All proceeds from sponsorships benefit the Vista Center, a nonprofit organization serving the Silicon Valley community for 75 years.