Tag: tech

Uber has wheelchair friendly options for disabled passengers, it may not be enough

11 Dec 2017

Uber has improved its accessibility options with the adoption of its Wheelchair friendly UberWAV service, available in 27 cities and counting. Beginning in January 2016, Uber began its UberWAV program (WAV for wheelchair accessible vehicle) in Toronto. The company began to offer wheelchair accessible vehicles in limited locations by partnering with paratransit agencies, and Uber […]

Accessibility Tools with Voice Assistant Amazon Alexa, Amazon Echo, and Amazon Dot

5 Dec 2017

Popular Voice Assistant product Amazon Alexa includes several useful features for users with accessibility needs related to vision, hearing, mobility, and speech. Included in both app and the physical device, Alexa can help support users by not only controlling their appliances, but help them navigate and interract with their devices, too. Tools offered by Alexa […]

Airbnb to purchase Accessible Hospitality startup Accomable

21 Nov 2017

Accessibility hospitality service Accomable has been acquired by Airbnb. Accomable provides a similar service but with a focus on accessible and disability-accommodating spaces, covering over 60 countries. Accomable will phase out service and key team members will transition into the Airbnb product team, expanding their service to be more inclusive and accessible. As part of the […]

Twitter update increases character limit, but some users are still left out

7 Nov 2017

Social media platform Twitter recently updated their service to display messages of 280 characters. Product Manager Aliza Rosen explains this update is meant to build a better user experience, in a blog post she details: “Historically, 9% of Tweets in English hit the character limit. This reflects the challenge of fitting a thought into a […]