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----Original Message Follows----
From: Mark Quigley <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: NCD Explores Emerging Technology Trends and Provides Strategies for 
Change
Date: Wed, 27 Dec 2006 14:48:23 -0500

NEWS RELEASE

NCD #06-528

December 27, 2006

Contact: Mark S. Quigley

202-272-2004

202-272-2074 TTY



National Council on Disability Explores Emerging Technology Trends and 
Provides Strategies for Change

WASHINGTON¯The National Council on Disability (NCD) today released Over the 
Horizon: Potential Impact of Emerging Trends in Information and 
Communication Technology on Disability Policy and Practice 
(http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/publications/2006/emerging_trends.htm), a 
policy paper that explores key trends in information and communication 
technology, highlights the potential opportunities and problems these trends 
present for people with disabilities, and suggests some strategies to 
maximize opportunities and avoid potential problems and barriers.

The technologies used in information and communication products are 
advancing at an ever increasing rate. Devices are getting smaller, lighter, 
cheaper, and more capable. Electronics are being incorporated into 
practically everything, making a wide variety of products programmable, and 
thus more flexible. Computing power is increasing exponentially.

According to NCD chairperson John R. Vaughn, "The more reliant society 
becomes on technology to perform fundamental aspects of every-day living, 
how we work, communicate, learn, shop, and interact with our environment , 
the more imperative it is that people with disabilities have access to that 
same technology, and the more costly will be the consequences of failure to 
ensure access."



This paper discusses technology trends that present opportunities for 
universally designed products, and for improved availability, usability, and 
affordability of assistive technology that can have significant impact on 
quality of life for people with disabilities. The first trend discussed is 
the ever-increasing computational power plus the decreasing size and cost of 
technology-resulting in technology that is more portable, affordable, and 
for which it is easier to build in access. Second, advances in interface 
technology are creating new opportunities for better assistive technologies, 
more accessible mainstream technologies, and entirely new ways for users to 
control both. Third, new advances will soon enable people to be connected to 
communication and information networks, at any time, wherever they 
are-making real time assistance only a button press or voice command away. 
Finally, the proliferation of virtual places via the World Wide Web is 
changing the way we approach communications, education, work, and commerce - 
increasing access to goods and services without the need to leave home.

Many of the same technological advances that show great promise of improved 
accessibility, however, also have the potential to create new barriers for 
people with disabilities. The following are some emerging technology trends 
that are causing accessibility problems.

*        Devices will continue to get more complex to operate before they 
get simpler. This is already a problem for mainstream users, but even more 
of a problem for people with cognitive disabilities and people who have 
cognitive decline due to aging.

*        Increased use of digital controls (e.g., push buttons used in 
combination with displays, touch screens, etc.) is creating problems for 
people with blindness, cognitive, and other disabilities.

*        The shrinking size of products is creating problems for people with 
physical and visual disabilities.

*        The trend toward closed systems, for digital rights management or 
security reasons, is preventing people from adapting devices to make them 
accessible, or from attaching assistive technology so they can access the 
devices.

*        Increasing use of automated self-service devices, especially in 
unattended locations, is posing problems for some, and absolute barriers for 
others.

*        The decrease of face-to-face interaction, and increase in 
e-business, e-government, e-learning, e-shopping, etc., is resulting in a 
growing portion of our everyday world and services becoming inaccessible to 
those who are unable to access these Internet-based places and services, 
particularly when the Web sites are not created in accordance with Web 
accessibility standards.

In addition, the incorporation of new technologies into products is causing 
products to advance beyond current accessibility techniques and strategies. 
The rapid churn of mainstream technologies, that is, the rapid replacement 
of one product by another, is so fast that neither assistive technology nor 
technology-specific accessibility standards are keeping pace. Without 
action, the gap between the mainstream technology products being introduced 
and the assistive technologies necessary to make them accessible will 
increase, as will the numbers of technologies for which no accessibility 
adaptations are available.

The paper sets forth the following issues for action:


*        Maximize the effectiveness of assistive technologies and lower 
their cost. Key strategy: Foster results oriented R & D all the way to 
commercial availability.


*        Maximize the accessibility of mainstream information and 
communication technology products, so that people with disabilities and 
seniors can use standard products as they encounter them. Key strategies: 
Increase funding for research, proof of concept, and commercial hardening of 
approaches to accessible design of mainstream products to advance 
understanding in this area.


*        Ensure that access to the Internet and other virtual environments 
is provided, as it has been to physical places of public accommodation.


*        Address new barriers to the accessibility of digital media caused 
by digital rights management, including when visual and audio rights are 
sold separately.


*        Base all policy regarding information and communication technology 
accessibility on a realization of the importance of the business case. Where 
a solid business case cannot be built based on market forces alone, create 
accessibility regulations and effective enforcement mechanisms that provide 
a clear profit advantage to those who comply and a disadvantage to those who 
do not.


*        Create accessibility laws and regulations that are not technology 
specific, but are based on the functions of a device.


*        Ensure that up-to-date information about accessible mainstream 
technology and assistive technology is available to and being used by the 
public.


"The policies we adopt today will determine whether the technology of the 
future empowers people with disabilities, enabling them to work, learn, 
communicate, shop, and live independent, productive lives as full and equal 
members of society," Vaughn concluded.



For more information, please contact Julie Carroll or Mark S. Quigley at 
202-272-2004 or 202-272-2074 TTY.

# # #









Mark S. Quigley

Director of Communications

National Council on Disability

1331 F Street, NW Suite 850

Washington, DC 20004

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