Data-Powered Accessibility: How to Build Inclusive Product for Any User Need
Tags: datapowered, bigdata, inclusiveproduct, a11y
Published: 2023-10-24 13:36:24

The rapid development of technologies gives unprecedented opportunities for reshaping the world to make it a better place for everyone, regardless of their abilities or disabilities. No wonder that digital transformation has set new standards for product design, demanding that every product is not only user-friendly but also inclusive. The advent of Big Data marks a pivot in technological advancement when vast troves of varied information can power the creation of products that cater to all needs of every person on earth. In this article, we will explore how Big Data can help pave the way to a more accessible and inclusive future for all.


## The Power of Big Data in Product Design

Big Data, defined by its immense scale, variety, velocity, and veracity, has turned into an indispensable tool for product development. In the context of accessibility of products for users with varying abilities, Big Data refers to gathering, analyzing, and leveraging vast datasets containing user interactions, preferences, and challenges. This is key to a better understanding of accessibility requirements and bridging the gaps in current designs. This data-driven approach goes beyond traditional methods by enabling the analysis of complex patterns and predicting future needs, thereby ensuring products are truly inclusive.

The creation of inclusive design nowadays entails collecting, analyzing, and processing large sets of varied data from various sources. User demographics and behavioral data are foundational as they shed light on who the users are, including their age, gender, and geographic location, among other things, and how they interact with products, including their interactions, clicks, navigation paths, and dwell times. Other sources of valuable data include surveys and feedback, which are direct input from users who open up about their experiences, challenges, preferences, and needs. It is worth mentioning the data that assistive tools like screen readers or voice commands and wearable technologies like smart watches can present to product designers.

> Big tech corporations, with their vast resources for collecting and processing data, are leading the way in leveraging Big Data for accessibility. One such example is global tech leader Microsoft, which has been leveraging data analytics to refine its products by taking advantage of its diverse global user base. In particular, the company created 'Seeing AI', an app designed for the visually impaired community. By harnessing Big Data insights on how these users interact with technology, Microsoft was able to create an app that uses AI to narrate the world around them, thus providing a more inclusive user experience. The project's success underscores the potential of Big Data in developing solutions that transcend traditional accessibility boundaries, truly embodying the ethos of designing with, not for, users with disabilities.


## Analyzing User Demographics for Inclusivity

User needs are defined by a variety of features that define various demographics ranging from age, nationality, and gender to profession, hobbies, physical and cognitive abilities. Companies must understand these characteristics in order to create a true portrait of their users and build products that meet their needs.
This procedure begins with the careful collection of demographic data, such as surveys, user feedback forms, and online behaviour. 

Following that, advanced analytics tools, machine learning algorithms, and artificial intelligence are used to decode patterns, identify user needs, and forecast future trends. The insights gained during the process serve as the foundation for product ideation, development, and iteration, ensuring consistent alignment with user needs and preferences.

Many product designers struggle with finding the right balance between personalization and universal design. On one end, there's personalization, which involves tailoring products to individual user preferences, needs, and data. Such design can greatly improve user experience by making products feel custom-made for each individual. Universal design, on the other hand, makes products that are accessible and usable by everyone, regardless of age, ability, or any other factor. It's a one-size-fits-all approach that prioritises inclusivity. However, this does not imply that these approaches are mutually exclusive. A happy medium can be found by using demographic data to inform universal design principles, resulting in a base product that is accessible to all. Personalization features can then be layered on top, allowing users to tweak and adjust based on their specific needs. Companies can offer products that are both broadly accessible and deeply personal by combining the strengths of both strategies.


## Understanding User Behavior for Inclusive Features

A path to a more accessible product design lies in carefully monitoring and analyzing how users interact with a product. This allows developers to clearly define specific areas where users may be having difficulty due to a lack of accessibility. For example, if a user takes a circuitous route through an application, spending more time than expected may indicate accessibility issues. In this case, user behaviour data, in conjunction with data derived from user feedback, can serve as a critical source for obtaining a comprehensive picture of product accessibility.

User journey mapping, which visualises the user experience from beginning to end, is perhaps the most important process for identifying accessibility gaps. It begins with selecting various user personas with varying abilities for a user journey. Every interaction, emotion, and potential barrier is mapped as these personas interact with a product. This map, especially when supplemented with feedback from real users with disabilities, sheds light on areas where the user experience may degrade due to accessibility issues.

Predictive analytics is another popular tool for increasing accessibility. It is used to predict when a user might benefit from an accessibility feature by analysing past user behaviours. Constant monitoring allows designers to anticipate user behaviour trends and stay ahead of the curve, ensuring accessibility is always a step ahead rather than a reaction.


## Designing Inclusive Features with Data Insights

AI's pervasive transformative power has opened up entirely new horizons in inclusive design opportunities. One of the most significant effects of AI is the ability to learn and adapt while users interact with products. This allows AI to gain insight into individual behaviours and preferences, ensuring that the interface is tailored to each user's specific needs. Voice recognition technologies, for example, allow users to interact with their voice, making the user experience easier and more convenient for visually impaired people. Similarly, AI-driven image recognition can now describe visuals to the visually impaired, closing a previously unbridgeable gap.

The AI-powered continuous collection of user-specific data enables saving accessibility preferences and better suiting the product for a user right during the interaction process. As the system learns more about user behaviour and preferences, it may even start to suggest tools or features proactively, ensuring that every user feels seen and catered to.

> One of the most notable characteristics of the AI-driven quest for perfect accessibility is that it is a never-ending process that evolves in tandem with technologies and user needs. Developers can make informed decisions about where to focus their efforts by collecting feedback on a regular basis and relying on data-driven insights. Testing the product with a variety of user groups ensures that it remains inclusive and that any unintentional biases are avoided. This feedback, testing, and refining cycle ensures that, as the digital landscape evolves, the commitment to accessibility remains rock-solid.


## Challenges and Ethical Considerations

While collecting extensive user data allows designers to better understand consumer behaviour and tailor products to be more accessible than ever before, it also raises ethical concerns. Collecting data on how users with disabilities interact with a product, for example, can aid in the development of special accessibility features. At the same time, the fact that this information is being collected implies that it can be mishandled, shared, or sold without explicit consent, which is a serious breach of personal data security. Misuse of data endangers the most marginalised groups, who can be disproportionately affected. The key strategies for addressing this issue should include companies obtaining informed consent from users on data collection practises, limiting the amount of data collected to the essential information, and storing data securely to prevent data leaks.

Another accessibility-linked problem is the bias in design, which is referred to the design of the product that assume all users have the same physical abilities can exclude those with disabilities. For example, a mobile app that relies heavily on swiping gestures may not be accessible to someone with a motor impairment. Bias in design can exclude large segments of potential users and consumers, while developers may inadvertently incorporate biases based on their own experiences or limitations in understanding the diverse user base.

The strategies to avoid bias in design include various approaches like using varied and inclusive data sets during the development phase to train algorithms, attracting external experts to evaluate the design for any unconscious biases and interacting with the user community in the development process to identify and eliminate biases.

Legal frameworks such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in the United States, or the Equality Act in the United Kingdom, set certain standards for accessibility. GDPR in the EU, and its global equivalents, govern how user data should be handled. Non-compliance can result in heavy fines and reputational damage. The compliance strategies may include liaising with experts in accessibility and data privacy law and conducting audits.

## The Future of Inclusive Product Design

The evolving technologies like Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and the Internet of Things (IoT) are furthering the accessibility opportunities. For example, AR could overlay sign language interpreters during a live event, while IoT devices can automate tasks for people with mobility issues.
Leveraging new technologies can ensure accessibility for all individuals, regardless of ability, heralding a shift towards a user-centric culture in product design.  This shift requires not only designers but also marketers, engineers, and executives to align their strategies to consider the end-user experience.


## Conclusion
With the rise of the Internet, it is becoming increasingly clear that the world is very diverse, which means that one-size-fits-all solutions are becoming a thing of the past. Modern technologies help to bring about change, making the world more accessible to all. While the challenges of this process are multifaceted, ranging from ethical concerns about data privacy to potential biases and regulatory hurdles, the rewards are enormous, both morally and in terms of market reach. By integrating emerging technologies and fostering a user-centric design culture, we can make a truly inclusive world a thing of reality.