Christopher Watkins’ Post

As with any large-scale and meaningful transformation effort, proactivity is ultimately the most efficient, effective, and rewarding approach. This is most certainly the case when it comes to embracing digital accessibility, as Greg Williams outlines in this excellent article. #Accessibility #DigitalAccessibility #ShiftLeft

The #EAA is a crucial piece of legislation becoming national law in all 27 EU member states. Its provisions are foundational to creating a more inclusive and balanced marketplace. That said, it's complex. Fortunately, there are experts to guide the way and provide answers to all your most pressing questions! #Accessibility

One of the many joys I've experienced since joining Deque Systems, Inc is getting to work with and learn from extraordinary experts such as Glenda Sims. This valuable post is just one of many examples of the kind of actionable guidance she consistently delivers. If you're passionate about #digitalaccessibility and #inclusion, and are either serving in, or servicing, state and local government, this is a must-read.

If this is you, let me know!

Accessibility compliance can be a heavy lift, but it's an absolutely essential one. Inclusivity quite literally means no one is excluded, and when something as omnipresent and invaluable as the web (and all its digital content) isn't accessible to all users, that's not ok, and that's not what inclusivity is all about. Fortunately, there are some simple things you can do that can have a huge impact. Consider PDFs. They're just about everywhere, and just about everybody uses them for just about everything. But when they're not accessible, that means a large percentage of people are excluded from the ease, efficiency, and value that PDFs offer. Committing to making PDFs accessible can be a major step forward for any business when it comes to achieving inclusivity and digital equality. Kyle Paciello, my colleage at Deque Systems, Inc, has written an exceptionally clear and helpful post on this topic, and provided an easy-to-follow 8-step checklist for PDF accessibility: https://lnkd.in/gpKWMWJ7

I want to share this, because I believe David Joyner has written one of the most thoughtful explorations of #GenAI that I've yet seen. As but one example of the wisdom he shares: "As both users and creators of Generative AI tools, it’s important that we keep in mind to what extent certain artifacts have value because of what they are, and to what extent they have value because of the authentic process that created them." I'll note he also offers some delightful witticisms such as: "Generative AI is like the high-fructose corn syrup of content: it’s cheap and easy to use, but doesn’t yield as good of a result and has some long-term impacts if we use it too much." But perhaps his wisest observation is this one: "Generative AI is a solution looking for problems." At the risk of sounding overly adulatory and not critical enough, I will say that I'm less of a fan of how the article wraps—I think it's become a bit of a trend to end articles about GenAI with an example of how GenAI would have written the content, and I think the arguments here are so strong and the questions so thoughtful, that the conclusion feels like a potential misstep. That said, it also potentially serves to prove David's point, so perhaps that's the intention! The GenAI version unquestionably lacks the nuance and sophistication he evidences with his own writing. (Unless this is all a trick, and the shorter version is the "real" one! In which case, game-set-match to you, David!). Mainly, this is a brilliant example of someone really thinking through opportunities and challenges associated with this new and transformative technology, and I encourage anyone interested in the topic to give this a read. David Joyner is a top-notch thinker and an important voice.

Thought for the day: If I give you control over your life, then I’m empowering you. Which isn’t really empowerment, is it? But if I help to create the environment within which you can take control of your own life, or if I help to make available the opportunities you need to take control over your own life, then you’re really empowering yourself, with my support. Which feels much more … empowering. #ThoughtForTheDay #Empowerment #SelfEmpowerment

It's no secret we're in a high stakes moment for AI—today's open letter from OpenAI and Google DeepMind insiders is just the latest indicator of how crucial these conversations are. Glenda Sims is someone who's been at the forefront of the ethical AI battlegrounds for long enough to qualify her as a supremely informed voice, and in a new post today, she presents a clear and compelling narrative around why we must be remain both "brave and innovative": "AI presents us with remarkable potential and unavoidable challenges. We are truly on the brink of a transformative age where AI, driven by ethics and human intelligence, can radically reshape our digital landscape to be inclusive, fair, and accessible." There are many great thinkers and writers tackling these issues, but few are as simultaneously experienced and witty as Glenda Sims. I don't know if this is the only substantive AI article to reference the 3 Bears, but I'm willing to bet it's the one you'll love—and learn from—the most! #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #Accessibility #AIForGood #EthicalAI

Here's another excellent article from another Deque Systems, Inc colleague. In this piece, Abin Roy Choudhury highlights #accessibility momentum in #APAC, and really drills down into the business case for embracing accessibility. He details how business objectives can positively align with moral imperatives and clearly illustrates the regional opportunity. As Abin notes: "Web accessibility matters in APAC more than ever before. By prioritizing accessibility, businesses in the region can reach a diverse audience, comply with legal requirements, and enhance the overall user experience. In doing so, organizations can ensure they’re on the right side of history morally and ethically while simultaneously ensuring robust business health as well."