The level of awareness of accessible technology is high, and 44% of computer users use some form of accessible technology today; however many of them are not using the full array of accessibility options/utilities or assistive technology products that would benefit them. Computer users do not recognize that accessible technology will benefit their computing experience and the use of accessible technology relies too much on computer users seeking it out.
The two primary factors that influence the use of accessible technology—computer experience and confidence—point to the need to make accessible technology easier to find and use. Computer users
with and without difficulties/impairments approach their computers with the same goalsto be able to comfortably, efficiently, and successfully use their computers. When faced with barriers, such as difficulty typing or seeing the screen, computer users look for solutions that make it easier to type or read the computer screen.
Making accessible technology easier to find and use will result in computers that are easier, more convenient, and more comfortable for computer users with diverse needs and preferences to use.
This will result in a growth in the accessible technology market.
This section presents three potential areas for growth in the accessible technology market and includes
a forecast of growth in the market for accessible technology from 2003 to 2010.
Growth in the Accessible Technology Market
Growth in the overall use of accessible technology is likely to come from three areas:
-
Expanding use of accessible technology among current users of accessible technology (both accessibility options/utilities and assistive technology products).
-
Expanding use of accessible technology to a wider audience of computer users.
-
Increasing numbers of computer users likely to benefit from the use of accessible technology due to an increase in the general US population and an increase in computer use among individuals over the age of 65.
Figure 19 presents the total predicted growth in accessible technology users between 2003 and 2010. Currently, 57 million use some form of accessible technology. By 2010, the number of accessible technology users is expected to rise to 70 million.
However, for growth in the accessible technology market to be realized, considerable efforts need to be made to overcome the barriers currently faced by computer users who need accessible technology. Addressing these barriers will unlock the potential benefits of accessible technology to a wider audience of computer users. The three potential growth areas are discussed below.
F igure 19: Predicted Growth in Number of Accessible Technology Users from 2003 to 2010
Expanding the Use Among Current Users of Accessible Technology
Many computer users who are using accessibility options/utilities are not using the full selection of accessibility options/utilities that would benefit them. Individuals often stumble across one option while missing others. While most of the expansion in use will come from built-in accessibility options/utilities, this group of users may also buy assistive technology products.
Expanding the Use of Accessibility Options/Utilities Among Current Users of Accessible Technology
Expanding the use of accessibility options/utilities will not result in growth in the number of people using accessible technology, but it has the potential to dramatically increase the number of people using each type of built-in accessibility options/utilities. Consider what would happen if half of the 57 million users (28.5 million) began using additional accessibility options/utilities. In this scenario, the market measured by product use would grow more than if the remaining 22 million computer users who have mild or severe difficulties/impairments who are not yet using accessible technology started using accessible technology.
Additionally, expanding use of accessibility options among current users could indirectly contribute to grassroots growth in the use of accessibility options/utilities because most people learn about accessibility options/utilities from friends or family. Expanding the amount and types of accessibility options/utilities a person uses increases the probability that they will influence someone else to start using accessible technology.
Expanding the Use of Assistive Technology Products Among Current Users of Accessible Technology
Most computer users who use assistive technology products also use accessibility options/utilities; therefore most of the growth in the number of people using accessible technology will occur for accessibility options/utilities. It is difficult to calculate growth in the assistive technology market in particular because growth in the use of accessibility options/utilities is much larger and masks any growth in the use of assistive technology products. However, while difficulty to measure, there are opportunities to expand use of assistive technology products among individuals with severe difficulties/impairments who are not using them yet as well as for some assistive technology products to be used by a wider audience.
Only 24% of computer users with severe difficulties/impairments currently use assistive technology products. Assistive technology products are often critical for many individuals, particularly for those with severe difficulties/impairments, to be able to use computers effectively. However, assistive technology products are under utilized. Individuals with severe difficulties/impairments need to be able to easily find an assistive technology product that will benefit them the most. A large number of users with severe difficulties/impairments (39%) do not even know that additional assistive technology products would enhance their computing experience. While assistive technology owners rely heavily on their friends and family when considering products, those who discovered their assistive technology products on their own are more than twice as likely to have bought the products themselves (60% versus 30%).
Many assistive technology users don’t perceive their difficulty/impairment as a reason for using these products but rather are looking for solutions to make their computer easier and more comfortable to use. Potential users of assistive technology products are searching for products that will enhance their computing experience and functionalityproducts that will make it easier to type, use a mouse, or see the screen, for example. These potential users of assistive technology products are likely to overlook many products with these functions because the industry often markets these products toward people with disabilities and highlights the disability the products is designed to assist, rather than the functionality of the product.
There is also a potential for some assistive technology products (such as voice recognition software, screen magnifiers, and trackballs) to reach a wider audience beyond those with difficulties/impairments.
If more computer users were made aware of the benefits assistive technology products offer and if assistive technology products were easier to find, these products could reach a larger market. However, very specialized products such as refreshable Braille displays and screen readers (for computer users who are blind) or sip-and-puff switches (for computer users with paralysis) are not likely to reach a wider audience. The following section discusses more about expanding the use of all forms of accessible technology to a wider audience of computer users.
Share with your friends: |
