@jamesthu @g3ict #smartcities4all #SmartA11y

Defining Accessible Smart

Cities
Guwahati, Assam
March 24, 2017

James Thurston
Vice President for Global Strategy & Development
G3ict – Global Initiative for Inclusive ICTs
@jamesthu @g3ict #smartcities4all #SmartA11y

Smart Cities For All

Unlocking Human Potential
@jamesthu @g3ict #smartcities4all #SmartA11y

1 What are we talking

about?
• A Smart City…uses information and
communication technologies (ICTs) and other
means to enhance livability, workability, and
sustainability….Smart cities are something that
citizens can collectively “tune”. They are
interactive, adaptive, and flexible.

• Accessible technology…Usable by anyone,

regardless of age or ability. Makes it easier to see,
hear, & use all ICT devices. Personalize
experience to meet own unique needs &
preferences…57% of all working age adults benefit
from accessibility…85% of population
situationally disabled at work and play.
 @jamesthu @g3ict #smartcities4all #SmartA11y

Accessibility features for the blind

and people with low vision
• Challenge: Cannot see screens, navigate
websites, use touch screen keyboards, read
electronic books and emails, etc

• Solutions:
– Screen magnifiers
– Screen readers for computers and mobile
phones
• Converts information into speech or
Braille display
– Gesture-based screen readers for touch
screen tablets and phones
– Tactile markers, tactile and/or audible
feedback
– Adjustable font sizes
– Text to speech functionality
 @jamesthu @g3ict #smartcities4all #SmartA11y

Accessibility features for deaf and

hard-of-hearing
• Challenge: Cannot hear callers or automated
electronic messages, access emergency
services

• Solutions:
– Volume adjustment and speakers
– Relay services
– Video relay services
– SMS and MMS
– Visual or vibrating alerts
– Call logs
– Hearing aid compatibility
– Video/TV captioning and signing
 @jamesthu @g3ict #smartcities4all #SmartA11y

Just like wheelchair ramps and audible

alerts for crossing the street, accessible
ICTs open doors to…
Digital
Inclusion Education
Jobs
Mobility
Providing Social & civic engagement
a better E-government services
life Emergency services

And Smarter Cities

 @jamesthu @g3ict #smartcities4all #SmartA11y

The
Breadth of
Smart City
Activities

* from the Smart Cities Council

 @jamesthu @g3ict #smartcities4all #SmartA11y

What are Smart City Solutions?

People
w/ Disabilities
& Older Persons

Citizen Engagement
is Accessible to All

Back End Functions

 @jamesthu @g3ict #smartcities4all #SmartA11y

Should we be
2 concerned by global
trends? • Smart cities are booming.
• The world is urbanizing. 50%
of people live in cities today. The value of the global
That will grow to 70% by 2050. smart cities technology
• The Internet of Things is market will be more than
advancing. 50 billion devices $1.5 trillion by 2020
will be connected to the internet • Technology investments by
by 2020. Up from 10 billion in smart cities will either
2012 and just 200 million in narrow the digital divide
2000.
for the 1 billion persons
• Today, persons with disabilities with disabilities worldwide
are largely excluded from the
or worsen it.
global shift to greater reliance
on technology
 @jamesthu @g3ict #smartcities4all #SmartA11y

How accessible is the

3 world today?*
Does your country have…
• Screen readers available in main national
language? 56% Minority languages? 21%
• TTS on smart phones & tablets in main national
language? 70% Minority languages? 23%
• Government websites that are accessible? 40%
• Accessible web among top 10 commercial &
media websites? 18%
* from G3ict • Public libraries providing e-Book services 34%
2016 CRPD
Progress
• Data available to public about digital access by
Report Persons with Disabilities 12%
 @jamesthu @g3ict #smartcities4all #SmartA11y

Are Smart Cities

4 accessible today?
• >250 experts worldwide on smart cities and Accessibility experts
say NO.
• Less than ½ of experts, just 44%, know of a smart city project with
an explicit focus on ICT accessibility.
• Global experts see no clear link between ICT accessibility
standards and smart cities programs worldwide. Just 18% know
of smart cities that use accessibility standards.
• Only 20% of CRPD states parties have policies for accessible
smart cities and they are only minimally implementing them
• Smart cities are failing persons with disabilities according to 60%
of global experts.
 @jamesthu @g3ict #smartcities4all #SmartA11y

The
impact
of the
Smart
City
digital
divide
 @jamesthu @g3ict #smartcities4all #SmartA11y

Biggest barriers to ICT accessibility

in Smart Cities
 @jamesthu @g3ict #smartcities4all #SmartA11y

Improving accessibility & digital

inclusion in Smart Cities
 @jamesthu @g3ict #smartcities4all #SmartA11y

5
Phase One

Accessible Smart City

Toolkit
 @jamesthu @g3ict #smartcities4all #SmartA11y

Smart Cities for All Tools

1 Case for Accessible ICTs

2 Model ICT Procurement Policy

3 Inventory of Accessibility Standards

4 Database of Smart City Solutions

 @jamesthu @g3ict #smartcities4all #SmartA11y

Moving Forward:
6 Broader Digital Inclusion

Six Strategies for Success

① Provide Direct Technical Assistance to Smart Cities
② Expand Tools Available to Smart Cities
③ Evangelize ICT Accessibility at a Global Scale
④ Increase Capacity via Training and Knowledge Sharing
⑤ Drive Accessible Technology Innovation in Smart Cities
Solutions
⑥ Change the Global Narrative
 @jamesthu @g3ict #smartcities4all #SmartA11y

Smart Cities for All

James Thurston
jthurston@g3ict.org
www.g3ict.org
www.accessibilityassociation.org
Smart Cities Solutions
 Smart City Solutions

@jamesthu @victorpineda #SmartA11y @G3ict @WorldEnabled

@AbilityNet
What is Accessible Technology?
UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
(CRPD)
…x…
Article 3 – General Principles Article 9 - Accessibility
“…enable persons with disabilities to live independently and
ITUwith
participate fully in all aspects of life, …ensure to persons U4SSC Initiative
disabilities access, on an equal basis with others, to the physical
environment, to transportation, to information and communications,
including information and communications technologies &
systems…”

Usable by anyone, ICT Accessibility

regardless of age or Ecosystem
ability. 1. Features built into
Makes it easier to see, hear, mainstream products
& use all ICT devices. 2. Assistive technologies
Personalize experience to 3. Interoperability
meet own unique needs &
preferences
 Accessibility features for limited
• Challenge: cannot use limbs, flex fingers, press
mobility or navigate buttons on a phone, or a mouse on a
computer
• Solutions:
– Voice recognition to activate voice
commands for computers and cell phones
– Auto text
– Anti-shake apps
– Adapted keyboards and mice
– Alternate input devices

@jamesthu @victorpineda #SmartA11y @G3ict @WorldEnabled

@AbilityNet
Accessibility features for cognitive
disabilities
• Challenge: Difficulty focusing on ICT tasks,
like reading and typing

• Solutions:
– Change font size and colors
– Built in screen readers for on-screen text
and some events
– Keyboard adjustments to simplify typing,
e.g. sticky keys, toggle keys, filter keys
– Reduce on-screen visual distractions,
e.g. remove background images, turn off
animations, set how long dialog boxes
stay open
– Command device with voice
– Have your device speak
 Just like wheelchair ramps and audible
Digital alerts for crossing the street, accessible
Inclusio ICTs open doors to

n
Education
Jobs
Providi Social interaction
ng a E-government services
Emergency services
better
life
@jamesthu @victorpineda #SmartA11y @G3ict @WorldEnabled
@AbilityNet
 Accessible Kiosks

http://www.elephantkiosks.co.
uk/perch/resources/elekiosk/h
eight-kiosk-w960h720.png
https://www.link.nyc/assets/img/4.jpg

@jamesthu @victorpineda #SmartA11y @G3ict @WorldEnabled @AbilityNet

@jamesthu @victorpineda #SmartA11y @G3ict @WorldEnabled @AbilityNet
http://www.accessibledispatch.co
m/wp-
content/themes/accessibledispat
ch/images/slideshow1.jpg

@jamesthu @victorpineda #SmartA11y @G3ict @WorldEnabled @AbilityNet

http://smartcitynews.global/w
p-
content/uploads/2016/10/shut
terstock_307040039.jpg
http://www.easpd.eu/
sites/default/files/site
s/default/files/picture
s/access_city_award
.jpg
@jamesthu @victorpineda #SmartA11y @G3ict @WorldEnabled @AbilityNet
 Accessible Websites

http://insights.siteimprove.co
m/highereducation/Article/es
tablishing-credibility-online-
with-quality-information/

@jamesthu @victorpineda #SmartA11y @G3ict @WorldEnabled @AbilityNet

 Accessible Voting

http://vote.sonoma-
county.org/images/voting_syste
m_components.jpg

@jamesthu @victorpineda #SmartA11y @G3ict @WorldEnabled @AbilityNet

 Accessible Public Documents

https://blogs.office.co
m/wp-
content/uploads/2016/
08/Productivity-and-
inclusion-5b.png

@jamesthu @victorpineda #SmartA11y @G3ict @WorldEnabled @AbilityNet

 Accessible Public Documents

http://docplayer.net/docs
-
images/13/18310/image
s/44-0.png

@jamesthu @victorpineda #SmartA11y @G3ict @WorldEnabled @AbilityNet

 The
Impact
of the
Smart
City
Digital
Divide
areas?
 Thank you London!

jthurston@g3ict.org victor@worldenabled.org

http://g3ict.org/ http://worldenabled.org/

@jamesthu @victorpineda #SmartA11y @G3ict @WorldEnabled

@AbilityNet