Using Distributed Processing to Create More Powerful, Flexible and User Matched Accessibility Services

Accessibility today is characterized by individual devices, which have been custom-built for people with disabilities (talking alarm clock, braille watches, special communication devices, etc.) or mainstream devices such as computers, which have been adapted with hardware or software to be usable by an individual with disabilities. This model results in more isolated access packages whose capabilities are limited by the particular devices on which they are run. By moving to more distributed, network-based accessibility, solutions, we open up the potential for a much wider ran;e of accessibility solutions which can not only evolve over time, but vary by environment, task, etc. A rainbow of on-demand services and capabilities can be available to them. It also opens up the potential for individuals who cannot afford assistive technologies to be able to tap into a pool of free public assistive services that they can use on any device which they encounter.