31 January 2006

Disabled people are being left behind by the fast-paced developments in technology, warn leading IT experts.

According to the British Computer Society (BCS), even everyday appliances such as mobile phones or microwaves are failing eight million people registered as disabled in the UK.

As part of his countrywide lectures, BCS spokesman Chris Mairs has spoken about the consequences of ignoring the needs of the disabled.

He argued that technological developments must be made more accessible to all, warning that many of us will eventually be registered as disabled as we grow older.

He also added that providing accessible appliances opened up a profitable area of the marketplace, with the disabled sector of society currently spending £50 billion annually.

Mr Mairs admitted that in some areas there had been admirable improvement in making technology easier to use for those impaired in some way.

However, he insisted there was still a long way to go.

"Voice technology has really opened up the world to the visually impaired," he said.

"We have talking newspapers, easy access to online music with speech, synthesised catalogues, email reading and writing and a speech interface with GPS, but on the other hand, other inventions which are heavy on technology have disenfranchised the disabled.

"For example, microwave cookers, mobile phones, iPods and most web sites are all particularly difficult to use if you have a visual impairment."

Chris Mairs has been touring the country with the BCS giving speeches in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Manchester and London.

© Adfero Ltd

Keep up to date with industry and Nomensa news by signing up to Nomensa newsletters.