The arrival of AI technology has allowed web designers to transform the way they approach website creation. This has also helped to improve accessibility tools, which is a particular area of importance when you consider that there are an estimated 16 million people in the UK who have a disability.
However, there is still a high percentage of websites that are not inclusive enough and the use of AI web design could have a significant role to play in helping to change that.
In this article we discuss how AI can be used to boost web design accessibility and highlight some of the tools that are currently available.
What is Accessible Web Design?
Accessible web design encompasses the idea of creating websites that are made available to, and can be used by, people with disabilities. In practical terms, this means designs that cater for people with motor, cognitive, visual and auditory disabilities, as well as those who use screen reading software and other forms of assistive technology.
Businesses also have a legal obligation to ensure their website is accessible, with legislative acts such as Equality Act 2010 and the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) putting compliance standards in place.
Why is Accessible Web Design Important?
Web design accessibility should ensure that a person with a disability should be able to enjoy the same services, engage in the same interactions and acquire the same information as a person without a disability.
Prioritising web accessibility allows all visitors to the site to have a seamless experience, regardless of their circumstances. Websites that do not comply with accessible requirements render it difficult or completely unusable for some people with disabilities, which can be deemed to be discriminatory.
How Can Using AI For Web Design Improve Accessibility?
AI web design can have a significant role to play in improving accessibility, by using tools such as:
Computer Vision
Computer vision is a field of AI that allows computers to automatically recognise digital images and videos so they can be accurately described. It provides tools such as the adjustment of colour, contrast and magnification, whilst it can be used for emotional detection, gesture and facial recognition for users, based on image recognition or analysis. The AI technology can also be implemented to include navigation assistance, scene description and object recognition.
Natural Language Processing
Natural language processing (NLP) enables computers to better understand and generate natural language through text and speech.
NLP can be used to create transcripts or captions for video or audio content based on synthesis or speech recognition. Audio descriptions or visual content can also be built based on text generation or summarisation. Another option could be to include chat or voice-based interaction based on natural language generation or understanding.
Machine Learning
Machine learning removes the need for explicit programming, as it is a technology that works to improve performance by analysing and learning from data. Web design accessibility can be improved by machine learning through the processing of large amounts of data to extract predictions, insights and patterns that can be implemented into the web design.
For example, the technology can create alternative text for videos and images based on their visual context or content. Web pages could also be classed accordingly based on their accessibility to identify any issues that need to be rectified.
Final Thoughts
AI can be utilised in lots of different ways to enhance website design accessibility, especially when used in collaboration with experienced design teams. At Webshape Design we understand the intricacies that come with building an inclusive website and have helped countless businesses to make their services more accessible online. From machine learning and NLP to computer vision and more, integrating these tools can help modernise your site and ensure your offering can be reached by as many people as possible.
