Digital Outcasts

The blind person who tries to make an online purchase. The young girl who cannot speak due to a cognitive disability. The man confined to his home due to permanent injury. The single mother with a long-term illness who struggles to feed her family.With one in seven people worldwide currently living with a disability, the term "outcast" covers numerous scenarios. Digital outcasts rely on technology for everyday services that many people take for granted. However, poorly designed products risk alienating this important (and growing) population.Through a "grass roots" approach to innovation, digital outcasts are gradually taking action to transform their lives and communities. This emerging trend provides exciting learning opportunities for all of us.Citing real-world case studies from healthcare to social science, this book examines the emerging legal and cultural impact of inclusive design.

Kel Smith is a speaker, author, instructor, and practitioner with nearly thirty years of experience working in the design and technology sectors. Mr. Smith has spearheaded accessibility efforts in such areas as medical devices, healthcare informatics, enterprise software, and workplace culture. Mr. Smith launched Aisle Won, a nutrition support app that connects low-income populations with sources of accessible and affordable locally grown food. Mr. Smith has delivered over 100 presentations in six countries on the topic of digital accessibility and social innovation. His credits include talks for the Centre for Health Literacy, the Royal National Institute of the Blind, the Art Institute of Chicago, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, and Stanford University, among many others. Mr. Smith's work has been featured on CBC Radio's "The Current,” National Public Radio, and the BBC. For nine years, Mr. Smith served on the board of directors for Inglis Foundation, the Philadelphia region's largest provider of accessible and affordable health services. He also served two terms as Vice Chair of the Philadelphia chapter of ACM/SIG-CHI for computer-human interaction. Mr. Smith is an adjunct lecturer at Rutgers University, teaching courses on digital design and the social impact of inclusive innovation.

Introduction 1. Who Are Digital Outcasts? 2. Interpreting Ability 3. Defining Innovation 4. Why Accessibility Alone Doesn't Matter 5. Playing for Health 6. Universal Life: Rise, Fall and Rise of Virtual Worlds 7. New Frontiers in Technology 8. Designing for the Digital Outcast Appendices Index Acknowledgements Credits