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Microsoft Teams makes it easier to host meetings using sign language
Microsoft Teams now has a sign language view that helps people who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Snapchat's latest lens helps you learn the American Sign Language alphabet
Snapchat has unveiled a new lens that teaches you the American Sign Language alphabet.
Disability organizations call on DOJ to finalize online accessibility rules
In a letter published today, 181 disability organizations call for the Department of Justice to finalize rules for online accessibility.
Portal users can now bring sign language interpreters into video calls
Meta Portal devices now serve as video relays for hard of hearing people who may need interpreters.
SiriusXM sued over lack of podcast transcripts for the hard of hearing
SiriusXM is facing a lawsuit over the lack of podcast transcripts in its apps, including Pandora and Stitcher.
FCC aims to make emergency alerts more accessible for the hard of hearing
An FCC proposal would make the Emergency Alert System more accessible to people with hearing issues.
E3 failed its deaf and hard-of-hearing viewers today
If you were relying on the ESA's closed captions to make sense of what’s being unveiled at E3 today, you might have been very confused.
This web app uses computer vision to teach you the ASL alphabet
Fingerspelling.xyz is a web-based experience that takes advantage of computer vision software to make the process of learning the ASL alphabet fun and easy.
Chrome can now caption all audio playing through the browser
Google is bringing one of its most useful Android accessibility features to Chrome. The company announced today that its browser can now caption any audio and video you play in it.
Naughty Dog details the extensive accessibility in 'The Last of Us Part II'
'The Last of Us Part II' will have accessibility on a level you likely haven't seen in any other game.
Google Disability Support is more accessible with sign language specialists
Google is now ready to offer live help for accessibility features regardless of your hearing. The search firm now offers Disability Support through American Sign Language, letting you troubleshoot through video chat if you're deaf or hard-of-hearing. Google reps can walk you through setting up Live Caption on your Pixel, for example.
Huawei app uses AI to help deaf children read
Deaf children face challenges learning to read. As their parents and teachers often don't know sign language, young ones can't always make the connection between words on the page and their own life experiences. Huawei aims to fix that with its StorySign app for Android. Point your phone at certain children's books and the app will use AI to translate individual words on the page to sign language performed by an avatar (created by Wallace and Gromit's Aardman Animations, no less). This not only helps children read, but can teach parents the sign language they'd need to tell the story later.
Google Slides automatically captions your presentations
If you want to caption a presentation for people who are deaf or hard of hearing, you typically have to do it yourself. Google might just save you that trouble -- it's launching an automatic closed captioning feature for Slides. Plug a microphone into your computer, hit a "CC" button and Slides will automatically caption your speech as you walk through the presentation. As the captions arrive in real-time, you don't have to worry about stopping on each slide to give your audience a chance to read.
Uber offers basic sign language tips so you can talk to deaf drivers
Back in 2015, Uber added some features for drivers who were deaf and hard of hearing, including visual notifications of impending rides. Today, as a wrap-up for National Deaf Awareness Month, Uber has updated its main app to teach riders how to sign basic phrases like "hello" and "thank you" for drivers with hearing impairments.
Lyft offers drivers 24/7 access to support services
Today, Lyft announced a few new features for its driver support app that are meant to make the process of getting help simpler and easier to navigate. First, the Lyft Driver app will now include a button that will allow drivers to quickly connect with the company's new 24/7 over-the-phone support service. And Lyft is also rolling out phone and email support for Spanish-speaking drivers and adding Spanish-speaking team members to its on-call support team. Additionally, the company's online help center has been tweaked to make sure drivers' questions get answered more quickly.
Lyft requests will light up phones for deaf drivers
Back in April, Lyft launched features that made its system easier to use by deaf drivers and those who are hard of hearing. Now, it's adding a couple more to celebrate National Deaf Awareness Month. Thanks to its partnership with the National Association of the Deaf, the ride-hailing firm has developed "flash-on request" for drivers. If they've activated the app's hard-of-hearing accessibility function, they'll get a powerful visual notification whenever a ride request comes in: their phone's screen and flashlight will both light up. When combined with the Amp emblem flashing the words "New Ride," it could lower the chances of a driver missing out on a request.
Lyft's dashboard display helps drivers with hearing impairments
Accessibility isn't just for those with a disability; inclusion benefits all of us. Adding a visual notification to an auditory one hurts nobody, and it allows people with a hearing impairment to participate in normal activities -- like driving for a ride-sharing company. Luckily, Lyft has just added two little tweaks to its system to empower drivers with a hearing impairment.
YouTube automates sound effect captions with AI
YouTube has used algorithms to automatically caption speech for eight years now in an effort to make its billions of videos more accessible for the deaf and hard of hearing. While the feature was pretty rough at first, it has significantly improved it over time, getting "closer and closer to human transcription error rates," Google said in its developers blog. Since speech is just one part of the audio picture, though, YouTube has launched automatic sound effect captioning for the first time.
FCC program that gives tech to deaf, blind Americans is permanent
The FCC's iCanConnect program, which provides communication equipment to low-income deaf and blind Americans, is now permanent after four years in pilot form. Known formally as the National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program, it offers $10 million a year to local providers of communication technology aimed at helping deaf and blind folks connect with family and friends, and live more independently.
Uber's driver app now serves the hearing impaired
More often than not, most features released by Uber are designed for its customers, not drivers. Today, though, the ridesharing firm is making some changes to help a specific group of people behind the wheel: those who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. These updates, planned in tandem with the National Association of the Deaf, lets drivers access an Uber Partner app that offers tools created particularly for the hearing impaired. For example, contractors are now able to modify their app to have the flashlight turn on when a trip's being requested, along with the existing audio notification. They can also set it so that riders receive a message directly on the Uber app, prompting them to enter a destination or to provide special instructions for a pick-up.
