Digital Outcasts: Moving Technology Forward without Leaving People Behind

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.

• Gain a better understanding of how people with disabilities use technology
• Discover pitfalls and approaches to help you stay current in your UX practices
• Anticipate a future in which ambient benefit can be achieved for people of all abilities and backgrounds

About the Author

Kel Smith (Principal, Anikto LLC) is a longtime speaker, author and practitioner on digital accessibility. The Pentagon Library, Springer-Verlag, the American Law Institute, the American Bar Association, the International Journal of E-Politics, Kent State's Knowledge Management Program, the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law, the E-Access Bulletin and UX Magazine (UPA) have published his papers and articles. His presentations include three appearances at the CSUN Conference for Persons with Disabilities (San Diego), two stints at World Future Society (Boston and Vancouver), the Royal National Institute of the Blind (London), the Interaction Design Association (Savannah), the Unitech ICT Network (Oslo), the Society for Technical Communications (Sacramento) and the Universitat Autònoma (Barcelona). A current member of the Interaction Design Association (IxDA) and the Usability Professionals' Association (UPA), Kel served two terms as Vice Chair of the Philadelphia chapter of ACM/SIG-CHI for computer-human interaction. He earned his BFA in photography from the Maryland Institute College of Art and studied cognitive science as part of the MS program at Philadelphia University.