Technologies for public services are generally designed with the majority of the
population in mind
The majority of the problems that arose during our project were caused by the fact that public transportation was not designed with blind and partially sighted commuters in mind. The majority of information regarding public transportation schedules and identity is displayed on signs. Because blind and partially sighted commuters cannot see these visual cues, they miss a significant portion of the information that sighted commuters can easily access. The problems that blind and partially sighted face using public transportation parallel problems that various minority groups face when using products not designed specifically for their community.
Unequal access to technologies can equate to unequal access to the rest of society
Since public transit is not designed with blind and partially sighted commuters in mind, the challenges they face while commuting can discourage them from using public transportation. Blind and partially sighted commuters have limited options for transit in Copenhagen. They themselves cannot drive or ride bicycles, so their transit options are limited to being driven or walking. If publictransportation is inaccessible, people who are blind and partially sighted cannot travel far
independently, which could cause them to miss work opportunities or social events. When the designers of a new technology do not consider a holistic view of their users, they risk marginalizing large groups that may already be at a disadvantage.
It is economically difficult for companies to prioritize the needs of minorities.
Money is not in abundance in the transportation industry, and public transportation companies often have to prioritize more pressing infrastructural changes over accessibility improvements. Public transit companies need to be competitive in the market and generate revenue. Making
accommodations would cost a large amount of money, and would not result in a direct return on investment, as the number of customers would not increase greatly. Our interview with DSB
affect customers who already frequently use public transit, not necessarily bring in new users. The returns on investment into accommodations often take the form of customer satisfaction, not increased revenue. Public transit companies have to make reasonable accommodations by various EU laws and regulations, but making any accommodations beyond that can be economically untenable.
Society is reliant on technology, but technology is not accessible to all members of
society
Public transportation has become much easier to use because of new technologies. Display boards, announcements, and mobile phone applications make it easy for commuters to get updated information about schedule changes in public transit. But consequently, people have become dependent on these technologies. They rely on updated information from these sources to feel comfortable while using public transit. As these technologies have evolved to give more accurate updated information, accommodations for people who are blind and partially sighted have always been one step behind. As long as technology continues to evolve as an integral part of society, minority groups like the blind and partially sighted community will need to be accommodated for if there is ever to be equality for these groups.
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