Google Displaying Accessibility Information More Prominently

With a refined change, Google is making it extra apparent to customers whether or not companies and different public locations are accessible to individuals with disabilities.

The know-how big has up to date Google Maps to show a wheelchair icon by default on a location’s entry if the place has a wheelchair-accessible entrance. Beforehand, this info was solely seen to customers who opted right into a function referred to as Accessible Locations.

“Now, we’re making the icon seen for everybody on Maps so you may ‘know earlier than you go’ if there’s a step-free entrance, which is useful whether or not you’re utilizing a wheelchair, pushing a stroller or lugging a suitcase,” wrote Jerry Robinson, a consumer expertise researcher at Google, in a posting.

Since 2020, Google Maps has supplied details about bodily accessibility at varied places and the corporate mentioned these particulars are actually accessible for greater than 40 million companies around the globe. Data relies on contributions from enterprise house owners and different Google customers.

The wheelchair icon signifies whether or not a location has an accessible entrance, however extra particulars about accessibility equivalent to wheelchair-accessible seating, parking or restrooms will be seen by clicking on the “about” tab.

Along with the Google Maps replace, the corporate mentioned that it’s testing Lookout, a brand new function that makes use of synthetic intelligence to supply picture descriptions to assist these with imaginative and prescient impairment. And, Google indicated that it’s increasing the provision of Stay Caption, which presents real-time captioning for any sort of audio, amongst different accessibility enhancements.

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