IBM Celebrates Global Accessibility Awareness Day – May 16
On Thursday, May 16, IBM site locations and iX Design Studios across the U.S. will celebrate the eighth annual Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) – a worldwide observation to raise awareness of digital access and inclusion issues for people with disabilities. As an IBMer with a disability, and a founding member of IBM’s Team Able, I am […]
IBM at John Slatin AccessU 2019
Anytime is a good time to visit Austin, TX. Be it for the Austin City Limits Music festival (ACL), South by Southwest® (SXSW®) or most importantly the Web accessibility training program, John Slatin AccessU. AccessU is named after a pioneering leader in web accessibility, the late John Slatin, a professor at the University of Texas. […]
Invention and inclusion: a two-way approach
Patenting is my passion and inclusion is my responsibility as an inventor. We should always think about how we can include all of the population in the technology we create. Invention and inclusion work very well together, as they can work in both directions. Together, we can invent to improve lives and make this world […]
Reflections from a Brief Detour
About a month ago, I was “temporarily disabled” – I could not move without severe abdominal pain. I was diagnosed with appendicitis and had to undergo emergency surgery to remove the offending organ because it had enlarged to roughly threefold the average size. During the recovery, I was bedridden and under the constant care of […]
NDEAM: Recognizing Progress and Potential
(Image Description: Erich addresses participants at the AI Fairness for People with Disabilities workshop on Oct 4th in Cambridge, MA) Before October gets away from me, I wanted to recognize and appreciate IBM’s rich history & culture of real inclusion. When a company implements small-but-meaningful practices, rather than just tracking the general diversity numbers of […]
A look back on my summer internship with the IBM Accessibility team
After spending my sophomore and junior years working on assistive technology projects with Northwestern University’s Inclusive Technology Lab, the opportunity to explore accessibility research at IBM was an exciting introduction into the industry. I worked on everything from server configuration to front-end development to design research interviews. This broad range of experience made for a […]
Reflection During National Disability Employment Awareness Month
National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) is nearing its halfway point, and we would like to reflect on its theme of “America’s Workforce: Empowering All.” For more than 100 years, IBM has embodied that theme by practicing disability inclusion. While there is (always) still work to be done, we are excited and awed by what […]
Advancing the design of NavCog
Every day, over 2.5 million people travel in and out of airports[1]. While air traveling has become an integral part of our lives and despite efforts to provide entertainment, comfort, and assistance, airports cause stress and anxiety. In fact, a recent study found that about 80% of people feel tense when traveling through the airport[2]. […]
Puzzle Solving with Computer Vision and Watson Services
Who doesn’t love the challenge of solving a puzzle? Jigsaw puzzles are a popular hobby for all ages and have been an important tool in a child’s physical, cognitive and emotional development. Children can develop physical skills such as better hand/eye coordination; cognitive skills such as shape recognition, memory, and problem solving; and emotional skills […]