Some Considerations for Accessible Voice-User Interfaces

Published July 22, 2024

Voice User Interface (VUI) technology has become integral to our daily lives. Products from companies such as Microsoft, Google, and Apple highlight this rising demand. While the appeal of this technology is clear, it's essential to consider its broader implications.

These interfaces must be both innovative and inclusive. For many, especially those with disabilities, VUIs provide a more accessible digital experience. However, as much as VUIs promote accessibility, they must be accessible. This article offers tips for designing accessible VUIs.

Understanding VUIs

Voice User Interfaces (VUIs) are software programs that allow users to engage with systems through voice commands. Users can engage with VUIs to turn on a device, find information online, or even play music. VUIs aid users in operating a range of devices, from computers and mobile devices to electric vehicle controls.

Google Assistant, Apple's Siri, and Amazon's Alexa lead this field. While each offers unique features and experiences, they share a core function: enabling hands-free, voice-activated engagement with technology.

Understanding digital accessibility

Digital accessibility ensures all users, especially those with disabilities, can use digital products and platforms. This commitment promotes an inclusive digital environment. While some may see accessibility as a narrow issue, its importance is universal.

Hassell Inclusion founder Jonathan Hassell best expresses this. Hassell Inclusion provides audits for businesses to help them assess and improve their accessibility practices. In an interview with Made Tech, Hassell aptly states that digital accessibility is “As much about my 80-year-old mom... It’s me when I’m cooking, and the background music isn't what I want. I say, ‘Hey Alexa, next track.’”

Such examples highlight the broad relevance of accessibility. In the digital age, technological advancements must serve diverse users. VUIs are no exception. 

The inherent potential for accessibility in VUIs

VUIs have the potential to reshape digital accessibility. Their voice-driven design is beneficial for those challenged by traditional interfaces. However, this potential comes with challenges. Like all digital products, VUIs can have accessibility oversights. As such, developers and designers must ensure these interfaces don't create new barriers.

To maximize the benefits of a VUI, consider the following points.

Accommodate different styles of speech

An inclusive VUI should do more than recognize standard speech. It should understand linguistic nuances, ensuring every user feels heard. Given the global nature of technology, VUIs encounter diverse accents, dialects, and unique speech patterns. The progress of leading VUIs shows that it’s possible to accommodate different accents and syntax variations.

Beyond regional differences, it's crucial to accommodate users with physical or vocal impairments. These users may have muffled, shaky, or distinct speech.

Allow for multi-modal interactions

Not all VUI users rely on speech. As such, accessible VUI design should consider multi-modal interactions. These allow users to engage through various modes of input or output. For example, deaf individuals or those with temporary or permanent vocal impairments might not use their voice. VUI design must not exclude these users.

By working in tandem with graphical user interfaces (GUIs) and chatbots, VUIs can offer a more inclusive user experience. Designers can facilitate this by ensuring their product uses a shared state management system. This means that one UI control's state depends on another's state. For instance, while a VUI provides auditory feedback, a GUI can supplement with visual cues. This tandem collaboration between interfaces allows for a more accessible and inclusive experience.

Customization and adjustments

To ensure VUIs remain accessible, they must accommodate diverse user experiences by offering adjustable settings. Volume control, for instance, isn't just a convenience. It's essential for users with hearing impairments or noise sensitivities.

Adjusting the speech rate can also be beneficial. Blind users, for example, might prefer a faster speech rate due to their adeptness at processing quick auditory information. On the other hand, users with cognitive impairments might benefit from a slower pace.

Consistency, cognitive load, and information hierarchy

Users shouldn't feel overwhelmed by disjointed content. Accessible VUI design should focus on consistent, logical, straightforward information distribution.

In designing VUI information architecture, it's essential to adhere to an accessible content structure. Introduce crucial information at the outset or emphasize it at the conclusion. The VUI should also offer ample context about the information presented.

Designers must also avoid ambiguous language, sarcasm, technical jargon, and abbreviations. Opt instead for concise and straightforward communication.

Conclusion

VUIs offer a transformative opportunity in accessible technology. Despite their capabilities, they demonstrate that innovation and inclusion aren't mutually exclusive. Instead, they complement and reinforce each other.

By carefully addressing the nuances of accessibility in VUI design, designers can meet the needs of users of all abilities. By accommodating varied speech patterns, offering multi-modal capabilities, providing user control, and ensuring appropriate cognitive load, VUIs can continue to pave the way for universal digital accessibility.

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