Xiaomi is always attentive to users, no matter what people say. In particular i disabled and elderly are a niche to which he has given particular attention. In MIUI Chinese, there are some really promising features when it comes to accessibility. We remember, last but not least, an interesting feature that allows the elderly to using the keyboard even easier. But is that all what the brand does? No, and she explains it to us on hers official blog.
Xiaomi's MIUI is the best Android skin for the disabled and the elderly: the accessibility options are complete and functional
Yesterday was the Global Availability Awareness Day, the day when Xiaomi welcomed a group of special guests at lo Xiaomi Science and Technology Park: Mi Fans with disabilities and Speech Recognition Assistants for Mi AI Speakers. A long name that indicates a special place where all users with certain disability (for example the visually impaired and the hearing impaired) can report feedback but also appreciate the work of MIUI developers. In addition to this, they can use the latest devices on which a particular "skin" ad hoc has been adopted for them.
The same users were sent to the Xiaomi headquarters to visit Mi Home and research and development laboratories, as well as participate in the co-creation session and the accessibility sharing session "Touch the Beauty". During the visit, team members from MIUI, AI, Services, loT and other departments engaged with Mi Fans with disabilities and have including their needs and suggestions. In particular, users shared some approaches to improve accessibility.
Cao Yu, one of the visually impaired Mi Fans, said that TalkBack on Xiaomi smartphones has brought great improvements to his life. "Now I can use applications like WeChat, food delivery and maps without any problems. It is unimaginable without the accessibility features of my Xiaomi smartphone.”Cao Yu also shared his hopes that the accessibility features on the Xiaomi smartphone become more systematic.
In Weixing, Vice President of the Technology Committee, Xiaomi Corporation said: "We organized this event because we want our team members from the Product Design Department and the Research and Development Department to communicate with our users with disabilities face to face and feel what they really need.. Our dream is very simple: we want everyone in the world to enjoy a better life with technologies, no one should be forgotten on this journey."
We remind you that Xiaomi's motto is "Technology for everyone". What better way to keep that promise than integrating all segments of the population?
Accessibility it is one of the key areas that Xiaomi has focused on since its first phase of establishment. For example, a feature called "Xiaomi Wensheng”(Which means“ Xiaomi hears the sound ”in Chinese) can help users converting voice to text in real time. Xiaomi has also developed features of voice control and hand gestures for users with physical disabilities, which allow them to control smart devices remotely with Mi AI Speakers or Mi Home App. Haptic allows visually impaired users to identify various information with vibration.
But this is not a project, that of Xiaomi, which provides for the development from people without disabilities to people with disabilities. It should be known that today, 42 people with disabilities worked for three years on the development of the brand's AI Speaker Voice Labeller project. This means that all features are built to perfection by and for people with these disabilities. The bra d's commitment was therefore also to hire these users. A testimony confirms what we are saying.
Chen Xiaowen, a blind team member working on the project, broke it stereotype of people with disabilities who cannot work and expressed the importance of employment for the disabled. "I was once denied a job due to my disability. In fact, we might as well do a good job as long as we have good accessibility. In my current position, I mainly deal with tagging user voices in order to "teach" the AI to understand instructions. This opportunity gives me a great sense of worth and belonging and has allowed me to pursue a better life".
