Summary

In this insightful blog post, we dive into the latest technological trends such as AI, voice technology, blockchain, and AR/VR.

The popularity of print media formats among U.S. consumers is persistent. Despite that digital platforms such as online newspapers, magazines, and digital books have been steadily gaining popularity.

According to the Statista report on the projected market growth of digital publishing in the United States in March 2024, the sector may record an upward revenue trend, pegged to exceed $27 billion by 2027. Therefore signaling a pivotal shift in the publishing industry towards embracing digital mediums.

As the digital publishing industry expands, it is also unfolding to meet digital accessibility goals by making sure that the content is accessible to all individuals, including those with disabilities.

Consequently, several technological trends are emerging in the publishing industry, each playing a crucial role in this shift. Editors around the globe must stay informed about these trends to incorporate digital accessibility into their publishing practices effectively.

Let’s take a closer look at the most prominent technological trends for accessible publishing that every editor.

Table of Contents:

Editors Guide to Technological Trends for Digital Accessibility

1. Al and Natural Language Processing (NLP)

Al in publishing is a game-changer in making content accessible to everyone. One can think of it as a powerful tool that can take the text from a book or article and instantly convert it into audio or large print. It can also be used in braille publishing to provide tactile access for those who need it. AI and accessibility are truly changing the way digital content is today produced and distributed.

Relative to this, NLP goes a notch higher in improving how we incorporate text and speech. Specifically in digital publishing, the conversion of text into speech by using NLP allows one to read articles, books, and any other printed material with a lifelike auditory experience for users with visual impairments.

On the other hand, speech-to-text technology, again based on NLP, converts spoken words to text. It is useful for generating the transcript of audiobooks or podcasts, making audio content accessible to those with hearing impairments.

Also Read: Exploring the Future of Al in Typesetting Services

2. Voice-Activated Technology

The market for voice assistants is rapidly expanding. Projections indicate that the global market will grow from $20.1 billion in 2024 to USD 42.8 billion by 2032. This is because the adoption and reliance on voice-activated technology is surging.

Thanks to voice-based assistive technology, editors can use voice commands to navigate through documents, perform searches, and access specific sections of content without manually scrolling or typing. Similarly, they can listen to text being read aloud, which helps catch errors that might be missed when reading silently.

An auditory review like this can reveal awkward phrasings, incorrect punctuation, or grammatical mistakes. Plus, voice assistants equipped with advanced NLP can provide real-time suggestions for improving sentence structure and clarity.

By now, it’s clear that voice assistants can simulate how content will be experienced by users relying on text-to-speech technologies. Therefore, editors can use these tools to check the flow and understandability of the content when read aloud to make sure it meets accessibility standards.

3. Blockchain Technology

A report by the Queensland University of Technology explores a publisher-centered model of blockchain publishing designed to create value for micro-publishers. The report synthesizes research and experiments on blockchain and publishing, highlighting five key areas where blockchain technology can tackle challenges faced by book publishers:

  • Improving readership and audience engagement
  • Organizing distribution
  • Improving rights management
  • Simplifying royalty tracking and payments
  • Verifying authorship and facilitating co-creation

Here’s more on how blockchain technology makes it all possible:

1. Secure and Transparent Digital Rights Management

Blockchain technology provides a safe and transparent way to manage digital rights so that accessible content is distributed fairly and legally. In addition, by recording transactions on an immutable ledger, this technology also guarantees that the ownership and rights to digital content are clear and cannot be tampered with.

2. Authenticating and Verifying Content

It is possible to utilize blockchain for the identification and confirmation of content and its components. It means that for every piece of content, one could assign a unique digital fingerprint that can be stored on the blockchain.

For accessible content, this verification is a necessary requirement as it guarantees that the content remains in the intended accessible format and free from unauthorized modifications.

3. Facilitating Micro-Payments and Access Models

Blockchain supports micro-payment systems, which can be used to create new access models for digital content. For example, users could pay small amounts to access specific articles, chapters, or sections of accessible content. This option comes in very handy for individuals who may not need an entire book or subscription.

4. AR/VR Technology

The New York Times has been utilizing augmented reality to build useful experiences that can assist readers to see much more than they normally would. AR makes the stories more effective and gets the audiences involved by superimposing digital information on the user’s camera feeds.

In a recent collaboration with Facebook, The Times launched an Instagram-driven AR initiative to create more personal and interactive user experiences. This project uses Spark AR, Facebook’s developer platform, which provides tools and software for creating AR filters and camera effects. These AR creations are then distributed on Instagram and Facebook, allowing users to engage with enhanced visual content.

1. Digital Accessibility Testing and User Experience Simulation

One of the most practical uses of AR/VR for editors is digital accessibility testing and user experience simulation. Using VR headsets, editors can simulate various disabilities, such as visual impairments or mobility restrictions, to understand how different users interact with the content. This hands-on approach helps editors identify digital accessibility issues that might not be apparent through traditional testing methods.

Also Read: Accessibility Compliance: A Shared Responsibility for Businesses, Developers, and Users

The Conclusion – Why Editors Must Embrace These Tech Trends?

Editors must seize these tech trends to stay relevant and competitive in the evolving publishing world. AR, VR, Al, and blockchain enhance content accessibility, engagement, and security.

By adopting these assistive technologies, editors can create more inclusive, interactive, and reliable publications while guaranteeing accessible publishing and meeting WCAG compliance standards. It will help reach a wider audience and meet readers’ expectations for innovative and accessible content.

Hurix Digital offers extensive accessibility solutions, including thorough accessibility audits and the integration of best practices to make your business website and application WCAG-compliant. Our expert team identifies and addresses accessibility barriers, thus improving the user experience for all individuals.

Book a call today to learn more!