NOAA, CDC, and US Department of Homeland Security have started using Second Life as a tool for their agencies or interacting with the public. As more federal agencies delve into Second Life and other emerging technologies, issues of accessibility become more important — with more participants. If the second life (or other) platforms are used for things such as job interviews, accessibility is necessary to assure fair opporunities for all.

In a room full of AT researchers, innovators and federal education staff you might expect questions to be raised about the inaccessibility of Second Life for people with vision impairment. Everett Harper, Director of Community Initiatives at Linden Labs, explained that his company’s iterative process for developing the second life platform allows for adding assistive capabilities. Second life has staff dedicated to addressing accessibility needs and seeks to do more as the platform matures.

Another challenge for innovators is to get information about new technologies to those who can put it to use. For example, parents and pediatricians do not always know about information or tools that can be useful in helping their children.

Sam Simon, moderator of the discussion, raised the question as to whether product developers might think in terms of universal design from the start. Identifying it as a conundrum, that we innovate first, retrofit for universal design later, much might be gained by making UD an integral part of the software or technology design/development process.

Second Life was mentioned as a tool for Asperger syndrome was mentioned in passing. For a platform with an apparently strong capability to create simulations and online meeting spaces, there seems to be potential for many additional uses.

Related Content:

• Study abroad through Second Life  – Christian Science Monitor: Virtual college campuses host international student exchanges. Around the world, universities, and even the US Department of State, are turning to online virtual worlds to create cultural exchanges. In these immersive, 3-D environments, users from around the globe can collaborate in ways that were previously impossible. . . .