From Talk to Transformation: Building a More Inclusive Metaverse

All technologies must be built and used in accessible ways. This is especially true for extended reality (XR) technologies that make up the metaverse, as workplaces are beginning to use them to onboard, train, and upskill their employees. However, inclusion in XR is often ignored or limited to discussions instead of actions. This means that technologies meant to open digital worlds and provide new methods of human-computer interaction may instead create barriers to them for people with disabilities. When XR technologies are designed with inclusion at the forefront, those technologies become more flexible, useful, and valuable for everyone. In this keynote, I will share key research questions and concrete steps you can take to design and develop accessible XR technologies and use them with the inclusion of people with disabilities and other intersectional identities in mind.

Bill Curtis-Davidson is a Director of the Partnership on Employment and Accessible Technology (PEAT), a policy initiative funded by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy. PEAT helps to create a future where accessible technology is standard in all workplaces. Bill is a trusted advisor who advocates for disability inclusion and accessibility in support of numerous public and private sector efforts to develop accessibility standards, guidelines, and best practices. He also serves on the External Advisory Board of the Georgia Tech Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) Degree Program.