Short answer
Integrate accessibility from the conceptualization phase of any new technology or service, rather than treating it as a post-development add-on.
- Field
- User-Centred Design
- Source
- First Monday (2023)
- Method
- Qualitative analysis of institutional practices and user experiences.
- Evidence
- Strong effect
Academic libraries are rapidly adopting emerging technologies like AI and XR, but often fail to integrate accessibility from the outset, leading to exclusionary practices for disabled users. This user-centred design research insight is drawn from a 2023 study published in First Monday. Using Qualitative analysis of institutional practices and user experiences., researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Integrate accessibility from the conceptualization phase of any new technology or service, rather than treating it as a post-development add-on.
Emerging Tech Adoption in Libraries Risks Excluding Disabled Users
Academic libraries are rapidly adopting emerging technologies like AI and XR, but often fail to integrate accessibility from the outset, leading to exclusionary practices for disabled users.
First Monday · 2023
Key Findings
- 01Academic libraries are increasingly aligning services with tech industry interests, prioritizing emerging technologies.
- 02Accessibility is often an afterthought in the design and implementation of these technologies within libraries.
- 03This technocratic approach leads to socio-technical configurations that exclude disabled library users.
- 04The drive for technological adoption is influenced by neoliberal logics within contemporary universities.
Application
Design takeaway
Integrate accessibility from the conceptualization phase of any new technology or service, rather than treating it as a post-development add-on.
How to apply
When designing or recommending new technologies for any user-facing system, conduct thorough accessibility audits and involve diverse user groups, especially those with disabilities, in the design and testing phases.
Project actions
- 01When exploring new technologies for a design project, always consider who might be excluded and how to include them.
- 02Research accessibility guidelines relevant to the technologies you are investigating.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Highlights a critical, often overlooked, issue in technology adoption.
- +Connects specific design failures to broader socio-economic trends.
Limitations
The findings are specific to academic libraries and may not apply directly to all contexts. The research focuses on a few key emerging technologies and doesn't cover the full spectrum.
Reliability & validity
The validity of the findings relies on the authors' interpretation of institutional trends and user experiences. Reliability could be enhanced by broader quantitative studies on accessibility adoption rates and user satisfaction across multiple institutions.
Think critically
To what extent does the pursuit of innovation and corporate partnerships inherently conflict with the principles of universal design and equitable access?
Design Principles
"Inclusive design must be a foundational requirement, not an optional enhancement, for all technological implementations."
This trend highlights a critical gap in design practice where the focus on technological advancement overshadows fundamental user needs. Designers and institutions must prioritize inclusive design principles to ensure new technologies benefit all users, rather than reinforcing existing societal barriers.
What This Means for Your Design
When libraries get new tech like VR or AI, they sometimes forget to make sure people with disabilities can use it easily. This research shows that accessibility needs to be thought about from the very beginning, not as an extra step later.
How to use in your project
- 1.Use this research to justify why accessibility must be a core consideration in your design process, especially when working with emerging technologies.
- 2.Reference the findings to support arguments about the potential negative impacts of neglecting user diversity.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
The rapid adoption of emerging technologies in various sectors, as highlighted by Clark and Lischer‐Katz (2023), presents a significant risk of excluding users with disabilities if accessibility is not integrated from the initial design phases. Their work in academic libraries demonstrates how a technocratic focus can lead to 'socio-technical configurations that often exclude disabled library users,' underscoring the critical need for inclusive design principles to be paramount in all design projects involving new technologies.
Source
First Monday
(In)accessibility and the technocratic library: Addressing institutional failures in library adoption of emerging technologies
journal · 2023
View sourceQuestions About This Research
- What does the research say about emerging tech adoption in libraries risks excluding disabled users?
- Integrate accessibility from the conceptualization phase of any new technology or service, rather than treating it as a post-development add-on. Evidence: First Monday (2023).
- Why does "Emerging Tech Adoption in Libraries Risks Excluding Disabled Users" matter for design?
- This trend highlights a critical gap in design practice where the focus on technological advancement overshadows fundamental user needs. Designers and institutions must prioritize inclusive design principles to ensure new technologies benefit all users, rather than reinforcing existing societal barriers.
- How can designers apply this research?
- Integrate accessibility from the conceptualization phase of any new technology or service, rather than treating it as a post-development add-on.
- What were the main findings?
- Academic libraries are increasingly aligning services with tech industry interests, prioritizing emerging technologies.. Accessibility is often an afterthought in the design and implementation of these technologies within libraries.. This technocratic approach leads to socio-technical configurations that exclude disabled library users.. The drive for technological adoption is influenced by neoliberal logics within contemporary universities.
- What research method was used?
- Qualitative analysis of institutional practices and user experiences..
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2023 journal from First Monday.
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When designing or recommending new technologies for any user-facing system, conduct thorough accessibility audits and involve diverse user groups, especially those with disabilities, in the design and testing phases.
- What are the limitations?
- The study focuses on academic libraries and may not fully represent other sectors. The specific impacts of different emerging technologies on various user groups require further investigation.