Ep 11 - Victor Tsaran - Google Design Platform Accessibility Lead
Hosts Eamon McErlean and Joe Devon interview Victor Tsaran, Google Design Platform Accessibility Lead about his early experiences growing up blind in Ukraine and his first interactions with computers in the US. He emphasizes the critical role of foundational accessibility in AI and design systems, advocating for user-driven interfaces and warning against a potential digital divide if accessibility is not prioritized. Victor also shares insights on effective public speaking and the importance of role-modeling to foster empathy for accessibility, highlighting the transformative power of technology in empowering individuals with disabilities.
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OUTLINE:
00:00 Opening Teaser
00:43 Introduction
01:27 How Using A Screen Reader Is Like Looking Through A Straw
03:38 What Are Earcons?
04:31 Growing Up Blind In Ukraine & Moving To The US
08:53 Victor On Being A Musician
10:11 Why Did You Start Working With Computers?
11:57 Launching A Computer Center For The Blind
14:11 Victor's Advice On Public Speaking
16:12 Communicating The Importance of Accessibility To People Without A Disability
19:09 Role As Google Design Platform Accessibility Lead
21:56 Recommended Courses For Learning About AI
24:27 What Role Does AI Play In Alt Text For Images?
26:31 Future of AI's Role In Accessibility
28:25 What AI Tools Do You Use For Coding?
32:34 Concerns About AI and Accessibility
34:36 The Trolley Problem - Ethical Dilemmas In AI / Waymo
40:19 Victor's Book Suggestions
41:53 Things Sighted People Say To Blind People
45:31 Making Art and Music Accessible
47:27 Wrap Up
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TRANSCRIPT:
Click the 'Transcript' button at the bottom of this description to review the transcript.
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EPISODE LINKS:
Victor Tsaran: An Introduction to Screen Readers
• Victor Tsaran: An Introduction to Screen R...
How Blind Users Experience Youtube | Victor Tsaran | Talks at Google
• How Blind Users Experience Youtube | Victo...
Earcon Demonstration
• Earcons
TEDxSiliconValley - Victor Tsaran - 12/12/09
• TEDxSiliconValley - Victor Tsaran - 12/12/09
Braille Writing Devices: Slate and Stylus
• Braille Writing Devices: Slate and Stylus
CompuServe
/ compuserve_internet_access_in_1980_only_50...
Material Design
https://m3.material.io
https://m3.material.io/foundations/ov...
Service Now - Horizon
https://horizon.servicenow.com
https://horizon.servicenow.com/guidel...
Victor Tsaran's Music
https://open.spotify.com/artist/605ZF...
/ victor-tsaran
/ @victortsaran
Vanderbilt University
https://www.vanderbilt.edu
https://engineering.vanderbilt.edu/bi...
Andrew Ng's AI For Everyone
https://www.coursera.org/learn/ai-for...
DeepLearning.AI
https://www.deeplearning.ai
Gemini Canvas
https://gemini.google/overview/canvas/
CodeMirror
https://codemirror.net
Visual Studio Code
https://code.visualstudio.com
GNU Emacs
https://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/
Cursor
https://cursor.com
Windsurf
https://windsurf.com
Waymo
https://waymo.com
Moral Machine
https://www.moralmachine.net
Technofeudalism by Yanis Varoufakis
https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/45179...
https://www.wired.com/story/yanis-var...
Emma Donoghue - Author
https://www.emmadonoghue.com
Ep 9 - Matt Ater - Senior Vice President, Vispero
• Ep 9 - Matt Ater - Senior Vice President, ...
Ep 2 - Jennison Asuncion - Head of Accessibility at LinkedIn, Co-Founder of GAAD
• Ep 2 - Jennison Asuncion - Head of Accessi...
James Teh at NV Access
https://www.nvaccess.org/about-nv-acc...
OSARA: Open Source Accessibility for the REAPER Application
https://osara.reaperaccessibility.com/
Victor Tsaran's Links
/ victortsaran
/ @victortsaran
https://x.com/vick08
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PODCAST INFO:
Podcast Website: https://accessibility-and-gen-ai.simp...
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/46eflnv
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4eEwo3j...
RSS: https://feeds.simplecast.com/nCrQiw1t
LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/a11ygenai
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About Accessibility and Gen AI Podcast
The Accessibility and Gen AI Podcast features interviews with the news makers and thought leaders in the world of Accessibility and Artificial Intelligence. Hosted by Eamon McErlean and Joe Devon.
Eamon McErlean is the VP & Global Head of Digital Accessibility and Globalization at ServiceNow.
Joe Devon is the co-founder of Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) and Chair of the GAAD Foundation.
