The Digital World Without Sound
I often think about what my life would be like if I was blind, deaf, paralyzed, or physically handicapped in some way. When I put myself in the shoes of those with these handicaps, the feeling of how challenging life would be overwhelms me. I can only imagine that the anxiety might be worse for those living life this way. So, getting any type of help to navigate this world is extremely important for those who are disabled. And that includes tools that help them navigate the digital era. Exploring this topic reminded me of an experience I had with someone who was deaf. I was 16 or 17 working the front counter register at McDonald's. A customer approached and handed me a sheet of paper with their order written out. At the top of the paper, it stated “Hi, I'm deaf. Can you please put in this order for me?” I looked up and smiled with a nod. After putting the order in, I pointed to the displayed total with as much hospitality as I could with my body language. The customer paid and...