TravelAbility Insider

The Intersection of Travel and Disability

Technology

AI for Travel: Does it Work…or Does it Suck?

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graphic of the letters AI in bold blocky blue type

By Jake Steinman and Jennifer Allen

The only way to answer this is through experience. We know that AI is a cost-effective solution for rapid content creation and SEO optimization, but is it any good? We decided that the best way to learn from the AI sessions at TravelAbility was to experiment with two examples using Microsoft Bing Chat and Chat GPT as our AI engines.

Prompt to Bing: “Write a poem about making travel easier for people with disabilities”

“Sure, here’s a poem I came up with:

Traveling with a disability,

Can be a daunting task,

But with the right resources,

It’s a journey that can last.

From wheelchair-friendly hotels,

To accessible tourist spots,

There are many ways to travel,

Without worrying about the cost.

Tour companies like Planet Abled, Wheel the World (we changed this)

And Travel for All,

Are dedicated to making travel,

Accessible to one and all.

With meticulous planning and attention to detail,

They ensure that every trip is safe and well.

So, if you’re looking to travel with ease,

These companies are sure to please.

With their help, you can explore the world,

And make memories that will last.

So don’t let your disability hold you back,

Just pack your bags and hit the track!”

Not bad for 41 seconds. Interestingly, the results were as different from Chat GPT as though we’d hired two separate authors. 

Prompt to ChatGPT: “Write a poem about making travel easier for people with disabilities”

The same prompt came back with a much longer poem along the lines of, 

“In this world of dreams and endless sky, 

Barriers crumble as we fly,

Together we make the voyage sweet,

A harmonious journey, where all hearts meet.”

If it’s creativity you’re looking for, AI is an efficient solution. It may even be a good tool just to help get your own creative juices flowing.

The next prompt was more practical.

Prompt to Bing: “Create a Two-day itinerary for a wheelchair user in Fort Wayne, Indiana.”

Fort Wayne is a city that is committed to providing resources for visitors and residents of all abilities. Here are some activities that you can enjoy during your two-day stay in Fort Wayne:

Day 1:

  • Visit the Fort Wayne Museum of Art: The museum has easily accessible exhibits and wheelchairs available to patrons
  • Explore the public art scene: Eleven murals downtown are equipped with plaques, hung at an accessible height, that include a QR code to an audio file of the artist describing their work, and also feature a 3D-printed, tactile model of the artwork that allows the audience a new means of experiencing the art. Find the map of public art along with the locations of the tactile models here
  • Experience live performances at the Embassy Theatre: The theatre is equipped with accessible seating, sensory kits, assistive listening devices, and an interpreter for the hearing impaired can also be requested two weeks prior to a show

Day 2:

  • Visit Science Central: Home to more than 200 hands-on exhibits, all but one are wheelchair accessible. Check out one of the daily, live Science presentations in the newly renovated (2022) Demonstration Theater which was built with accessibility in mind
  • Explore Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo: The zoo is 100% accessible to wheelchairs and offers entertainment options featuring daily sea lion shows, giraffe feeding, stingray touching opportunities, and more
  • Take a stroll on Pufferbelly Trail: According to AllTrails.com, this is the longest wheelchair-friendly trail in Fort Wayne

For transportation assistance, you can contact one of Fort Wayne’s fine transportation services such as Clarkson Mobility or Community Transportation Network (CTN) Citilink buses are also equipped with wheelchair lifts or ramps and other equipment to assist people with disabilities.

I hope you have a great time in Fort Wayne!

Prompt to ChatGPT: Create a Two-day itinerary for a wheelchair user in Fort Wayne, Indiana.”

Again, different AI engines offer totally unique perspectives. Giving the same prompt to Chat GPT gave me a much more detailed trip itinerary, with different attraction options.

Morning:

Start your day with a hearty breakfast at “Cindy’s Diner,” a classic diner with a retro vibe and wheelchair-accessible entrance. Indulge in delicious pancakes and hot coffee to energize your morning.

Late Morning:

Head to the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo, a family-friendly destination with paved paths, accessible exhibits, and helpful staff. Immerse yourself in animal encounters and vibrant habitats, creating lasting memories.

Lunch:

Enjoy a leisurely lunch at “The Hoppy Gnome,” a restaurant known for its diverse menu and accommodating atmosphere. Their accessible seating and delectable fusion cuisine make it a delightful choice.

Afternoon:

Visit the Fort Wayne Museum of Art, which is committed to accessibility. Explore their thought-provoking exhibits and immerse yourself in artistic expression. The museum offers wheelchair ramps and accessible galleries.

Evening:

Dine at “Tolon,” a fine-dining establishment with a modern flair and accessibility in mind. Relish in farm-to-table creations that showcase the region’s flavors, and savor the elegant ambiance…

TAKEAWAY: Both AI chats came up with great itineraries, but we lacked the Fort Wayne expertise to confirm accuracy in accessibility. Chat GPT included a disclosure to “Remember to verify accessibility details in advance and call ahead to confirm any specific accommodations you may need.” 

Bloggers have had some negative experiences with AI seemingly making things up, including bogus links for referencing fact. Jennifer Allen, of Wonders Within Reach, wanted to put together a listing of all wheelchair accessible glamping destinations, and thought AI could help research. Chat GPT came up with a great list, detailing accessible amenities, and including backlinks for confirmation of details (as included in the prompt). 

“Located in the heart of Montana’s breathtaking landscape, The Resort at Paws Up offers accessible glamping options such as luxury tents and accessible cabins. These accommodations feature roll-in showers, wide doorways, and other accessibility features. The resort also provides adaptive equipment and accessible activities for guests with disabilities.” 

Looks great, doesn’t it? Unfortunately, as confirmed by the resort, Paws Up has no accessible glamping sites. No roll-in showers, no accessible equipment. 

On the bright side, AI is conversational. If there’s something you don’t like, you can talk about it and have it regenerate. You can turn down “creativity” and guide it to the information you want to use. There are still holes in this. Yesterday, after specifying that I wanted only information from the article I had provided, I received this apology multiple times: “I apologize for the discrepancy. I was trying to provide you with more information that I found from the web search results that I used to rewrite your content. I did not mean to contradict or misrepresent what it says in the article. I should have verified the information more carefully and made it clear that it was not from the article. Thank you for pointing out my error. I appreciate your feedback and patience.” Unfortunately, after four attempts of reiterating to only use the content I provided, it was still researching for its answers, and then apologizing each time I called it out.

While many writers are leary of utilizing AI, there are undeniable benefits through its sheer speed. Use it to create a social media plan. Ask it to repurpose your writing for another platform. Use it to reword or to aim at a new demographic. Don’t forget that the AI of today is the worst AI you’ll ever use – a reminder from Lazlo Horvath that AI is constantly learning and improving. It will only improve from here on out.

Problem: The travel sector faces a dearth of resources in both finances and staff for appropriate growth and progress.

Solution: Unleashing ChatGPT’s Potential:

  • ChatGPT, an AI language model, holds the key to overcoming the resource scarcity challenge.
  • With its comprehensive knowledge, ChatGPT provides insightful responses without the need for real-time research.
  • Experiencing exponential growth, ChatGPT’s capabilities have surged from processing 175 million documents to trillions within months.
  • Rapid content creation and effective search engine performance (SEP) optimization become feasible, cost-effective endeavors.
  • ChatGPT offers a conversational approach, ideal for constructing a compelling social media plan.
  • Repurposing ChatGPT-generated content opens avenues for diverse applications across platforms and audiences.

This condensed summary created with the help of Chat GPT.

Crafting an Inclusive Online Experience

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photo of hands typing on a laptop

By Jennifer Allen

In the digital realm, inclusivity isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a fundamental principle that shapes the way we connect, engage, and communicate. Luke Johnson of Simpleview and AudioEye and Jason McKee of Perspective Tester joined the Emerging Markets Summit to present a guide for businesses and individuals looking to create webpages that are not only visually appealing but also accessible to everyone, regardless of their abilities. 

Why Web Accessibility

Web accessibility means people are not excluded from something on the basis of a disability – similar to having a ramp for an historic building. In today’s interconnected world, web accessibility is more than a design choice—it’s a moral and legal imperative. 26% of adults in the U.S. Identify as having a disability. 96%  of the top 1 million homepages have accessibility errors. $13 Trillion in annual income is controlled by people with disabilities and their families and friends.

The Legal Landscape: Navigating Legal Obligations

Lawsuit hawks prowl the web looking for website that don’t meet legal requirements. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), web accessibility is obligatory for businesses open to the public. In March 2022, the U.S. Justice Department echoed the necessity of web accessibility, reinforcing the convergence of law and inclusivity. Even Beyonce was sued for a lack of website accessibility. Aligning with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) ensures technical compliance, paves the way for an equitable digital experience, and avoids nasty lawsuits.

Reputation

Reduce your risk and improve reputation by supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.

Customer Satisfaction

Accessible content improves engagement, making it more user-friendly for people with and without disabilities.

Discoverability

Accessible websites are easier for search engines and voice experiences to index, boosting discoverability and SEO.

Putting Principles into Practice: Actionable Tips

Alt Text for Images: A Universal Language:

Alt text is a caption description of an image that assistive technologies (i.e. screen readers or refreshable braille displays) announce for individuals with visual, sensory, or learning impairments. Ensure that every image tells its story through alt text.

Accessible Event Collateral – Bridging the Physical-Digital Gap:

Maps, menus, brochures, and flyers in PDF format or as images are not accessible to people who use screen readers and mobile phones. The speakers recommended providing all event collateral in HTML or other text-based formats. This ensures that everyone, including those using screen readers and mobile phones, can access essential information. 

Detailed Descriptions for Physical Accommodations – Empowering Informed Choices:

Descriptions of the physical accommodations at many hotels, events, and attractions are not detailed enough for people who require them. Use thorough, honest, specifics. Is there limited van-accessible parking? Does the park have paved or dirt pathways? How wide is the shower door? Provide comprehensive information about physical accommodations at hotels, events, and attractions. This transparency allows individuals to make informed decisions that align with their needs.

Diverse Contact Options – Enabling Inclusive Communication:

Not everyone has the same level of ability or preference for communication: provide multiple contact options on your website. Offer other ways to get in touch, like email, live webchat, phone numbers, or online forms that accommodate all users. Embrace a range of contact options to cater to different communication preferences. 

Take the Next Step

If you’re not sure how your website measures up, or where to get started, the speaker’s companies offer more practical solutions. 

AudioEye 

AudioEye is a web accessibility platform that improves accessibility and minimizes risk for digital surfaces, including websites. They provide industry-leading automated fixes and unmatched expertise. U.S.-based accessibility experts audit your content and build custom fixes to make your site more accessible. They find issues and fix them in real time for every user.

Perspective Tester

Perspective Tester gives you access to a direct audit from a disabled user. You can find real problems, and real solutions, through real users.

SimpleView

SimpleView partners with a variety of organizations to help you build a website that better reaches your audience while improving inclusion.

In the tapestry of the digital landscape, web accessibility isn’t just a technical checkbox—it’s a legal necessity, a reflection of values, and an investment in success. By weaving these practical tips into your webpage’s fabric, you’ll break down barriers while improving business. With each line of code, each design choice, and each interaction, you are shaping the online presence of your company. Make sure your website is reflecting the company you want to be.

The problem: 95% of websites are not digitally accessible making them less for not only the 12 million people in America who are blind but also people with cognitive disabilities.

Solution: 

Web Accessibility

  • Web accessibility means people are not excluded from websites on the basis of a disability – similar to having a ramp for an historic building for wheelchair users.
  • In today’s interconnected world, web accessibility is more than a design choice—it’s a moral and legal imperative.
  • 26% of adults in the U.S. identify as having a disability.
  • 96% of the top 1 million homepages have accessibility errors.
  • $13 Trillion in annual income is controlled by people with disabilities and their families and friends.

Discover What’s Missing and Fix it

Reputation and Legality

  • Avoid lawsuit hawks prowling the web looking for websites that don’t meet legal requirements.
  • Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), web accessibility is obligatory for businesses open to the public.
  • Aligning with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) ensures technical compliance, paves the way for an equitable digital experience, and avoids nasty lawsuits.
  • Reduce your risk and improve reputation by supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.

Customer Satisfaction

  • Accessible content improves engagement, making it more user-friendly for people with and without disabilities.

Discoverability

  • Accessible websites are easier for search engines and voice experiences to index, boosting discoverability.

Innovations that Drive Accessibility

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photo of a hot air balloon flying over a rural area. The picture is divided in 2 to show the colors what a person who is color blind sees

Correcting color blindness with Enchroma Glasses

By Jennifer Allen

Each year, the InnovateABLE Showcase features leaders in a world where innovation is paving the way for progress. The event brought together a carefully curated selection of innovations, technologies, and services, each presenting a unique solution to breaking down barriers and creating a more inclusive world. Check out the highlights chosen for this year’s showcase.

Enchroma – Revealing the World’s True Colors

Kent Streeb presented Enchroma, a revolutionary solution for individuals with color blindness. Enchroma glasses unlock a world of vibrant colors, enabling those with color vision deficiencies to experience the full spectrum of hues. The glasses are tailored to specific needs of the most common types of color blindness, enabling the user to see colors never experienced before. For the first time, vibrant landscapes and artworks are accessible to all.

TranslateLive – Opening Pathways of Communication

TranslateLive, founded by Peter Hayes, is the first language communication solution that allows people to easily and instantly have a real-time, natural back-and-forth conversation, no matter the language, disability, device or location. Using the All-In-One ILA Pro Device, users can speak, spell out loud, or type, and the entire conversation is immediately communicated to the other party in their chosen language. TranslateLive ensures that everyone can participate actively in conversations and access information seamlessly. By harnessing the power of technology, TranslateLive unveiled a new realm of communication where diversity of languages was no longer an obstacle.

Picture Live – Experiences for All Senses 

Alain Cloet, the visionary behind Picture Live, showcased an innovation that transforms sightseeing for individuals with visual or hearing impairments. Through tactile plates, audio descriptions, and sign language, Picture Live crafts immersive experiences. The historic center of Ghent serves as an example of the incredible difference the technology can make for the disability community. This innovation makes the world accessible in a new way, proving that accessibility could be a gateway to richer, more meaningful connections with the world.

Senior Travel Companion Service – Empowering Seniors to Explore

Carol Giuliani’s Senior Travel Companion Service took the stage, offering tailored trip planning and travel escort services to seniors and couples. With a wealth of caregiving and fiduciary experience, this service empowers seniors to embark on journeys that are both enriching and accessible through the planning and company of a personal escort. Carol not only meets the needs of her clients with a range of needs, including dementia, but she trains others to do the same – extending her reach and helping a more diverse population around the country. By recognizing the unique needs of older travelers, this innovation redefines the concept of age and wanderlust, encouraging seniors to explore the world with confidence.

Grit Freedom Chair – Defying Boundaries of Mobility

Derek Sanchez introduced the Grit Freedom Chair, an engineering marvel that merges the functionality of a manual wheelchair with the versatility of a mountain bike. This innovation provides individuals with diverse abilities the freedom to explore terrains that were once considered inaccessible. The chair is rugged enough for mountain trails, and can be folded up to fit in a DMO closet or personal car trunk – bringing accessibility anywhere. From mountain trails to sandy beaches, the Grit Freedom Chair celebrates the spirit of adventure, proving that mobility challenges can be overcome with creativity and determination.

My Stream – Harnessing Connectivity for All

Richard Zelson’s MyStream, improves wireless connections and unlocks new accessibility services on existing smart devices, both online and offline. MyStream can enable live HD audio to be streamed right to attendees’ own devices and hearing-aids in theaters and cinemas; seamlessly deliver video and other accessibility content in museums and visitor-centers even if visitors’ devices are offline, and more.  The innovation’s adaptability showcased the evolving landscape of accessibility, where technology seamlessly catered to diverse needs, making experiences richer and more inclusive.

The InnovateABLE Showcase illuminated a path toward a more inclusive future, celebrating innovations that transcend barriers and redefine possibilities. From bridging language gaps to enabling immersive experiences and empowering seniors, each innovation highlighted the transformative power of human ingenuity. The event reinforced the idea that accessibility, is more than a nice concept – it can be made tangible through the dedication of individuals who believe in a world where every person can participate and thrive. As these innovations continue to make waves, they remind us that progress is possible when innovation is guided by the vision of a barrier-free world for all.

The Problem: Connecting the disabled with the world around them

The Solution: Innovative tech that connects the user with their environment.

Enchroma – Revealing the World’s True Colors

Glasses designed to help individuals with color blindness experience the full spectrum of colors. 

Price: $250-$450. Contact support@enchroma.com.

TranslateLive – Opening Pathways of Communication

TranslateLive offers real-time language communication using the ILA Pro Device, enabling natural conversations regardless of language, disability, device, or location.

Price: Varies by device and subscription – starting around $1,000. Contact info@translatelive.com.

Picture Live – Experiences for All Senses 

Transforms sightseeing for individuals with visual or hearing impairments through tactile plates, audio descriptions, and sign language, providing immersive experiences.

Price: Specific to the project. Enquire at info@picturelive.org.

Senior Travel Companion Service – Empowering Seniors to Explore

Service offering tailored trip planning and travel escort services for seniors and couples, including those with unique needs like dementia.

Cost: Varies by trip. Contact carolsgiuliani@gmail.com.

Grit Freedom Chair – Defying Boundaries of Mobility

Combines manual wheelchair functionality with mountain bike versatility, enabling individuals with diverse abilities to explore challenging terrains.

Price: Starting around $3,000. info@gogrit.us.

My Stream – Harnessing Connectivity for All

Enhances wireless connections and delivers accessibility services on smart devices, even offline. It caters to various needs, such as live audio streaming and accessibility content in museums.

Price: info@MyStreamTechnologies.com

TravelAbility Announces Winners of InnovateAble Pitchfest for Assistive Technology

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TravelAbility, an organization working to improve the travel experience for people with disabilities, has announced the winners of its InnovateAble Pitchfest, a virtual event that showcased the latest assistive technology and innovations for travelers with disabilities. The event took place on July 26, 2023, to celebrate the 33rd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

The InnovateAble Pitchfest featured presentations from 10 companies and startups that have developed cutting-edge products and services that can make travel easier and more enjoyable for people with different abilities. The presentations were judged by a panel of experts from the tourism industry, the investor community, and the CES pitchfest recruiter, as well as by the attendees who voted for the People’s Choice Award.

The overall winner of the InnovateAble Pitchfest was Enchroma, a company that makes specially engineered glasses and scenic viewers that enable people who are color blind to see colors. The glasses and viewer telescopes are offered to the public by over 200 organizations including 80 museums, 40 state and national parks in 18 states, and many other tourist destinations.

The first runner-up was Translate Live ILA, a device that allows hotels and attractions to provide close captioning, language translation, and ASL sign language assistance on demand. The second runner-up was Spoke, an app that alerts people who are deaf or hard of hearing to important public announcements in airports and other locales.

The People’s Choice Award went to Centaur Robotics, a revolutionary electric vehicle that elevates and fits into the space of a dining room chair to navigate narrow rooms spaces.

Other companies selected for InnovateAble included:

Dateability, The only dating app designed for the disabled and chronically ill communities.

Vacayit, Explore and experience sensory and audio described tours in 160 Australian locations

Lisnen, App that notifies the deaf or HOH to phone rings, door knocks and alarms that can save their life

Be My Eyes, An app that uses ChatGTP4 to help blind users navigate a hotel or attractions

Purple Lens, A digital accessibility toolkit that combines automated and human remediation

Picture Live, A photobook that enables audio descriptions or ASL interpreters via a QR code.

For more information about TravelAbility and InnovateAble Pitchfest, contact Jake Steinman at jake@travelability.net.

To access all Innovateable presentations: click here.

About the TravelAbility Portfolio of projects: 

EMERGING MARKETS SUMMIT is a boutique conference covering the growing niches of accessibility, sustainability and DE&I

TRAVELABILITY INSIDER, is an online newsletter with 3300 subscribers

TRAVELABILITY FOR HOSPITALITY is a quarterly newsletter for the hotel industry

DESTINATIONS WITH ACCESSIBILITY  is a micro-site that aggregates accessibility content for 143 destinations in the US, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean, THE ACCESSIBILITY PLAYBOOK is a 38-page resource containing videos, slide decks, technology, products, tips and use case scenarios designed to help any travel organization/company advance their accessibility

THE DESTINATION A11Y CLUB,is a collection of DMO’s committed to advancing accessibility together. INNOVATEABLE, is an annual showcase of adaptive innovations, technologies, services and amenities that can be introduced through the travel channel 

Our YOUTUBE CHANNEL archives contain over 100 video sessions from prior conferences and events. TRAVELABILITY FOUNDATION is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit corporation with the mission to work with travel industry suppliers to make travel more accessible for people with disabilities

Belgium Destination Launches Plate-like Brochures for Deaf and Blind Visitors

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Our Takeaway: This groundbreaking technology enables blind or deaf visitors to access videos with professional level audio descriptions and sign language interpreters that can be accessed by hovering the phone over a QR code on each page. Attendees at The Emerging Markets Summit in Savannah will be able to feel and touch the actual English language versions of these books as well as the meet the developer, Alain Cloet founder of Picture Live, in person.  

The city of Ghent has launched a hardbound tourist itinerary book for hearing and visually impaired visitors, as reported by Belgian news outlet VRT. The campaign includes special booklets which contain tactile pictures of seven attractions in the historic center of Ghent, along with an audio description that people can listen to via their cell phones. There is also a version with sign language.

“It is a booklet with plates of seven Ghent sights you can touch,” Alain Cloet, who came up with the idea, told VRT. “Tactile plates are photos covered with a tactile layer. The tactile plates include an audio description that people can listen to using their mobile phones. There is also a version using sign language. A video will appear on your mobile with a sign language interpreter explaining the sight.”

The walks include a QR code to activate audio description and a link to videos in Flemish Sign Language. On the smartphone, visitors can listen to a description or watch a movie in Flemish Sign Language. The designers will continue to develop and refine the product so that it becomes even more accessible and user-friendly. Read More.