The overlooked side of modern convenience
When we talk about accessibility in the future, we’re really talking about the everyday technology we already use: ATMs, ticket machines, self-checkouts. Things that work fine for many people – but can be barriers for others.
Have you thought about how often you use a touchscreen in daily life? When you pay in a store, leave a tip at a restaurant, take the elevator, or check in at the doctor’s office? Touchscreens are everywhere – but not everyone can use them.
Have you ever tried getting around a shop with a stroller? Then you might know how narrow some spaces can be. For someone in a wheelchair, that’s not just an occasional problem – it’s something they deal with every day.
The law helps – but it’s not enough
The new European Accessibility Act brings stricter rules to make products and services easier for more people to use. This includes things like self-service kiosks and payment machines – which often aren’t built for people with different needs.
But following the law isn’t enough on its own. Accessibility isn’t just about rules, it’s about understanding people, and designing things that work for everyone from the beginning.
Making accessibility real
We believe these challenges can be solved – and often it’s not that complicated. The key is to involve real users early in the process. When people with disabilities help test and give feedback, the final result works better – for everyone.
In the film, we see Nathalie shopping at a store that has added a second screen at a lower height. That small change makes it easy for her to pay from her wheelchair.
We also see Claudio picking up a parcel from a PostNord locker. Instead of having to use a touchscreen, he can open the box through an app that works with his screen reader.
These are examples of good solutions that makes a big difference when you think about inclusion from the start.
The future is accessible
We don’t need fancy new technology to make progress. We can start with what we already have. When we include people with different needs in the design and testing of services, we discover things we might not see otherwise.
Accessibility isn’t extra – it’s a basic part of a fair society. And it starts by asking the right questions and really listening to the answers.