How AI can help people with disabilities in everyday life

Artificial Intelligence is constantly discovering newer ways of facilitating our everyday activities. It has enormous potential to automate tasks that normally require human intelligence. AI can come to the aid of people with disabilities to help them get around and take part in everyday activities.

Communication and human life

Voice-enabled AI technologies have already created new accessibility tools that allow people with disabilities to access information simply by talking to their devices. For example, advances in speech-to-text and text-to-speech technologies are helping people with speech impairments. It is anticipated that, in time, the voice system will be able to learn the pronunciation patterns of the wearer and translate their words into clear and normalized speech. And another platform will help the visually impaired by reading texts, describing how people around them look, and recognizing faces and emotions.

Independent living at home: making everyday life easier

Smart home technology will be a great benefit to people with reduced mobility. A person can already control almost all aspects of their home with simple voice commands: turning lights on and off, adjusting the temperature, turning on the cooker, and playing music. These technologies will evolve in the future to help people with disabilities move around and maintain a more independent life.

Increasing accessibility

Artificial intelligence technology has the potential to empower people with physical disabilities. Microsoft offers an AI for Accessibility program that applies the potential of AI to develop solutions to many of the physical and cognitive challenges that people with disabilities face at work and in everyday life. This program aims to increase the independence and productivity of people with disabilities in employment, everyday life, and communication.

AI-powered drones can be particularly useful for people with disabilities. Their use makes it possible to get out of the house and lead a more active life. Scientists are now actively working on the development of such technologies.

Presumably, artificial intelligence assistants will already be more accessible to people with disabilities in the near future. They will lead to great advances in medical technology and help more people achieve independence.