AzureFunBytes is a weekly opportunity to learn more about the fundamentals and foundations that make up Azure. It's a chance for me to understand more about what people across the Azure organization do and how they do it. Every week we get together at 11 AM Pacific on Microsoft LearnTV and learn more about Azure.

When: September 2, 2021 11 AM Pacific / 2 PM Eastern
Where: Microsoft LearnTV

This week on AzureFunBytes we're talking about how to create applications for everyone. Accessibility is the design of products, services, and devices that focus on making environments the most welcome and usable to any user. Different people have different methods they may interface with the applications you create. By focusing in on accessibility earlier in your software development process, you make for a more available product to everyone. What software developers create should include considerations for vision, hearing, neurodiversity, mobility, and even mental health. Through the use of assistive technology, AI, and cognitive services we can strive to consider all of our differences in order to improve accessibility.

Azure has tools that can make your products available globally by integrating real-time speech translation. You can translate audio from more than 30 language and customize for specific terms that your product may reference. You can integrate Speech Translation services using SDKs provided by Azure.

The Computer Vision service provides AI that analyzes content from images and videos. You can greater service those who may be vision impaired or low vision by utilizing text extraction, image understanding, and spatial analysis.

To help me further understand the benefits of accessibility in our software development, I've tapped Senior Cloud Advocate Rory Preddy for some help. Here's a description of what we'll cover in Rory's own words:

"My life is a hilarious roller coaster of miss-intended programming bugs because at 4 foot tall and 65 kilograms I completely fall off your radar.

What did my scale call me! Why does facial recognition see me as a child? These are all valid questions I often ask myself as I navigate my weird and different world. Have you heard the phrase “You have to be this tall for Micro-services”? well, what about: “You have to be this tall to operate a mobile phone?”. I am finding it harder and harder to reach any button except for “#” and “9”.

Building accessibility into the planning stages of programming can eliminate barriers for participation and create an inclusive environment for people with disabilities. Programming for diversity serves as an unquestionable indicator that your software embraces the diversity of your users and cares about their safety and comfort.

Join me on a fascinating and thought-provoking look at how you can program for accessibility."

Here's our planned agenda:

• Accessibility concepts
• Achieving accessible milestones
• Measure and automate
• Tooling

This is a tremendously important subject I am so glad we'll be able to discuss. We'll look at some examples of how to implement some of the services that enable users of all abilities and take your questions. So be sure to join us this Thursday, September 1, 2021 at 11 AM PT / 2PM ET.

Learn about Azure fundamentals with me!

Live stream is normally found on Twitch, YouTube, and LearnTV at 11 AM PT / 2 PM ET Thursday. You can also find the recordings here as well:

AzureFunBytes on Twitch
AzureFunBytes on YouTube
Azure DevOps YouTube Channel
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Get $200 in free Azure Credit
Microsoft Learn: Introduction to Azure fundamentals
Microsoft Learn: Accessibility Fundamentals
Microsoft Learn: Digital accessibility
Microsoft Learn: Configure Microsoft Teams meetings and calls for inclusion
Computer Vision
Speech Translation
Accessibility Technology & Tools - Microsoft
Chief Accessibility Officer Jenny Lay-Flurrie: Stories from inside Microsoft’s journey to design a more accessible world

Interview with Jenny Lay-Flurrie, Chief Accessibility Officer, Microsoft