Sight Tech International 2022 introduced • TechCrunch

As we put together for the third annual Sight Tech International (December 7-8, free & digital, register right here), a know-how occasion that tracks the advances in know-how supporting individuals who stay with blindness, two huge shifts are entrance and heart.

First, new digital experiences, notably digital actuality, are testing identified approaches to accessibility. There aren’t any white canes or display screen readers (but!) within the metaverse. That digital realm is on the verge of going mainstream each for shoppers and enterprises so rapidly that accessibility might simply grow to be an afterthought, because it was at the beginning of the PV period.

At Sight Tech International, we’ll hear from the individuals working to make sure that the metaverse is open to all. The occasion is free and digital!

Second, the know-how platforms underpinning so most of the breakthroughs in assistive and entry tech — the instruments that assist blind and low imaginative and prescient individuals navigate the world — are advancing quick and enabling higher, cheaper units. Not way back, AI-powered pc imaginative and prescient programs have been pricey marvels of miniaturized cameras, GPUs and batteries, however sooner networks, cloud companies and extra highly effective cell phones are altering every part, particularly the fee.

The previous debate in entry tech was which might prevail — common know-how platforms corresponding to cell phones with built-in accessibility options, or purpose-built units particularly for individuals who want imaginative and prescient help. The rising formulation is just not one or the opposite however each, in a profitable mixture.

At Sight Tech International, we’ll hear from the technologists making use of the brand new approaches to subsequent era units. Register immediately.

And underlying a lot of those discussions is the evolution of AI itself, which is a vital know-how throughout the spectrum of blind tech. The present “deep studying” type of AI continues to ship placing ends in kinds such because the pure language GPT3 or many pc imaginative and prescient AIs. However there may be rising dissatisfaction with the flexibility of these highly effective pattern-recognition programs to use one thing extra like human reasoning to points massive and small, to not point out filter out the bias and issues when AIs are unleashed.

At Sight Tech International, we’ll hear from high AI technologists grappling with these subjects and extra.

The occasion agenda shall be prepared in a month, however we hope you’ll register immediately. The occasion is free and digital.

And one new twist in 2022: Sight Tech International is including an “In Individual” occasion on December 9 in San Jose, California. The occasion is geared toward technologists, product leaders and designers working in entry tech. The occasion is restricted to 150 individuals and by invitation solely. Many of the programming shall be workshops pushed by attendees. Right here’s the place you may request an invite or nominate somebody.

Sight Tech International is a manufacturing of the nonprofit Vista Heart for the Blind and Visually Impaired. We’re grateful to present sponsors APH, Amazon, Google, Fable, Humanware, LinkedIn, Microsoft and Waymo. If you want to sponsor the occasion, please contact us. All sponsorship revenues go to the nonprofit Vista Heart, which has been serving the Silicon Valley space for 75 years.