Visiting Google’s Accessibility Discovery Centre

Applied Works designer, Leon French, shares his reflections on our team visit to experience Google’s Accessibility Discovery Centre, a space dedicated to innovation in inclusive design.

Google’s Accessibility Discovery Centre opened in 2022, and it's the first location outside the US dedicated to advancing inclusive technology. It brings together engineers, researchers, and partners to explore how design can remove barriers to make digital experiences more accessible. When we design with accessibility in mind, we don’t just help people with disabilities, we make products more intuitive and usable for everyone.

At AW, we design and build digital experiences from strategy through to development, accessibility being an integral part of the process. It’s part of every step, from user research and wireframing to prototyping and final execution. So we were excited to be invited to Google's UK headquarters in Kings Cross to visit their Accessibility Discovery Centre. It was a chance to explore some of the latest advancements in accessible technology, challenge our own thinking, and reflect on how we push inclusivity in our work. 

The vibrant space at Google is filled with assistive technologies such as screen readers, eye-tracking software, and haptic feedback devices. It also offers hands-on opportunities to test and refine your own accessibility solutions. It’s a space where new ideas can be explored and houses several working prototypes to play around with, most of which we experienced during our visit.

One of the standout moments for me, was the Freedom Scientific Focus 14 Braille Display. It allows visually impaired users to read digital content more intuitively by translating text into braille in real-time. What’s particularly impressive is how much faster users can read compared to traditional screen readers, and it's for anyone looking to consume information more efficiently. The challenge, however, is the high cost that limits access.

Another fascinating prototype that caught my attention was Google's facial gesture navigation tool. Many digital interfaces rely on precise hand movements, which can make them inaccessible for people with conditions like cerebral palsy or motor neurone disease. This tool offers a different way to interact with technology, using small facial movements instead of touch or traditional controls. Seeing it in action, it was clear how this could improve accessibility for those who struggle with traditional methods. While still in development, it shows real potential, not only in making technology more inclusive but also in breaking down communication barriers that might otherwise be difficult to overcome.

Beyond the products on show, what stood out most for me was the physical space set up for ideas sharing and collaboration, serving as a hub for ongoing conversation. The more we openly challenge our thinking with others, the more we can create a future where inclusivity is an integral part of the design process.

Thanks Google 😁