Beyond Nielsen's Vision: The Realities of Generative UI in Accessibility

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Earlier this week (2/29/2024) Jacob Nielsen, a UX specialist, wrote an article called “Accessibility Has Failed: Try Generative UI = Individualized UX”. ? It’s been, well, not received well.? In my opinion, not only is the primary statement filled with inaccuracies, but the solutions recommended are?equally problematic.?Rather than pick apart every detail, let’s holistically explore Jacob’s solution to the alleged accessibility failure:? the promise of Generative UI? = Individualized UX.

About Generative UI

Generative UI, as defined by Neilsen, leverages the application of artificial intelligence to automatically generate user interface designs based on algorithms that produce a variety of designs from specified parameters or data inputs. Nielsen identifies two types of Generative UI:

First-Generation Generative UI: use AI during the early stages of the UX design process to generate draft UI designs, then let human designers refine those designs before being implemented across traditional applications. In this model, all users see the same UI, and it remains unchanged each time the app is accessed. This method offers a slight individualization of the user experience but ultimately results in a static UI at the point of final human designer approval.? This is something that is common practice now, if not through AI, then through application of design systems, templates, and standardization on a given platform.

Second-Generation Generative UI:? use AI to generate user interface anew every time the user accesses an application. This means users will receive drastically different designs tailored to their specific needs. This dynamic adaptation also allows the interface to evolve as the user learns more about the system, offering simplified experiences for beginners and unveiling advanced features for expert users.?

Nielsen believes that moving towards this second-generation Generative UI can revolutionize UX design by providing highly personalized user experiences, particularly benefiting disabled users by creating interfaces that are truly optimized for their individual needs and capabilities.

My reply, "Nah, bruh". It doesn’t work like that.? Here’s why:

Problems Introduced by a Generative UI (only) approach

Generative UIs, while offering promising advancements in both personalized and accessible technology for disabled users, can also present challenges and potential problems. These include but are not limited to the following:

Introduction of Inconsistency: One of the primary benefits of standard user interfaces is their consistency, which is crucial for users with disabilities to learn and navigate technology efficiently. A constantly changing interface, even one based on a user’s personal ‘preferences’ is potentially confusing or disorienting for users who rely on predictability to use technology effectively.

Complexity and Overwhelm: The automatic generation of user interfaces can potentially create overly complex or feature-rich interfaces for some users. For all? individuals, but especially those with cognitive disabilities, this could lead to feelings of overwhelm and difficulty in understanding or navigating the UI effectively.

Segmentation and Stigmatization:? Just as "separate but equal", introduced in the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries often failed to provide truly equal resources and quality between segregated facilities, the use of generative UI in this manner introduces challenges in consistently delivering high-quality, accessible interfaces to all users. Disparities in the quality of generated interfaces already emerge due to differences in the data used to train AI models, the interpretative algorithms, and biases inherent in the design process.

User Autonomy and Control: There's a delicate balance between automated personalization and user control. Users must have the ability to adjust or set preferences for how the UI adapts to their needs. Without sufficient control, users might feel that the system does not respect their individual preferences or situations.

Potential Privacy Concerns: Generative UIs require data to personalize the user experience effectively. Collecting and analyzing data about users' abilities, preferences, and behaviors raise privacy concerns, especially if users are not fully aware of what data is being collected and how it is used.? This has been something that has not been considered a best practice across accessibility communities not only because of health and privacy concerns, but also the segmentation and stigmatization mentioned previously.

Standardization and Interoperability: With each user potentially having a unique UI, issues with standardization and interoperability could arise, especially when considering the broader ecosystem of apps and services. This could complicate tasks like sharing devices among users or using standardized tools across different platforms.

Testing and Validation: Ensuring that generative UIs are accessible and usable across the full spectrum of disabilities is a significant challenge. Traditional usability testing might not be sufficient for systems that generate unique interfaces for each user, necessitating new methods for validation and quality assurance.

Potential Solutions and Paths Forward

So, how could a Generative UI approach work for everyone? The answer comes in applying a balance of generative practices with human interaction and engagement.

Design Universally for All Humans: Embrace a design philosophy that aims to create the best possible experience across the product for all users, including those with disabilities. This means moving beyond designing for the "average" user and instead considering the full spectrum of human diversity. Generative UI can be a powerful tool in this respect, as it allows for the recognition of individual personalization without segregating or singling out any group. By prioritizing inclusivity in this manner from the outset, businesses can ensure their products are made more functional to all of their users without extensive exploration of extreme interface building and customization :)?

Acknowledge the Ongoing Need for Accessibility: Start by recognizing that accessibility, as a practice, has not failed; rather, there has been a lack of consistent application of accessibility principles in business practices. Generative UI should be seen not as a replacement for traditional accessibility efforts but as a complementary tool that can and should support users without sidelining the foundational accessibility guidelines. Accessibility is not, in this way, doomed to create a substandard user experience, per Jacob’s claim. An inclusive and adaptive approach underscores the importance of integrating accessibility into product development, ensuring that all users, regardless of their abilities, can access and benefit from technology.

Emphasize the Human Aspect in Design and Development Processes: while technology offers incredible tools to enhance accessibility, it should not be seen as a panacea for the fundamental issues of design inclusivity.? Begin by fostering a culture of empathy and understanding within design and development teams. Encourage them to deeply consider the human experience, including the diverse ways people interact with technology. This human-first approach ensures that the foundation of any product or service is built on a solid understanding of its users, particularly those with disabilities. Technology, then, supplements this foundation by enhancing both accessibility and usability, not compensating for a lack of initial human-centric design. Abandon the Practice of Applying Technological Fixes to Human-centric Problems: our first identity is as humans. The use of technology, whether through tools which claim to provide instant code fixes for bad practices or interfaces that promise unlimited adaptations to individual users, the use of such does not and should not overshadow the importance of designing and developing content that resonates with the human condition. Technologies are not a stand-in for the thoughtful design and development of content.

In Conclusion

Generative UI can become a powerful ally in making technology both usable and accessible. When organizations choose to ensure that technology serves as a valuable supplement to human-centric design practices, it is possible to enhance accessibility and usability without overshadowing the fundamental importance of designing and developing content based on the human experience.

Your move, peoples :)