Tale to Tell: An Accessible Future in Storytelling with A.I.

In today's rapidly advancing technological landscape, the concept of accessibility is more critical than ever before. While we develop a lot of cool tech, I have found that many tech lovers worry about being left behind due to age or disability. What's the point of building more if it's less accessible? In my opinion, good technology combines innovation with inclusivity. Recently, I had the privilege of interviewing Prince George's historian, John Thompson, who, when I first called, was excited to learn of our development; however, he was quick to point out that he had limited access to tech due to losing his eyesight. He remains chairman of Prince George's County Historic Preservation Commission and is leading the effort to preserve the stories of the enslaved, who comprise most of the county's population. My goal was to get not only a historian perspective but an accessibility perspective as well. Every story matters, and it's my purpose to ensure that everyone can tell theirs.

I was invited to his home and when I sat down with Mr. Thompson, his passion for the past and its stories brought our conversation to life. Here was a man whose life's work embodies the essence of storytelling, with a memory of dates and events that was truly remarkable. Did you know the county is 80 years older than the United States? He also taught me that for every town, there was a shadow community of enslaved peoples whose existence is mainly comprised of oral history left out of primary documentation. Maryland was one of the most turbulent states during the end of the Jim Crow era, and the county is now preserving the stories of those who triumphed to become one of the nation's wealthiest African American communities. By the end of the conversation, I had gained a deeper understanding of my community history from him than in school.

For John, preserving stories is about bridging connections to transcend the barriers of time to weave a collective narrative that resonates with all. Yet, for such connections to form, we must confront the accessibility challenges that prevent voices like Mr. Thompson's from being heard.

His favorite tool is Alexa, with whom he can easily speak and engage. However, during our time, he also pointed out weaknesses of accessibility tools such as screen readers. To learn the topic of one email we sat and listened to his phone read every item on the screen before getting to the email itself. We were both irritated! Despite these inconveniences, he still loves technology, with old friends often coming to show him what is new. We sat and spoke for 2 hours, and all I could think of was how much his stories needed to be preserved. Through this lens, our mission for an accessible Tale has become more critical as I visit John frequently to document more of his stories. (stay tuned an episode may be coming soon) As I continue to visit senior communities and institutions, I constantly question how we can make this easier so fewer stories are lost. We are now exploring audio-driven features in future updates and the topics he'd like to discuss. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of talking to users and asking what they want in your application.

As we gaze into the future, the potential of A.I. in reshaping our storytelling landscape shines with infinite possibilities. Imagine a world where Mr. Thompson can effortlessly navigate through tales of history, passion, and human connection, where the power of voice can breathe life into stories in ways that stir the soul and ignite the imagination. Brimming with the voices of all who have stories to tell, this future promises a deeper understanding of our collective identity. It is a future where technology acts as a bridge, not a barrier, connecting hearts and minds across the spectrums of age, ability, and experience. We are not just envisioning a new world; we are constructing a landscape where every person has the opportunity to share, learn, and grow through the universal art of storytelling. Imagine the stories your ancestors held and the ones your seniors still do.

99% of history is undocumented, and when an elder closes their eyes, it is as if a library's doors close, never to be opened again.