When we think of Dubai, what pops into our heads?
We might imagine it as one of the coolest places in the world. The city draws over 19 million tourists, with approximately 16 million being international visitors. Naturally, they place a strong emphasis on supporting people with disabilities and extend a warm welcome to visitors from all around the world. To showcase this commitment, Dubai proudly hosts the AccessAbilities Expo 2023 every year. Through this event, they would aim to spotlight the 'diversity' and 'inclusivity' that thrive in the Middle East, spreading this message worldwide.
From October 9th to 11th, the Expo was held at Dubai's World Trade Center. This event was all about including people with disabilities and their families. Over 250 companies from 50 different countries joined, and around 12,000 visitors came! Moreover, efforts to create an inclusive society for various types of people with disabilities and their families were evident throughout the expo.
For all of you who are curious, I'd love to share a quick video of the expo!
Why is the kiosk such a big deal?
Dot Kiosks can go up and down to match how tall someone is. So, this kiosk really caught everyone's attention. People didn't just walk past it, they stopped to take pictures and videos. Even major government agencies like airports and police departments came and claimed that they needed this accessible kiosk at their building!
After observing the Dot Pad, many affirmed that this feature would greatly improve accessibility for visually impaired users. Because Dot Pad provides various information through touchable pictures "in real-time".
Moreover, people in assistive technology fields from various countries like the UAE, Oman, Qatar, and Jordan highly praised Dot's 'Dot Pad,'. They anticipated this display to bring about significant changes in the educational and rehabilitative settings for the visually impaired.
We also had the opportunity to chat with Sana Khan, who works at a school in Dubai. She mentioned that the Dot Pad could be a big help for students who struggle with vision at her school. When she touched it, she looked really happy and said 'Inshallah' (which means 'God willing'), and mentioned that the Dot Pad will make a huge impact on our students.
From Dubai to the World!
Throughout the expo, we noticed that visitors were eager to know more about how assistive technology can change the world. Listening to the diverse experiences shared by visitors motivated us to consider what else we can do to create a more inclusive world. Next time, we will come here with a more updated one. Stay tuned for next year!