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Jeff Thompson:
Welcome to blind abilities. I’m Jeff Thompson, and welcome to our CSUN coverage sponsored by Be My Eyes.
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Jeff Thompson:
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Jeff Thompson:
Welcome to Blind Abilities. I’m Jeff Thompson, and in the studio with me today is … I know him as the fastest man in the world who happens to be blind, Erich Manser. How are you doing?
Erich Manser:
Doing great, Jeff. Thanks. Always good to talk to you. I’m glad to be back.
Jeff Thompson:
Can you tell what you do and a little bit about IBM, and we’ll probably lead into CSUN then.
Erich Manser:
Yeah, absolutely. I am proudly part of the accessibility team at IBM. For a long time, our group was actually came under IBM research. It was part of the research division at IBM, and only at the end of last year, we actually shifted the team a little bit. And so now we’re officially part of the design team at IBM. So, IBM accessibility is now baked right in with IBM design. Honestly, that’s a move that I was personally ecstatic about.
Erich Manser:
As you’re probably familiar, I mean, oftentimes when having conversations about accessibility, the importance of considering all the users, all customers, early enough in the design and development process is critical. When you’re talking about potentially releasing a product, that’s too late to be having the accessibility discussion. Having it come with right as part of the design process is a natural and really a great alignment. And so, I was just thrilled that our team is officially part of IBM design. And so now, those conversations are happening more naturally, more well-aligned, at the earlier stages of design and development.
Jeff Thompson:
Well, that’s great, because now, everybody is on board with what everybody is doing.
Erich Manser:
For sure. For sure.
Jeff Thompson:
Oh, great. That’s a great spot for accessibility. Well, good. So, you’re headed out to CSUN.
Erich Manser:
I am. Yeah, I have the good fortune of two presentations I’ll be part of at CSUN this year. Very excited. It’s always a great conference and a great event to be able to attend. For many years, I was just admiring from afar. And so now that I’ve got a few CSUNs under the belt, I’m always very excited and thrilled to be going back. My sessions that I’m participating in are back-to-back, both on Wednesday of CSUN Week, which is the 13th of March.
Erich Manser:
The first session that I’ll be presenting with an IBM colleague of mine, Phil Jenkins, a very long-time accessibility pro, we’ll be talking a little bit about IBM’s work having to do with AI fairness, the fairness that’s being built into artificial intelligence, specifically around people with disabilities. As these technologies are developing and being rolled out, we want to make sure that any of the biases that we’re hearing so much about and the ethics and bias in artificial intelligence, we want to make sure that disability is being included in those considerations. And so, Phil and I have the good opportunity … We’ll be sharing a little bit about some of the findings, some of the research that we’ve done, but also make suggestions and considerations with regards to how we make sure that disability is being factored into this emerging and exciting technology. And so, AI fairness for persons or people with disabilities.
Erich Manser:
And then I, immediately following that, I have also a great opportunity to co-present with good friends of IBM over at Fidelity Investments. Jeff [Whistle] and I will be co-presenting IBM and Fidelity together. We’ll be talking about building inclusion through business relationships, so taking existing customer or business relationships that you have where both organizations are doing incredible things to foster inclusion and to create equality in access, tapping in and building power and potency through joint efforts and combining efforts and joining forces, so to speak, [inaudible] build inclusion through business relationships.
Erich Manser:
And so sharing a little bit of what our individual organizations respectively have come to learn over time and what our best practices are, but then talk a little bit about how you might combine forces and build even greater outcomes by joining forces with other like-minded organizations in that way. So, looking very much forward to that session. So, two really exciting sessions that I get to be a part of this year and looking very much forward to presenting.
Jeff Thompson:
Could you give an example of how two companies have built a relationship through inclusion?
Erich Manser:
We’ve done business with Fidelity. I mean, IBM is a customer of Fidelity, and Fidelity is a customer of IBM. So, we have long-standing, strong relationships as companies, and we both respect and admire each other’s expertise and strong business practices immensely. And so just as part of … almost like a natural extension to those strong relationships, if you can tap into the potential of maybe getting user feedback. I mean, I, as an IBM employee, I have a lot of my retirement planning and I manage a lot of my personal long-term financial goals using Fidelity tools.
Erich Manser:
So if I recognize that Fidelity also shares my priority and my emphasis on accessible and great user experiences, why should traditional matters of business competition get in the way of sharing that feedback freely? So opening channels that allow companies to share freely can ultimately stand to perpetuate good design and good accessibility and good customer experiences. So that’s one example of the types of things that businesses can start to think about, putting traditional matters of competition aside in favor of what amounts to civil rights when you’re talking about access to information for all. So just thinking differently about the way things have been. In terms of non-disclosure agreements, obviously you still have proprietary things that need to be preserved for sure, but where possible, why not leverage the like-mindedness and the equal emphasis that both organizations place on important matters like equal access and exploring those possibilities.
Jeff Thompson:
Erich, when I go to the IBM, I type in IBM accessibility, and there’s a slew of stuff that pops up. It’s not just blindness. It’s totally across-the-board inclusiveness, aging populations, everything. It’s industry-wide.
Erich Manser:
Absolutely. No, it’s got the depth and that richness to it. I mean, it’s complex and it’s multilayered, so yeah, for sure. I mean, again, various members on our team here at IBM are working on projects that really cross the broad spectrum. And it’s important to really, like we say, factor in all users, and so it’s a thrill to be a part of that work.
Jeff Thompson:
Yeah. I just couldn’t stop looking at all the different areas that I could go into. It wasn’t just accessibility over here, this little pocket. It was branched all the way across to industry solutions, accessibility, innovations. I’m impressed at the page that you have, the accessibility built into it, and I could just go on and read and click and go into all sorts of different areas. Good job at IBM.
Erich Manser:
You’re very kind to say that, and I’m very glad to hear it, Jeff. Thank you very much.
Jeff Thompson:
What else do you like going to CSUN for? What’s the big events that you like?
Erich Manser:
Well, it’s always valuable to actually meet people that you deal with remotely or virtually and get to meet them in-person. The keynote is always amazing. They often have a lot of the fun activities like the socializing, networking, all the unique opportunities of spending a week with your colleagues and your extended colleagues, and so it’s always just a real … One thing that will be interesting this year is it’s a new venue. It had always been there in San Diego, and now it’s going to be in Anaheim. So a little bit of a new experience element this year, but something that I anxiously and eagerly look forward to, but it never disappoints, that’s for sure.
Jeff Thompson:
Yeah, so by mid week, you’ll know your way around.
Erich Manser:
Oh, yeah. We’ll have it down.
Jeff Thompson:
That’s always interesting. I know a lot of new people that are going out there for the first time, and I just tell them, “Get out there early, find a few landmarks, and go from there.”
Erich Manser:
You’re absolutely right.
Jeff Thompson:
Erich, is there anything else you would like to share with our listeners?
Erich Manser:
Well, I’ll proudly and humbly share. I’ll throw in a little plug for UnitedInStride.com. I am actively, again, very proudly, training for another Boston marathon, and I was able to identify local running guides, sighted guides, in the Anaheim area by using UsingInStride.com. So, if others who can benefit from sighted assistance to get out and stay fit and active and healthy, access a tool like UnitedInStride.com, plug in the zip code where you’ll be, and it’ll pair you up with willing, local guides that can help you get out and stay fit and active. And so that’s one Anaheim week plug that I’ll throw in, UnitedInStride.com.
Jeff Thompson:
I remember someone else from Boston. They talked about that. Is that where that started?
Erich Manser:
It is. Yeah. It came from Mass. Association for the Blind and their Team With a Vision marathon team, which I’m part of each year. It really helps quite a bit as you travel around to be able to just plug in the zip code and find willing volunteers that are waiting to go running with you and help you go running in unfamiliar areas. It’s a very nice tool.
Jeff Thompson:
That’s a great thing, and it’s a great relationship, these people that are willing to do it, that they become friends, and it’s a good thing.
Erich Manser:
It has a way of fast-tracking a friendship. It makes you very familiar very quickly.
Jeff Thompson:
Yeah, well, after about 15 miles, you probably get to know the person a little bit.
Erich Manser:
As long as they don’t bump you into anything.
Jeff Thompson:
Well, Erich, thank you very much for coming onto Blind Abilities. You have a good time out there, Erich.
Erich Manser:
Thanks for having me back, Jeff.
Jeff Thompson:
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