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Nitedoc · 51-55, M
There are too many to pick just one. I'm going to say advances in medicine. Research continues and we are very close to many more great advancements. Within most of our lifetimes we will return sight to the blind and the paralyzed will walk. It's not about faster and smaller computers it's about what we can do for people.
NerdyPotato · M
@Nitedoc that's impressive indeed, and good in a way. But that being so important, also shows society's lack of accommodation for people getting around in different ways. If every building had a wheelchair ramp, every website supported screen readers and every video had subtitles, none of these advances would have been so pressing. It's quite sad that changing people is the generally preferred solution over supporting them in their needs the way they are.
Nitedoc · 51-55, M
@NerdyPotato "IF" is the middle word in life. If we did this and they did that ... guess what, they won't. Money still rules the world. It's not economically feasible to rebuild and alter all these things in order to accommodate a relatively few people. Thankfully there are wealthy benefactors who provide money for research into helping the disabled/challenged few. Those few are not just numbers they are real live breathing people who have feelings too. Strive to be part of the solution even if it's in a small way.
NerdyPotato · M
@Nitedoc disabilities aren't as rare as most people think, and adaptations aren't useless for healthy people either. Wheelchair ramps are also useful for abled people with luggage. Subtitles also help hearing people in a noisy or public environment. Audio versions of texts can also help when you're tired. Fixing everything already in existence takes time, but accessibility is still often ignored or an afterthought in new projects too. And that's weird, because if you have an accessible solution, there is no need for a limited alternative anymore. If you build stairs, you'll have to look for extra space to build a ramp. If you start with the ramp, you're done. Stairs are obsolete then.
NerdyPotato · M
@Nitedoc already working on awareness, with a worldwide network. 👍