On March 11, 2025, I attended the Samsung Members Connect event specifically to advocate for improved accessibility of Samsung products. I emphasized the critical role of built-in accessibility apps like TalkBack, Text-to-Speech Engine, and Live Transcribe, among others, which are indispensable for Persons with Disabilities, including myself. My primary objective was to persuade Samsung developers and employees to prioritize product accessibility enhancements, implement feedback from InnovationLab #54, and establish a dedicated Samsung Accessibility Support Team in India etc. Currently, this specialized support is available in countries such as Korea, the UK, and the USA, but not in India. This disparity results in valuable feedback from India's more than 10 crore (100 million) Persons with Disabilities being overlooked, and general service center and Customer Care staff lack the necessary expertise in Samsung's accessibility apps, including Samsung TalkBack, TTS, Bixby, and Bixby Vision.
The importance of an Accessibility Support Team cannot be overstated. Without such a team, Samsung users with disabilities in India face significant challenges. General customer support often lacks the specific knowledge needed to address accessibility-related issues. This leads to:
* Ineffective troubleshooting: Users struggle to resolve problems with accessibility features, rendering their devices unusable.
* Unmet needs: Feedback on accessibility improvements does not reach the appropriate development teams, hindering product evolution.
* Frustration and exclusion: Users feel marginalized and unsupported, leading to dissatisfaction with the brand.
* Delayed product updates: Without direct channels of communication, accessibility improvements are delayed.
Given that over 16% of the global population, or 1.3 billion people, live with a disability, including 10 crore (100 million) Persons with Disabilities in India, with 2 crore (20 million) of them being visually impaired, the absence of a dedicated support team creates a substantial barrier to accessibility.
During the event, Samsung employee Mr. Abhishek acknowledged the absence of an Accessibility Support Team in India, committed to addressing feedback from InnovationLab #54 and improving accessibility app functionality. I commend Samsung for their honesty, as acknowledging the issue is the crucial first step toward positive change. Accessibility apps are vital for individuals with disabilities. As a visually impaired person, a smartphone without a screen reader is essentially unusable. At the event, many attendees were surprised to witness me operating my phone effectively using TalkBack. The Managing Director of Samsung Research India-Noida expressed his satisfaction upon seeing my proficient use of TalkBack features. I have included two photos of the event with image descriptions. Implementing my feedback could have a life-changing impact on millions of people worldwide.
This photo is from the Samsung Members Connect event. I'm in the center left of the picture, standing next to Mr. Kyungyun Roo, also known as KY Roo, who is the Managing Director at Samsung Research India-Noida. He's South Korean. I'm wearing a light orange peach shirt and posing for the picture. Around us, there's a large group of people, all looking cheerful and engaged. Some are holding placards, including one with the Samsung Members hashtag. The atmosphere is lively and festive, with a diverse mix of attendees.
The event happened at Samsung R&D Institute India-Noida which is also mentioned on the big board behind the group of people who are Employees and Customers of Samsung. Towards the centre left of the photograph is me, wearing a light orange peach shirt. Standing just beside me is the Samsung Managing Director Mr. Kyungyun Roo, wearing a grey blazer. We are all happily posing for the photo.
