Re: [AI] Re: A W Regarding Samsung Accessibility

Mujtaba Merchant Thu, 05 Jun 2025 01:08:12 -0700

I wanted to express my heartfelt appreciation for your tireless efforts in driving accessibility, particularly with Samsung. Your dedication to advocating for accessibility and providing valuable feedback to Samsung officials is truly commendable.

I must admit that I'm eagerly awaiting the opportunity to experience Android accessibility on Motorola phones, as I believe they offer a more streamlined Android experience. However, I'm thrilled to see the progress Samsung is making, thanks in part to your efforts.

I'm glad to hear that they're working on implementing some of the feedback you provided.

Sincerely,

Mujtaba Merchant

Bangalore | INDIA

Sent from my iPhone ®
Help support my causes: NVDA | Billion Strong | EyeWay

On Jun 5, 2025, at 12:14 AM, Ashutosh Singhal <[email protected]> wrote:

Note: As I mentioned earlier, I specifically visited the Samsung Members event to provide feedback to senior Samsung officials to help improve Samsung's accessibility. There, I met a South Korean person who is the Managing Director at Samsung Research India – Noida. I gave him my feedback and took his contact number. I was gradually sharing further feedback with him.
He told me that he had asked a Samsung engineer to call me and that I would receive a call from Samsung. On 3rd June, I received a call from the Samsung Community Team. The person said, "I am transferring your call." When I asked who he was transferring it to, he replied, "the Business Team."
I then spoke with a new representative from Samsung. I gave him the following feedback:
1. Conduct a webinar where users with disabilities can directly share feedback with Samsung team members who have knowledge of assistive apps such as Samsung TalkBack, TTS, Bixby Vision, Live Transcribe, Live Caption, etc.
2. Decouple TalkBack updates from Samsung’s One UI updates so accessibility improvements are not delayed.
3. Develop Samsung's own screen reader, like the earlier Samsung Voice Assistant.
4. Create a Samsung Accessibility Answer Desk in India for faster support.
5. Extend the deadline for InnovationLab #54, which was created after my repeated requests two years ago to gather accessibility feedback. The deadline has already been extended 2–3 times based on my requests.
He told me that Samsung is already working on my feedback. He also mentioned that, because of my input, Samsung published two Quick Tips regarding TalkBack on the Samsung Members app. They also provided Alt Text (Image Description). You can access from here: 1. https://r2.community.samsung.com/t5/Tech-Talk/Quick-Tip-Talk-Back-Switch-languages/td-p/19564754?src="">, 2. https://r2.community.samsung.com/t5/Tech-Talk/Quick-Tip-Talk-Back-Turn-off-Automatic-image-descriptions/td-p/19630123?src="">

From our conversation, I understood that accessibility users should share their feedback on the LinkedIn post where I have tagged senior Samsung officials. If you also share your feedback on that post, the improvement process could move faster, atleast please like and repost for the cause: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/sugamyata-ashutosh-singhal-823543289_innovation-lab-54-accessibility-activity-7306247633289756673-zFCq?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_android&rcm=ACoAAEYGaNsBRMelVAsVe0usYk1hxlY-d_ErcVY

On Wed, 12 Mar 2025 at 22:29, Ashutosh Singhal <[email protected]> wrote:

Note: I specifically visited the Samsung Members event yesterday to provide feedback regarding Samsung Accessibility. I repeatedly mentioned InnovationLab #54 during the event, encouraging them to collect all accessibility feedback from Samsung Accessibility users onto a single platform.
Although many things happened yesterday, the highlight of the event was that after asking I received the contact number of Mr. Kyungyun Roo (commonly referred to as KY Roo), the Managing Director of Samsung R&D Institute in Noida. Mr. Roo, a South Korean, oversees more than 2,300 employees. I have already shared feedback with him regarding Samsung Accessibility.
He responded to my message as follows: "Hi Ashutosh. Thanks for your valuable visit our RnD center.
Hope good memory to you also.
Please contact me when you have idea, issue any thing."

I replied: ""Good evening and Thank you sir.
I visited the Samsung Members Event at the Samsung RND Centre yesterday specially to provide feedback for improving accessibility features. Two years ago, following my repeated requests for an accessibility-focused Innovation Lab, Samsung launched InnovationLab #54. I also encouraged many users with disabilities—especially those with visual impairments—to share their input. Unfortunately, Samsung India lacks a dedicated team to address these needs, and our feedback is not being properly acted upon.
While Samsung Korea and Samsung USA have Accessibility Teams, they focus on their local markets and do not respond to feedback from Indian users. Therefore, I request that Samsung India establish its own Accessibility Team or, at the very least, designate one knowledgeable and empowered representative to address accessibility issues. This is crucial since surveys reveal that India has over 19 million persons with visual impairments and more than 100 million persons with disabilities, representing a significant market for accessible technology.
Previously, Samsung’s independent Accessibility Team, was a leader in accessibility. However, since its collaboration with the Google Accessibility Team, progress has declined over the past 5 years, prompting many users to switch to brands like Google Pixel and iPhone. Currently, Samsung TalkBack—a merger of Samsung Voice Assistant and Google TalkBack—receives infrequent updates, delivered only with Samsung UI updates. As a result, these updates lag behind Google TalkBack by six months to over a year, often introducing major bugs that take much longer to fix.
In summary, Samsung should develop an independent screen reader to ensure continuous innovation in accessibility. A reliable screen reader is essential for effective mobile use, and timely updates and bug fixes are critical for user satisfaction.

Importance of Accessibility Features:
• Social Impact: Accessible tools empower independence, inclusion, and equal opportunity.

• Economic Benefits: A commitment to accessibility expands the user base and drives long-term growth.

• Innovation Catalyst: Innovations developed for accessibility often benefit all users.

Samsung Members InnovationLab #54: In this Innovation Lab Samsung can get so many feedbacks of their Samsung India Accessibility Users: https://r2.community.samsung.com/t5/Tech-Talk/Innovation-Lab-54-Accessibility/td-p/13862814?src="">

I hope Samsung can regain its leadership in accessibility through independent innovation rather than relying solely on external teams."

Mr. Roo responded: ""Ashutosh. Thanks for your message.
We will review current status of Accessibility and will assign dedicated team or person in charge and will get opinion on the same.
Will contact you soon."

I concluded my correspondence by saying: ""Sure, sir. I have contacted Samsung more than 500 times through the Samsung Members App, Samsung Galaxy Store, Samsung Customer Care, emails, three visits to Samsung Service Centers, emails to the Samsung Service Head, and even on Twitter/X etc. I have tried everything I possibly could to fix the bugs of Samsung TalkBack and inaccessibility of Samsung Apps for Screen Reader Users like me.
I hope to see Samsung regain its position as the champion of accessibility. This is very much achievable, as there is minimal competition in the accessibility field compared to other features. Please do not take this the wrong way—I am offering constructive criticism regarding Samsung. If Samsung needs any help regarding accessibility, please feel free to let me know. If Samsung implements the feedback and improves its accessibility, I would be one of the happiest Samsung Accessibility users in India. Thank you. I earlier sent all the emails from [email protected] email ID, Twitter/X account name is @Sugamyata and Samsung Members account name is Ashutosh-Singhal."

I hope this time that Samsung will take action to increase it accessibility for Persons with Disabilities.

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Re: [AI] Re: A W Regarding Samsung Accessibility

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