Google Opens Accessible Centre in London

Google opens its first UK research and development centre that designs technology for disabled people.

04:39 09 December 2022

Google has officially launched a research and development centre in London, the company's first accessibility-focused site outside the United States. 

The US-based tech giant collaborated with the Royal National Institute for Blind People, Royal National Institute for Deaf People, and disability charity Everyone Can on the development of the centre, which experts say has the potential to bring a huge difference to the lives of many disabled people by supercharging accessible tech using things like artificial intelligence.

BBC technology reporter Paul Carter said:"Technology now touches so many aspects of everyone's daily lives, but for disabled people it can literally be life-changing," he said.

"There's a saying in the disability community - 'nothing about us without us' - and it's great to see one of the major tech players embracing that ethos and creating a space to design products and services in a way that they can work with, and not just for, disabled people."

Christopher Patnoe, from Google's inclusion team, said: "When people have equitable access to information and opportunity, everyone wins - but we know people's needs are constantly changing, throughout their lives or even their day.

"We know we have more to do," he said.