Matterport for All and Our Mission to Make Every Space More Valuable and Accessible

“You are responsible for what you put into the world,” the late Austrian-American designer Victor Papanek famously said. “And you are responsible for the effects those things have upon the world.” 

This profound statement resonates deeply with our mission at Matterport: make every space more valuable and accessible. 

Understanding Accessibility

In today's digital age, accessibility is more than just a buzzword. It is a fundamental component of creating spaces where everyone, regardless of their abilities, can fully participate, engage, and reap the benefits of technology.  With over 1.3 billion people worldwide living with some form of disability, prioritizing accessibility is imperative, not optional. The fact that one in four individuals in the US directly benefits from designs that are accessible, highlights the profound influence and necessity of dedicating effort and resources towards innovative accessibility solutions.

Accessibility at Matterport 

Matterport’s digital twin platform fundamentally improves the way people access, understand, and utilize their properties. Accessibility, inclusivity and sustainability are built directly into our business model, embedded in our values and woven into the fabric of our existence. 

Website accessibility and ongoing optimization are key to creating an immersive experience for all visitors to our site. It is not limited to our platform but also extends to our cloud and mobile solutions. We published our first voluntary accessibility report for our Matterport Discover in October 2022. Now, we are thrilled to share our latest Web Content Accessibility Guidelines for our 3D platform. 

Current Accessibility Features at Matterport

Accessibility is integrated into the core of our software development life cycle process. We are continuously adding new features to enhance the user experience and we are committed to making our products, services and content available to anyone who wants to use them. We call this Matterport for All, and we put accessibility and equity at the heart of what we do.

Our digital twin platform revolutionizes accessibility by bridging distances, enabling people worldwide to explore places they might never have the chance to visit in person. Matterport's immersive digital twins offer detailed, accurate 3D representations of locations across the globe.

Our mission is to democratize access to the built environment. We continuously explore current and future avenues through which people interact with our platform, always questioning what we might have overlooked, whose needs we haven't considered, and the potential unintended impacts of our decisions. By engaging with our users and leveraging their feedback, we strive to enhance the accessibility of our products and services. For instance, our Matterport mobile apps empower anyone with a smartphone to capture, customize, and share any physical space in captivating 3D, making it universally accessible.

From color contrast to keyboard navigation, our design team keeps accessibility in mind when working on new components:

• Keyboard Navigation: ensure that users can navigate through the platform using keyboard shortcuts, which is essential for users with motor disabilities. We provide many customizable shortcuts to allow easy navigation. 

• High Contrast Modes: offer high contrast viewing options to assist users with visual impairments in distinguishing different elements on the screen. 

• Alt text: provide default alternative text for images and charts to ensure accessibility for users with visual impairments

• Touch Targets: large, easily tappable targets of size 44 x 44 pixels or above to facilitate navigation for users with motor impairments.

• Animations: gentle, non-distracting animations provide a smooth experience for users with motion sensitivity.

• Layouts, Fonts, Colors: high contrast and readable fonts ensure content is accessible to users with visual impairments.

• Cognitive Load: simple, intuitive interfaces to reduce cognitive load, making navigation simple and easy for all.

• Customizable User Interfaces: offer several customizable options for model owners to decide what they would like visitors to the space to see, for example: story telling mode, showing everything about the space, viewing in compact mode, and more. 

External Audits and Testing

Our efforts to improve accessibility include working to comply with international standards. We follow the guidelines provided by Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) specifically WCAG 2.1 AA and WCAG 2.2 AA. 

To elevate our accessibility efforts, we have partnered with accessibility experts from User1st. Their program evaluates our 3D platform in accordance with best practices as prescribed in the WCAG standards and is supported by a diverse team of accessibility professionals and experts. In addition, we have also partnered with Deque to use their accessibility tools to evaluate our products for continuous improvements. Our quality assurance team tests our products for accessibility and works to resolve critical issues as they arise.

Conducting regular accessibility audits and involving users with disabilities in testing helps identify and address accessibility issues proactively. This iterative process ensures that our platform continuously evolves to meet the needs of all users.

The Future of Accessibility at Matterport

Matterport's vision for the future of accessibility centers on a steadfast commitment to inclusivity and user-centered design. By leveraging cutting-edge technologies, including AI-driven tools, Matterport aims to proactively meet the diverse needs of all users. AI plays a pivotal role in elevating accessibility; for example, it can automatically generate descriptive text for 3D models, enhancing their usability for individuals relying on screen readers. Furthermore, machine learning algorithms offer the potential to detect and address accessibility challenges in real-time.

Beyond the implementation of AI solutions, engaging directly with the community, especially users with disabilities, remains a cornerstone of our approach. Their invaluable insights and feedback are instrumental in shaping our initiatives. Establishing forums and advisory boards represents a key strategy for Matterport to remain responsive to the changing needs and expectations of its user base, ensuring that our advancements in technology always align with our goal of creating an accessible, inclusive digital environment.

Accessibility is an ongoing journey, not a destination. By continuing to innovate and prioritize inclusivity, Matterport is committed to ensuring that its digital platform is accessible to everyone, creating a richer, more engaging experience for all users. Embracing accessibility not only fulfills a moral and legal obligation but also expands the platform’s reach and usability, benefiting the entire Matterport’s user community.

Together, we can build a digital world that truly welcomes and empowers everyone.