Evolution of a hard-of-hearing person with technology

Florian Margaine, a Field CTO at Upsun with profound hearing loss since birth, shares his personal journey of how technological advancements have significantly improved accessibility for hard-of-hearing individuals like himself. Over the past 15 years, innovations such as improved hearing aids, the widespread adoption of subtitles, text-based communication platforms, Bluetooth connectivity, live captions in video calls, and the introduction of live-caption-enabled smart glasses have transformed his ability to engage in both professional and social settings. He highlights how each advancement has progressively enabled him to participate more fully in conversations and meetings, enjoy entertainment, and navigate noisy environments like conferences, though he notes that challenges remain. Margaine advocates for continued investment in accessible technologies and practices, urging the tech community to adopt inclusive tools and improve written communication to ensure that collaboration is accessible for everyone, particularly those with hearing impairments.