WeAreDevelopers LIVE - Accessibility isn't magic, Longevity, Devrel in times of AI and more

AI can get you 80% of the way there. But the final 20% requires deep knowledge to avoid buggy, unmaintainable 'AI slop'.

#1about 1 minute

Introducing accessibility work and the upcoming WCAG 3

The guest explains his role as Head of Accessibility and his involvement in writing WCAG 3, which aims to address complex issues like triggering content and neurodivergence.

#2about 5 minutes

Protecting your online identity from AI-powered scams

Using a pseudonym online can protect your privacy from identity theft and increasingly sophisticated AI-driven scams that can mimic voices and video.

#3about 9 minutes

The need for human expertise in the era of AI code

While AI can generate 80% of a solution quickly, human developers with strong fundamentals are essential for handling the final 20% and fixing the "AI slop" that results from over-reliance on tools.

#4about 2 minutes

The power and security risks of AI command line access

AI coding assistants like Claude Code can now run command line tools, offering powerful automation but also introducing significant security risks if not properly sandboxed.

#5about 7 minutes

Protecting engineering focus from constant distractions

Constant pings from tools like Slack are highly disruptive to engineer productivity, highlighting the need for a company culture that values asynchronous communication and respects focus time.

#6about 3 minutes

Learning deeply by building creative and esoteric projects

Building unconventional projects, like a programming language controlled by whistling, is a valuable way to learn core concepts deeply because there are no tutorials to follow.

#7about 5 minutes

The rise of cozy games as a positive online experience

The browser game "Messenger" exemplifies the "cozy game" trend, offering a calming, non-competitive experience that provides a positive and relaxing alternative to other online activities.

#8about 4 minutes

Designing calmer digital interfaces for neurodivergence

Simple design choices, like avoiding unnecessary urgency and expiring sessions, can create a calmer and more accessible experience for neurodivergent users and everyone else.

#9about 6 minutes

Using the HTML output tag and following web standards

The underused <output> element is semantically correct for displaying calculation results, and developers should follow the HTML spec rather than adding workarounds for browser bugs.

#10about 11 minutes

Why progressive web apps failed to gain wide adoption

PWAs struggled to gain traction due to the technical complexity of offline data syncing and Apple's strategic decision to limit their functionality to protect its App Store ecosystem.

#11about 7 minutes

Debating the merits of Tailwind CSS versus the cascade

The popularity of utility-first frameworks like Tailwind stems from developers struggling with the CSS cascade, but understanding specificity and CSS variables offers a more powerful alternative.

#12about 8 minutes

Overcoming the social barriers to web accessibility

The biggest threats to accessibility are often social, including developer ignorance, toxic criticism from within the community, and a perfectionist mindset that prevents progress.

#13about 2 minutes

A pragmatic approach to video accessibility and longevity

Making video accessible involves pragmatic trade-offs, such as balancing the cost of audio descriptions for short-lived viral content and accepting that imperfect AI captions are better than none.

#14about 8 minutes

What the European Accessibility Act means for developers

The European Accessibility Act largely codifies existing standards for most developers but adds new reporting requirements for key sectors like e-commerce and banking.

#15about 19 minutes

How captions became a tool for accessibility and engagement

Animated, baked-in captions on social media serve a dual purpose, acting as a crucial accessibility aid while also being a key engagement driver for audiences who watch videos without sound.