155 - Tarryn Tomlinson on Using AI to Build Inclusive Tourism for All

Sponsor me the cost of a cup of coffee and help me continue creating content:https://ko-fi.com/adifferentwayofseeing Accessibility is often seen as complex, expensive, or something that requires specialist knowledge. But what if assessing your venue’s accessibility could be as simple as having a conversation on WhatsApp?In this episode of A Different Way of Seeing, Lois Strachan speaks with Taryn Tomlinson from Livable Group about Ava, an innovative AI-powered accessibility assessment tool designed to help hospitality businesses evaluate how accessible their properties are for everyone.Taryn explains how Ava guides users through a simple self-assessment, measuring everything from parking spaces and door widths to accessible bathrooms and emergency lighting. Within an hour of completing the assessment, businesses receive practical recommendations to help them improve accessibility and move closer to universal access standards.We also discuss why Ava was created, the importance of making accessibility achievable for small and medium-sized hospitality businesses across South Africa, and exciting plans to expand the technology to restaurants, bars, and tourist attractions.Join us for a fascinating conversation about how technology is making accessibility more practical, more affordable, and more achievable for businesses and the communities they serve.Reach out to Tarryn Tomlinson:Email: office@liveablegroup.comWebsite: www.liveablegroup.com Image Description:Stylized illustration of a woman with a ponytail walking with a long white cane. To her right is a large outlined eye symbol with three curved lines beneath it, suggesting sound or radiating perception. Below the logo is text reading A Different way of Seeing with Lois Strachan.I’d love to hear from you – contact me atWebsite : loisstrachan.comLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/lstrachanFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/loisstrachanspeaker This episode edited by Craig Strachan using Hindenburg PRO – find out more on Hindenburg.comCredits and music by Charlie Dyasi.