Julian Kilker (Journalism and Media Studies) published "Beyond accessibility: Design ethics, edge users, and the role of active proxies in unwinding the spiral of exclusion" in First Monday, the peer-reviewed open-access journal focusing on internet and society published by the University of Illinois at Chicago. This article moves beyond previous digital divide perspectives by examining implications of current User Experience (UX) design practices for marginalized (edge) users. The framework developed is relevant for greater equity in digital tools and systems. Starting from a Rawlsian ethical perspective, the author proposes enlisting proxies, those already helping or standing in for edge users, as design allies to develop a deeper understanding of marginalized contexts. This reframes accessibility to include making all types of people accessible to technology designers.
