Tech Career Decoded #3: The Metaverse | Disability Tech | Gaming & Tech

Welcome to the latest edition of Tech Career Decoded. 

In this issue, we'll be exploring some of the latest and most exciting trends in the tech industry, including the metaverse, disability tech, and look at why gaming can make you the perfect tech employee.  

Let’s jump right in. 👇

How disability tech is creating a more inclusive world 

From screen readers and voice magnifiers to mobility devices and smart home gadgets, disability tech is breaking down barriers and creating a more inclusive society for all. In fact, a recent study found that jobs that made room for assistive technology saw the biggest increase in employment for people with disabilities.   

But until recently, it has been a huge market that's been ignored. So what’s driving the change? One reason is that we’re talking about disability in a whole new way now, focusing on its value and potential for innovation, rather than just its cost or the challenges it poses. And rightly so.  

Here are three examples of how tech empowers people with disabilities to live more independent and fulfilling lives: 

1. AI-powered smart canes. Smart canes, like the CAN Go, have the potential to significantly improve the lives of blind and visually impaired people. By using artificial intelligence to detect falls, identify obstacles, and provide directions, smart canes can help people with visual impairments safely navigate their surroundings.

2. Accessible gaming controllers. The Sony Access Controller for PS5 is a highly customizable controller kit designed to help players with disabilities play games more comfortably and for longer. It was developed in close collaboration with the accessibility community, and it features a variety of innovative features that make it easier to adapt the controller to meet the individual needs of each player. 

3. OptKey Coder. OptiKey Coder is an open source project that empowers individuals with quadriplegia, cerebral palsy, and other motor impairments to code using base eye gaze tracking functionality. This project is a game changer for people with motor impairments who want to break into the tech industry. The OptiKey Coder project has already inspired many individuals to pursue studies in computer science and ultimately embark on fulfilling careers in software development, opening doors and creating opportunities that were previously unavailable to them. 

   Whether that's contributing to open source projects, building new solutions, or working for a disability tech company, tech professionals can play a vital role in creating a more inclusive world for people with disabilities. Are you feeling inspired to make a difference? 

The reimagined metaverse 

Exactly one year after Meta’s 3D metaverse was mocked by hundreds of people online, Mark Zuckerberg joined podcaster Lex Fridman for an interview in the metaverse via photorealistic avatars.  

Could this be a watershed moment for the technology? And will it fuel renewed interest in the metaverse?  

Zuckerberg's metaverse strategy is ambitious, but it’s also risky. The company has already invested billions of dollars on an unproven technology, and its future success relies heavily on millions of people owning AR and VR hardware. Critics have expressed concerns about Meta's privacy policies, and the company faces fierce competition from Microsoft, a major player in the video game industry, and Apple, who are also stepping into the metaverse.  

If Zuckerberg's metaverse utopia comes true, with billions living, working, and playing in immersive virtual and augmented worlds, it could spark a new wave of tech innovation. 

Just like the app store made it easy for developers to create and distribute apps for smartphones, the metaverse could empower creators to build immersive experiences and virtual worlds.  

This could include things like interactive games, virtual concerts, educational tools, immersive training programs, and more - creating new job opportunities for software engineers, game designers and developers, content creators, 3D modellers and animators, AI and machine learning engineers, and even cybersecurity specialists. 

Turn your gaming skills into a tech career

What do some of the most successful tech CEOs have in common?  

They all attribute some or all of their business success to playing video games. 

While being skilled at video games doesn't guarantee success as a tech CEO, there are common skills shared by both gamers and tech professionals.   

For instance, gamers often develop strong problem-solving skills, adaptability, and creativity—all of which are highly sought-after qualities in the tech industry. Gamers and tech professionals share the "fail better" mindset that encourages people to learn from their failures and use them to improve. Whether that’s learning from a mistake in a game and trying a new strategy the next time, or debugging code and fixing errors. 

Playing video games can also help gamers develop technical computing skills, such as basic coding and 3D graphics programming. For example, gamers can learn the programming language Lua to create mods for the popular game Minecraft.  

If you’re looking to combine your passion for gaming with a career, here are some of the most in-demand jobs in the gaming industry at the moment:  

• Game developers are responsible for designing, developing, and testing video games. 

• Game artists create the visual elements of video games, such as characters, environments, and props. 

• Game designers create the gameplay mechanics and overall structure of video games. 

• Quality assurance testers play video games to find and report bugs. 

Tech Career Decoded #2 explored AI's potential to replace human jobs. But while AI isn’t there yet, it's already proving to be a helpful sidekick in our day-to-day work.  

For example, AI is changing the way we hire, with new tools to help recruiters find and match the best candidates, while promoting diversity and inclusion. Check out what Michael Page experts have to say about how AI will impact recruitment: 

"AI will revolutionise recruitment, enhancing resume screening and job matching within years, and this will require a substantial, well-organised dataset. While benefiting junior roles, in-person interactions remain vital for senior positions. AI also aids in resume fine-tuning, interview prep, and salary insights. Yet, it's vital for candidates to personalise AI-crafted resumes and be cautious of potential data risks on AI platforms." - Nicolas Dumoulin, Senior Managing Director, Michael Page India & Thailand 

"Today, artificial intelligence is being used as a tool to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion within the recruitment processes, ensuring the removal of biases and the consolidation of shortlists of profiles that genuinely meet the technical requirements and soft skills needed for the position in question." - Daniel Camacho Mejia, Director of Michael Page IT, Digital & eCommerce in Colombia 

“AI will help recruiters better identify candidates using algorithms and metasearch engines that will produce better sourcing of available talent, and non-discriminatory analysis tools (CV screening, matching, etc.). New soft skills evaluation and assessment solutions will help recruiters better assess candidates' skills and expectations, while avoiding cognitive biases and promoting equal opportunities. Finally, recruiters can save time and resources on HR processes, such as writing job descriptions and onboarding employees, to focus on what really matters: building human and personal relationships.” -  Martin Villelongue, Senior Executive Director, Michael Page France 

Will the metaverse be a hit? Has gaming helped you in your tech career? Know any other examples of disability tech? We love hearing from our tech-savvy community, so please drop your thoughts in the comments below and join the conversation. 

And don't miss out on our future editions by subscribing to stay updated with the latest tech insights.  

Thanks for reading!    

The Michael Page Technology team