2023-05-21 09:30:00
Apple’s new accessibility features improve the lives of people who have lost the ability to speak, who are blind or have reduced vision.
Apple just introduced a full set of new features specifically designed to increase cognitive, visual, auditory and motor accessibility. These features include “Personal Voice,” which lets your iPhone use your voice so you can chat with loved ones.
Personal Voice Creation
To create their own Personal Voice, users can read a set of text instructions aloud for a total of 15 minutes on their iPhone or iPad. Thanks to the feature’s integration with Live Speech, they can then type what they want to say and have their Personal Voice read to the person they want to converse with.
Apple points out that this feature uses themachine learning on the device. This technology ensures user privacy and security. Adapted Access: Simplification of applications
In addition, Apple offers simplified versions of its main applications under a feature called “Adaptive Access”, intended to facilitate the use of devices for users with cognitive impairments.
This feature highlights essential app functionality to reduce cognitive load. It includes in particular a combined version of Phone and FaceTimeplus modified versions of the Messages, Camera, Photos, and Music apps with high-contrast buttons, large text labels, and additional accessibility tools.
An upcoming custom accessibility mode
Late last year, a beta version of iOS 16.2 identified a “Custom Accessibility Mode”. Apple announces that these new features will be available “later this year”, which suggests that they might be integrated into iOS 17.
New detection mode in Magnifier tool
Apple’s Magnifier tool now has a new detection mode. This mode helps users who are blind or have reduced vision to interact with physical objects. These objects often contain many textual labels.
For example, when they point their device’s camera at a label, such as the keypad of a microwave oven. The iPhone or iPad will read each number or setting aloud. This happens when the user moves their finger across the screen.
Improvements for Mac users
Apple also announced several other features for Mac. These features include a better connectivity with compatible hearing aids Made for iPhone. This improvement aims to make it easier to use the devices for users who are deaf or hard of hearing. Additionally, Apple has introduced an increased facility to change text size in Finder, Messages, Mail, Calendar, and Notes on Mac. This enhancement allows users to adjust text size more easily.
Other accessibility features
Users will also have the option to pause GIFs in Safari and Messages. Additionally, they will be able to customize Siri’s speaking speed. Also, Voice Control will allow them to get phonetic suggestions while editing text.
All of these features are in addition to the accessibility options already present on Apple devices. Among these are live captions, VoiceOver screen reader and door detection.
Apple’s commitment to accessibility
Sarah Herrlinger, Apple’s Senior Director of Global Accessibility Policy and Initiatives, highlights theimportance of accessibility for the company. She says, “Accessibility is an integral part of our philosophy at Apple. These innovative features were developed in collaboration with community members with disabilities at every stage. They aim to support a variety of users and facilitate new forms of communication.
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