Apple today previewed innovative software features that introduce new ways
for users with disabilities to navigate, connect, and get the most out of
Apple products. These powerful updates combine the company's latest
technologies to deliver unique and customizable tools for users, and build
on Apple's long-standing commitment to making products that work for
everyone.
Using advancements across hardware, software, and machine learning, people
who are blind or low vision can use their iPhone and iPad to navigate the
last few feet to their destination with Door Detection; users with physical
and motor disabilities who may rely on assistive features like Voice Control
and Switch Control can fully control Apple Watch from their iPhone with
Apple Watch Mirroring; and the Deaf and hard of hearing community can follow
Live Captions on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Apple is also expanding support for
its industry-leading screen reader VoiceOver with over 20 new languages and
locales. These features will be available later this year with software
updates across Apple platforms.
"Apple embeds accessibility into every aspect of our work, and we are
committed to designing the best products and services for everyone," said
Sarah Herrlinger, Apple's senior director of Accessibility Policy and
Initiatives. "We're excited to introduce these new features, which combine
innovation and creativity from teams across Apple to give users more options
to use our products in ways that best suit their needs and lives."
Door Detection for Users Who Are Blind or Low Vision
Apple is introducing Door Detection, a cutting-edge navigation feature for
users who are blind or low vision. Door Detection can help users locate a
door upon arriving at a new destination, understand how far they are from
it, and describe door attributes - including if it is open or closed, and
when it's closed, whether it can be opened by pushing, turning a knob, or
pulling a handle. Door Detection can also read signs and symbols around the
door, like the room number at an office, or the presence of an accessible
entrance symbol. This new feature combines the power of LiDAR, camera, and
on-device machine learning, and will be available on iPhone and iPad models
with the LiDAR Scanner. Door Detection will be available in a new Detection
Mode within Magnifier, Apple's built-in app supporting blind and low vision
users. Door Detection, along with People Detection and Image Descriptions,
can each be used alone or simultaneously in Detection Mode, offering users
with vision disabilities a go-to place with customizable tools to help
navigate and access rich descriptions of their surroundings. In addition to
navigation tools within Magnifier, Apple Maps will offer sound and haptics
feedback for VoiceOver users to identify the starting point for walking
directions.
Advancing Physical and Motor Accessibility for Apple Watch
Apple Watch becomes more accessible than ever for people with physical and
motor disabilities with Apple Watch Mirroring, which helps users control
Apple Watch remotely from their paired iPhone. With Apple Watch Mirroring,
users can control Apple Watch using iPhone's assistive features like Voice
Control and Switch Control, and use inputs including voice commands, sound
actions, head tracking, or external Made for iPhone switches as alternatives
to tapping the Apple Watch display. Apple Watch Mirroring uses hardware and
software integration, including advances built on AirPlay, to help ensure
users who rely on these mobility features can benefit from unique Apple
Watch apps like Blood Oxygen, Heart Rate, Mindfulness, and more.
With Apple Watch Mirroring, users can control Apple Watch from their paired
iPhone, with the option to use iPhone's assistive features like Voice
Control and Switch Control as alternatives to tapping the display.
Plus, users can do even more with simple hand gestures to control Apple
Watch. With new Quick Actions on Apple Watch, a double-pinch gesture can
answer or end a phone call, dismiss a notification, take a photo, play or
pause media in the Now Playing app, and start, pause, or resume a workout.
This builds on the innovative technology used in AssistiveTouch on Apple
Watch, which gives users with upper body limb differences the option to
control Apple Watch with gestures like a pinch or a clench without having to
tap the display.
Live Captions Come to iPhone, iPad, and Mac for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Users
For the Deaf and hard of hearing community, Apple is introducing Live
Captions on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Users can follow along more easily with
any audio content - whether they are on a phone or FaceTime call, using a
video conferencing or social media app, streaming media content, or having a
conversation with someone next to them. Users can also adjust font size for
ease of reading. Live Captions in FaceTime attribute auto-transcribed
dialogue to call participants, so group video calls become even more
convenient for users with hearing disabilities. When Live Captions are used
for calls on Mac, users have the option to type a response and have it
spoken aloud in real time to others who are part of the conversation. And
because Live Captions are generated on device, user information stays
private and secure.
VoiceOver Adds New Languages and More
VoiceOver, Apple's industry-leading screen reader for blind and low vision
users, is adding support for more than 20 additional locales and languages,
including Bengali, Bulgarian, Catalan, Ukrainian, and Vietnamese. Users can
also select from dozens of new voices that are optimized for assistive
features across languages. These new languages, locales, and voices will
also be available for Speak Selection and Speak Screen accessibility
features. Additionally, VoiceOver users on Mac can use the new Text Checker
tool to discover common formatting issues such as duplicative spaces or
misplaced capital letters, which makes proofreading documents or emails even
easier.
Additional Features
. With Buddy Controller , users can ask a care provider or friend to help
them play a game; Buddy Controller combines any two game controllers into
one, so multiple controllers can drive the input for a single player.
. With Siri Pause Time , users with speech disabilities can adjust how long
Siri waits before responding to a request.
. Voice Control Spelling Mode gives users the option to dictate custom
spellings using letter-by-letter input.
. Sound Recognition can be customized to recognize sounds that are specific
to a person's environment, like their home's unique alarm, doorbell, or
appliances.
. The Apple Books app will offer new themes, and introduce customization
options such as bolding text and adjusting line, character, and word spacing
for an even more accessible reading experience.
Celebrating Global Accessibility Awareness Day
This week, Apple is celebrating Global Accessibility Awareness Day with
special sessions, curated collections, and more:
. SignTime will launch in Canada on May 19 to connect Apple Store and Apple
Support customers with on-demand American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters.
SignTime is already available for customers in the US using ASL, the UK
using British Sign Language (BSL), and France using French Sign Language
(LSF).
. Apple Store locations around the world are offering live sessions
throughout the week to help customers discover accessibility features on
iPhone, and Apple Support social channels are showcasing how-to content.
. The Accessibility Assistant shortcut is coming to the Shortcuts app on
Mac and Apple Watch this week to help recommend accessibility features based
on user preferences.
. This week in Apple Fitness+ , trainer Bakari Williams uses ASL to
highlight the features available to users that are part of an ongoing effort
to make fitness more accessible to all, including Audio Hints, which are
short descriptive verbal cues to support users who are blind or low vision,
and Time to Walk and Time to Run episodes becoming "Time to Walk or Push"
and "Time to Run or Push" for wheelchair users. Additionally, Fitness+
trainers incorporate ASL into every workout and meditation, all videos
include closed captioning in six languages, and trainers demonstrate
modifications in each workout so users at different levels can join in.
. Apple Maps features a new guide from the National Park Foundation, Park
Access for All, to help users discover accessible features, programs, and
services to explore in parks across the US. Guides from Gallaudet University
- the world's premier university for Deaf, hard of hearing, and Deafblind
students - feature businesses and organizations that value, embrace, and
prioritize the Deaf community and signed languages.
. Users can explore accessibility-focused apps and powerful stories from app
creators in the App Store ; check out the Transforming Our World collection
in Apple Books , featuring stories by and about people with disabilities;
and learn about creative ways technology is advancing accessibility in Apple
Podcasts .
. Apple Music will highlight the Saylists playlists, a collection of
playlists that each focus on a different sound. Choosing one and singing
along is a fun and engaging way to practice vocal sounds or speech therapy.
. The Apple TV app will highlight the latest hit movies and shows featuring
authentic representation of people with disabilities. Plus, viewers can
explore guest-curated collections from the accessibility community's
standout actors, including Marlee Matlin ("CODA"), Lauren Ridloff
("Eternals"), Selma Blair ("Introducing, Selma Blair"), Ali Stroker
("Christmas Ever After"), and more.
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