On Tuesday, Apple unveiled a preview of upcoming software features aimed at enhancing accessibility for people with cognitive, vision, hearing, and mobility impairments, as well as those who are unable to speak or may be at risk of losing their ability to speak.
Apple has stated that these new features will be released later this year. CEO Tim Cook expressed his excitement in a tweet, stating, “At Apple, we believe technology should be designed to help everyone do what they love. We’re excited to preview new accessibility features to help even more people follow their dreams.”
The company provided further details on these features in a press release:
Assistive Access (for cognitive disabilities): This feature combines Phone and FaceTime into a single Calls app. Additionally, Messages includes an emoji-only keyboard and the ability to record video messages for visual communication. Users can also choose between a grid-based layout or a text-based row layout for the home screen and apps based on their preferences.
Live Speech and Personal Voice Advance Speech Accessibility: This feature caters to users who are unable to speak. It enables them to type their desired messages and save commonly used phrases for easy access.
In addition, users can create a “Personal Voice” by reading a set of randomized text prompts and recording 15 minutes of audio on their iPhone or iPad. This feature seamlessly integrates with Live Speech, enabling users to communicate in their own “Personal Voice” during conversations with their loved ones.
Point and Speak in Magnifier: This feature is designed for individuals with low vision or blindness to interact with physical objects that have multiple text labels. It is built on the Magnifier app and incorporates People Detection, Door Detection, and Image Descriptions, enabling users to navigate their physical environment more easily.
