Google announced a suite of accessibility improvements Starting today, it’s rolling out to its apps, specifically Google Maps, but also to Google Assistant, Google Chrome, and the Google Pixel camera.

New features include walking routes for people in wheelchairs, new badges in Google Maps, compatibility with screen readers for Lens search in Maps, and Shortcuts for Helper Routines inspired by Action Blocks.

New badge on Google Maps

Google Maps will start showing a badge on these establishments. Owners identify as disabledIt joins other recently added badges with a special icon on the venue’s information page.

Screen reader for searching with lens

Google Maps augmented reality search (now called Lenses on Maps and formerly known as Live View) will be more accessible to people with vision problems with the integration of screen readers, which is coming to iOS today and will follow suit on Android before the end of the year.

To use it, we must press the camera icon in the search bar and pick up the phone to start a search. Mobile if screen reader is enabled will tell us about the places around us including name, category and how far away it is.

Walking paths for wheelchair users

After wheelchair-friendly public transportation routes came to Google Maps, Google Maps now does the same for wheelchairs. walking pathsin cities where information is available.

Wheelchair-friendly walking paths start opening today They will give priority to routes without stairsThus, they can also be useful for those traveling with suitcases, for example.

Accessibility information on more sites

Google Maps started showing an icon highlighting wheelchair accessible locations earlier this year. Now this information is reaching other places; Google Maps for Android Auto or to the Google Embedded Maps version.

Routines inspired by Action Blocks

Google Assistant copies tasks from Action Blocks, the accessibility app Google launched a few years ago to perform specific actions. It is now possible to do basically the same thing Google Assistant routines.

You can choose the style of a routine and customize with your own image and font size to add shortcuts to the home screen.

Errors in Chrome

Google Chrome launches today detection in web addresses that we go into the address bar and show us suggestions of what it thinks we mean.

Camera news (on Pixel)

Google Pixel comes with many new accessibility features, including a new version of the magnifying glass app. Guided Frame (or “guided frame”), Helps people with vision problems take photos.

When enabled, the camera app uses a combination of hearing aids. Animations with contrast and haptic feedback making it easier for someone with vision problems to take photos. It’s available now for Pixel 8 and will come later for Pixel 6 and above.

More information | Google

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