Apple is making products more inclusive with new accessibility features
May 16, 2024
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Apple is introducing new accessibility features to improve the user experience for people with various disabilities. Apple announced new accessibility features including Eye Tracking to control devices with
Apple is introducing new accessibility features to improve the user experience for people with various disabilities.
Apple announced new accessibility features including Eye Tracking to control devices with eye movements, Music Haptics for a tactile music experience for the deaf and hard of hearing, and Vocal Shortcuts for voice-activated tasks. The features will be available later this year.
Eye tracking
The first new feature is Eye Tracking, which allows users to control their iPad or iPhone using eye movements. This artificial intelligence-based technology allows you to navigate menus and use apps without physical interaction. Designed specifically for people with physical limitations, this feature uses the front camera for quick setup and calibration.
Music haptics
In addition, Apple is also introducing Music Haptics for the hearing impaired or deaf. This feature converts music into tactile sensations using iPhone’s Taptic Engine, making music more accessible to the deaf and hard of hearing. Music Haptics is supported by millions of songs from the Apple Music catalog and is also available for developers to integrate into their applications.
Vocal Shortcuts allows users to assign custom voice commands to actions, while the Listen for Atypical Speech feature optimizes speech recognition for users with different speech patterns. These features are intended to better support people with speech disabilities.
VisionOS
Additionally, accessibility features will be integrated into visionOS, including system-wide live captioning, to support the deaf and hard of hearing during live conversations. These features build on existing accessibility settings and leverage advanced technology to improve accessibility for a wide range of users.
With these updates, Apple continues its commitment to making its products more inclusive and improving accessibility for users with special needs.
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