Apple unveils new accessibility features
Apple unveils new accessibility features including eye tracking, haptics, and vocal shortcuts
Coming this year: Apple unveils new accessibility features, including eye tracking, allow users to navigate the iPad and iPhone using only their eyes.
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA – Apple unveils new accessibility features launching later this year. These innovations include:
Eye tracking: Physically disabled users can control their iPad or iPhone using only their eyes, thanks to artificial intelligence and on-device machine learning. This feature ensures secure, private use without the need for additional hardware.
Music Haptics: For users who are deaf or hard of hearing, the Taptic Engine in iPhone will now provide tactile feedback to music, enhancing the audio experience.
Vocal Shortcuts: Users can create custom vocal commands for Siri to perform specific tasks, adding a new level of personalization and ease of use.
Vehicle Speed Indication: This feature helps reduce motion sickness for passengers using an iPhone or iPad in moving vehicles by displaying animated dots that reflect the vehicle’s speed.
VisionOS enhancements: New accessibility features include Live Caption for real-time dialogue in apps and additional support for hearing devices.
Apple CEO Tim Cook said, “We deeply believe in the transformative power of innovation to enrich lives. For nearly 40 years, Apple has supported inclusive design by embedding accessibility into the core of our hardware and software so the Apple unveils new accessibility features.
“Every year we break new ground when it comes to accessibility,” said Sarah Herlinger, Apple’s senior director of global accessibility policy and initiatives. Apple unveils new accessibility features will impact a wide range of users, providing new ways to communicate, control their devices, and move around the world.
Main features in detail
Eye Tracking for iPad and iPhone: This feature uses AI to allow users to navigate their devices with their eyes. It is designed for physically disabled users and operates securely without sharing data with Apple.
Apple iPad (10th Generation)
| Brand | Apple |
| Model Name | iPad |
| Memory Storage Capacity | 64 GB |
| Screen Size | 10.9 Inches |
| Operating System | iPadOS |
Apple iPhone 15 Pro (256 GB) – Blue Titanium
| Brand | Apple |
| Model Name | iPhone 15 Pro |
| Network Service Provider | Unlocked for All Carriers |
| Operating System | iOS |
| Cellular Technology | 5G |
Music Haptics: Integrating the Taptic Engine, this feature allows deaf or hard of hearing users to feel music through taps and vibrations, enhancing their listening experience.
Music Haptics offers deaf or hard-of-hearing iPhone users a new way to experience music.
Vocal Shortcuts: Users can assign custom pronunciations to Siri, making it easier to perform complex tasks with voice commands. The feature supports a wide range of speech patterns, improving accessibility for users with speech disabilities.
Vocal Shortcuts allow iPhone and iPad users to create custom voice commands for Siri to launch shortcuts and perform complex tasks.
Vehicle motion prompts: By displaying speed-related prompts on the screen, this feature helps reduce motion sickness, making it more comfortable for users to interact with their devices in moving vehicles.
Vehicle motion prompts on iPhone and iPad help reduce motion sickness for passengers in moving vehicles.
CarPlay enhancements: The new update includes voice control, color filters, and voice recognition, increasing accessibility for users with different needs.
The CarPlay update now includes voice recognition, which enables deaf or hard-of-hearing drivers or passengers to receive alerts for car horns and sirens.
VisionOS Accessibility Update: New features include systemwide Live Caption, support for additional hearing devices, and visual accessibility options like Reduce Transparency and Smart Invert.
visionOS will introduce Live Captions, enabling users who are deaf or hard of hearing to follow spoken dialogue in live conversations and audio from apps.
Celebrating Global Accessibility Awareness Day
Apple unveils new accessibility features, curated collections, and more in celebration of Global Accessibility Awareness Day. Main attractions include:
Apple Store Sessions: Free sessions at select Apple Store locations will help customers explore built-in accessibility features.
App Store: Includes apps and games that promote accessibility and inclusion.
Apple TV app: Honoring creators and activists who share the experiences of people with disabilities.
Apple Books: Highlighting first-person narratives by writers with disabilities.
Apple Fitness+: Offering workouts and meditations with American Sign Language, plus audio prompts and modifiers for inclusivity.
Additional updates
For users who are blind or have low vision:
VoiceOver: New voices on Mac, flexible voice rotor, custom volume controls, and customizable VoiceOver keyboard shortcuts.
Magnifier: New reader mode and easy launch of detection mode with action button.
For Braille users:
- A new way to start and stay in braille screen input for faster controls and text editing.
- Japanese language support for Braille screen input.
- Multi-line braille support with dot pad.
- Option to choose different input and output tables.
For low vision users:
Hover Typing: When typing in a text field, displays larger text in the user’s preferred font and color.
For users at risk of losing the ability to speak:
Individual voice: Available in Mandarin Chinese. Users can create a personalized voice using short phrases.
For non-speaking users:
Live Speech: Includes categories and simultaneous compatibility with Live Caption.
For physically disabled users:
AssistiveTouch: Allows controlling the device using a small area of the screen as a resizable trackpad.
Switch controls: The cameras in iPhone and iPad can recognize finger-tap gestures as switches.
Voice control: Support for custom vocabularies and complex words.
Conclusion
In Cupertino, California, Apple unveils new accessibility features including eye tracking and music haptics aimed at enhancing user experiences. These innovations empower users with disabilities to intuitively navigate their devices and enjoy music through tactile feedback. With vocal shortcuts and vehicle motion prompts, Apple continues to prioritize inclusivity, ensuring a seamless experience for all users. Apple CEO Tim Cook emphasizes the company’s commitment to innovation and accessibility, while Sarah Herlinger, Apple’s senior director of global accessibility policy and initiatives, highlights the significant impact these features have on users around the world. From eye tracking to Live Caption and customizable voice commands, Apple’s latest updates represent a significant step toward a more inclusive and accessible future.