Apple today previewed several upcoming accessibility updates. These features leverage Apple Intelligence to bring new capabilities to everyday tools. The upcoming tools improve user experiences across the entire company ecosystem. Updates apply directly to VoiceOver, Magnifier, Voice Control, and Accessibility Reader. Furthermore, the company announced on-device-generated subtitles for uncaptioned video content. Apple Vision Pro users will also get a feature to control power wheelchairs with their eyes. These technical updates will arrive later this year.
Additionally, a physical accessory was launched today. The Hikawa Grip & Stand for iPhone now features three vibrant new colors. Customers can purchase this adaptive MagSafe accessory on the Apple Store online.
“Apple’s approach to accessibility is unlike any other,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO.“Now, with Apple Intelligence, we are bringing powerful new capabilities into our accessibility features while maintaining our foundational commitment to privacy by design.”
“The accessibility features our users rely on every day become even more powerful with Apple Intelligence,” said Sarah Herrlinger, Apple’s senior director of Global Accessibility Policy and Initiatives.“With these updates, we’re bringing new, intuitive options for input, exploration, and personalization, designed to protect users’ privacy at every step.”
Enhanced Navigation Tools
The Image Explorer in VoiceOver provides detailed descriptions of photographs, scanned bills, and personal records. Users can also press the Action button to ask questions about the camera viewfinder. Magnifier uses Apple Intelligence to bring similar assistive exploration to low-vision interfaces. Users can control Magnifier through spoken requests like zooming in.
Voice Control now features natural language capabilities. This helps users navigate the iPhone and iPad by voice. A new flexible input allows people to describe buttons instead of memorizing labels. Accessibility Reader handles complex text like scientific articles with multiple columns and tables. It provides on-demand summaries and built-in translation options.
On-device speech recognition generates subtitles privately for uncaptioned videos. This feature works on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, and Apple Vision Pro. The new wheelchair control feature utilizes precise eye-tracking. It offers a responsive input method for alternative drive systems. The system will support TOLT Technologies and LUCI alternative drive systems in the United States. It connects using Bluetooth or wired connections.
“The option to control my power wheelchair on my own is gold to me,” said Pat Dolan, founder of GeoALS and a member of Team Gleason’s patient advisory board, who has lived with ALS for 10 years. “With this new feature, Apple is developing life-enhancing technology for the people who need it most.”
“Over the past decade, we’ve seen eye-driven wheelchair systems evolve in incredible ways,” said Blair Casey, Team Gleason’s CEO. “Leveraging Apple Vision Pro’s eye-tracking capabilities in this way is a huge step forward. Team Gleason is proud to support this initiative and excited to see the benefits it can bring to people who use power wheelchairs.”
Los Angeles designer Bailey Hikawa developed the adaptive iPhone grip alongside PopSockets. The design process included disability communities from the earliest stages.
“Apple’s accessibility work, which involves including disability communities from the very earliest stages of design to make the best possible product for everyone, has been the driving force of this project,” said Hikawa. “Our studio is built around intuitive, delightful accessories for iPhone, and it’s been a great privilege to create a product that embraces iPhone as an assistive device and pays tribute to accessibility.”
Apple The Grove in Los Angeles hosts a session on May 20. Hikawa will speak alongside Shane Burcaw and Alex Barone.
Additional updates include Vehicle Motion Cues for visionOS to reduce motion sickness. Vision Pro will support face gestures and Dwell Control selections. Touch Accommodations offer personalized setup paths in iOS and iPadOS. Made for iPhone hearing aids deliver more reliable device handoffs.
The tvOS platform introduces Larger Text support. Name Recognition notifies users in over 50 languages if someone speaks their name. A new API helps developers add sign language interpreters to FaceTime calls. Finally, users can connect the Sony Access controller as a game controller on iOS, iPadOS, and macOS.
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News Source: Businesswire.com
