As part of global barrier free awareness day, Apple announced a series of new features for iPhone and apple watch users who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind or have low vision. Apple has won many awards for its barrier free work and has commemorated global barrier free awareness day by promoting its work in this field. Now, it has announced a series of accessibility features that will "appear with the software update of the apple platform later this year".
"Apple embeds accessibility in all aspects of our work, and we are committed to designing the best products and services for everyone," Sarah herringer, Apple's senior director of accessibility policy and initiatives, said in a statement. "We are pleased to launch these new features, which combine the innovation and creativity of Apple's teams and provide users with more choices to use our products in a way that best suits their needs and lives."
Highlights of the new features include door detection to help people with low vision. At the same time, the scope of voiceover is expanding, and users with poor hearing will be able to see real-time subtitles of what they are saying around them.
Door detection
Apple said that "door detection" is a "state-of-the-art navigation function". It automatically locates the door "when reaching a new destination". In addition to displaying the distance from the door, it will also describe it. This includes "is it open or closed, and whether it can be opened by pushing and turning the knob when it is closed", etc.
This feature requires lidar device support, so it is currently limited to iPhone 12 pro, iPhone 12 Pro max, iPhone 13 pro, iPhone 13 Pro max, and iPad Pro。
Barrier free function based on physical operation
A new Apple watch mirroring feature is designed to help "users remotely control the apple watch from a paired iPhone". This means that iPhone accessibility or accessibility features, such as voice control, can be used to "replace tapping on the apple watch display".
Apple is also based on the previous assistivetouch function, users can use gestures to control the apple watch. "With the new quick action feature on Apple watch, double clicking gestures can answer or end calls, cancel notifications, take photos, play or pause media in the currently playing app, and start, pause or continue exercising," Apple said.
Live captions live captions
Live captions, launched in beta later in 2022, was initially supported only in the United States and Canada. It also requires iPhone 11 or later, iPad with A12 bionic processor or later, and apple silicon Mac.
With the right hardware, users will be able to use real-time subtitles to "more easily follow any audio content," Apple said. This is "whether they're on a phone or FaceTime call, using video conferencing or social media apps, streaming content, or talking to people next to them."
During a call on the Mac, real-time subtitles include the option to enter a reply and say the text in sound for others in the conversation.