Cupertino, California, May 16, 2023 – Apple has unveiled a suite of groundbreaking features aimed at enhancing accessibility for users with cognitive, vision, hearing, and mobility disabilities. Scheduled for release later this year, these updates represent Apple’s ongoing commitment to inclusivity, leveraging advancements in both hardware and software to provide more people with the tools necessary to communicate, create, and connect.
In close cooperation with various community groups representing individuals with disabilities, Apple has designed these features to cater to a diverse range of needs. Key innovations include Assistive Access for users with cognitive disabilities, Live Speech for the nonspeaking, Personal Voice for those at risk of losing speech, and Point and Speak in the Magnifier app for users who are blind or have low vision.
Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO, emphasized the company’s mission to create technology that serves everyone, expressing his excitement over these new features. “We’ve always believed that the best technology is technology built for everyone,” Cook stated, underlining Apple’s long-standing focus on accessibility.
Sarah Herrlinger, Apple’s senior director of Global Accessibility Policy and Initiatives, highlighted the collaborative approach taken in developing these features. Feedback from members of disability communities has been a driving force, ensuring the new updates facilitate meaningful connections and accessible experiences for a broad user base.
Assistive Access is designed to simplify interaction with iPhones and iPads for users with cognitive disabilities by providing a customized interface that focuses on essential apps like Phone and FaceTime, combined into a single Calls app, as well as Messages, Camera, Photos, and Music. This feature aims to reduce cognitive load, offering high-contrast buttons, large text labels, and customizable layouts.
Live Speech allows users to communicate in real-time during phone and FaceTime calls by typing text that is then spoken out loud. This feature is particularly beneficial for individuals who are unable to speak or have lost their speech capability. Similarly, Personal Voice enables users at risk of losing their speech ability to create a synthesized voice that resembles their own, using just 15 minutes of recorded audio.
For users with vision disabilities, the Detection Mode in Magnifier introduces Point and Speak. This tool identifies and reads aloud text on physical objects such as household appliance controls, relying on the device’s camera, LiDAR Scanner, and on-device machine learning.
Further enriching its accessibility portfolio, Apple announced additional features including compatibility of Made for iPhone hearing devices with Mac, phonetic suggestions in Voice Control for text editing, and enhancements to text size adjustments across Mac apps. The updates also offer new functionalities for users sensitive to rapid animations and VoiceOver users, ensuring a more accessible and comfortable experience across Apple’s devices and platforms.
In celebration of Global Accessibility Awareness Day, Apple is introducing SignTime in additional countries, hosting informative sessions at select Apple Store locations, and spotlighting content across Apple Podcasts, Apple TV app, Apple Books, and Apple Music that focuses on accessible technology and its impact. Additionally, Apple Fitness+ will incorporate American Sign Language in its workouts and meditations, promoting fitness inclusivity.
These announcements further establish Apple’s position as a leader in innovation and inclusivity, underscoring the company’s dedication to creating products and services that are accessible to all. With these updates, Apple continues to enrich lives, enable creativity, and open up new possibilities for individuals with disabilities.
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