Thursday, May 19, is the World Accessibility Awareness Day. Coinciding with this event, Apple shared details about various accessibility features for iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and Mac that will be released later this year.
The company says the new options are designed to help users with disabilities “browse, connect and get the most out of Apple products” and take advantage of advances in its hardware and software, as well as AI.
The main function is door detection, a new option that allows the device to detect ports.
Apple says the new feature will be useful for users who are blind or have low vision. You can detect the ports with iPhone and iPad, which will let you go to the port more easily.
Now, Users can fully control Apple Watch from iPhone thanks to Apple Watch Mirroring. The system appears to completely mirror the Apple Watch screen on the iPhone. This should make it easier for users to interact with the Apple Watch, which has a much smaller screen.
Other updates include a increased compatibility with Apple’s VoiceOver screen reader. The feature will now offer 20 new languages and localizations, giving users who rely on languages other than English more choice. Apple also features Live subtitles on iPhone, iPad and Mac.
Soon, users will be able to enjoy the BuddyController, that lets you ask a caregiver or friend to help you play a game.
Another new accessibility feature for iOS, macOS, and iPadOS is Siri pause time. This feature lets you adjust how long Siri waits before responding to a request made by the person.
The Voice control spelling mode will give you the option to dictate custom spellings with a letter-by-letter input.
Apple is also updating the sound recognition to help determine when home alarms, doorbells, and appliances sound. Finally, the Apple Books app lets you customize your text options and adjust lines, characters, and word spacing. This should make reading with Apple Books even more accessible.