Rumors usually give us clues as to what news we can expect from Apple, but it came completely by surprise and no one had disclosed it: the company presented a ton of new services and updates dedicated to People with Disabilities physical and mental. And many of them will be activated tomorrow.
Video conferencing in sign language, AssistiveTouch on Apple Watch, etc.
The first of these services is SignTime, which those who need it can communicate with using sign language during a video call with Apple support staff. The call will be made directly from the web browser, to ensure that there are no compatibility issues with any device; And it can be requested without an appointment in the physical Apple Store in order to use employees as interpreters.
Currently, SignTime will launch in US, English and French Sign Languages in the US, UK and France. Apple promises to expand the service to more languages and territories in the future.
Another great novelty is AssistiveTouch for Apple Watch: Now, people with movement limitations will be able to use Apple Watch with their wrist and finger movements. The watchOS interface and the device’s sensors will work together to provide additional menus and even a slider that will make it easier to perform actions.
Apple’s latest accessibility software updates are very impressive and well thought out for people with disabilities.
AssistiveTouch on the Apple Watch alone blew us away – and we dream of an aerial gesture-controlled camera. ✨ https://t.co/QBiPYFOILg pic.twitter.com/zOhg14LhJI
– Halide (@halidecamera) May 19, 2021
And that’s just the start, because there are a lot more new features:
- Integration with eye detection devices for use iPads with your eyes
- Voice description of photos in Photos for the visually impaired
- Support for two-way sound amplifiers and customization of sound tuning using audiograms.
- Playing ambient sounds for people who have difficulty concentrating and are easily distracted.
- Memojis may include additional accessories such as oxygen respirators, ear implants, and helmets.
- Helps perform actions with mouth sounds, for those who cannot speak.
- New text and screen size settings for color blind people, customizable to an individual app if its developers adapt.
- Today’s sessions at Apple in the US and UK will also be offered in their respective sign languages.
- Gallery of Siri Shortcuts it will have a special section for disabled users.
- The App Store will have special sections for these same users, starting with the story of a blind TikTok user.
- Apple TV will be highlighting characters in its content catalogs that have a disability, and in Books we will also have similar stories in text format.
- Apple Maps will have special guides for users with mobility issues, which will recommend suitable companies for them.
Services like SignTime will go live tomorrow, May 20, part of the rest of the services to be launched throughout this year. This means that we will see updates in iOS 14 and probably iOS 15 with which this accessibility news will appear.
