New Accessibility Features Coming to Apple Devices GA S REGULAR Menu Lifewire Tech for Humans Newsletter! Search Close GO News > Phones

New Accessibility Features Coming to Apple Devices

Helping people with disabilities navigate the world

By Cesar Cadenas Cesar Cadenas Writer California State University - Long Beach Cesar Cadenas has been writing about the tech industry since 2016 on a variety of topics like cryptocurrency, video games, the latest gadgets, and much more. lifewire's editorial guidelines Published on May 17, 2022 11:51AM EDT Fact checked by Jerri Ledford Fact checked by Jerri Ledford Western Kentucky University Gulf Coast Community College Jerri L. Ledford has been writing, editing, and fact-checking tech stories since 1994. Her work has appeared in Computerworld, PC Magazine, Information Today, and many others. lifewire's fact checking process Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Phones Mobile Phones Internet & Security Computers & Tablets Smart Life Home Theater & Entertainment Software & Apps Social Media Streaming Gaming On Tuesday, Apple previewed new accessibility features coming to the iPhone, iPad, and other devices to help people with disabilities. The features cover a wide range of disabilities, but the main ones are Door Detection for people with vision challenges, Apple Watch Mirroring for people who have physical difficulties, and Live Captions for those who have hearing impairments. Apple provided no exact release date for the features, but the company confirmed they would be releasing throughout 2022 via software updates. Apple Door Detection is a new mode coming to Apple's Magnifier app. As the name suggests, the feature helps people find the door and how far they are it, and describes various attributes of the door. These attributes include if the door is open or closed as well as how to open it. Apple Watch Mirroring lets you remotely control an Apple Watch with a paired iPhone. When connected, you use Voice Control and various on-phone switches in lieu of tapping on the Apple Watch. There will also be Quick Actions, which are basic hand gestures to control an Apple Watch. The example given is using a pinching gesture to answer calls. Live Captions will appear on iPhone, iPad, and Mac to transcribe audio from video calls or social media apps. The font size can be adjusted for easier reading. Apple said since Live Captions are generated on the device itself, it all stays private. Apple Apart from the main features, Apple still had several others, including Siri Pause Time which can change the amount of time Siri takes before answering. And Apple Books will be introducing new customization options, like adjusting word spacing, to make ebooks easier to read.
Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire What Is Crash Detection on iPhone and Apple Watch? Apple Watch: Everything You Need to Know iPadOS 16: Release Date, Features, News, and Price Is an Apple Watch Worth It? iOS 16: News, Price, Release Date, and Features How to Set Alarm on Apple Watch How to Zoom In and Out on Apple Watch How to use Android's accessibility features How to Connect AirPods With an Apple TV How to Use Google's Live Caption On Android A Guide to the iPad's Accessibility Settings How to Avoid Notification Overload on Apple Watch The 8 Best Magnifying Glass Apps of 2022 How to Pair an Apple Watch With Your iPhone The 6 Best Security Camera Apps for iPhone (2022) How to Use Your Apple Watch Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies