Apple has long been the question of the accessibility of its devices a flagship topic. The iPhone is full of option to facilitate use, whatever its visual, motor, sound or cognitive disability. The iPad and the MACS have continued since then and it is not uncommon to find users capable of making a video edition without being able to use the keyboard, in order to move thanks to their smartphone or tablet using vocal help and visual recognition.
On the day of the day of the world accessibility consciousness (global accessibility consciousness day) this May 15, the Cupertino giant presented its accessibility road map, as every year, upstream of the announcement of the next iOS 19 and Macos 16 at the WWDC conference on June 9.
“Returning accessible technology for all is a priority for all of us, and we are proud of the innovations we share this year,” said Tim Cook, who highlights Long’s commitment from Apple. It should be said that more than 40 years have passed and the first Mac options that the brand has presented accessibility.
The iPhone becomes a magnifying glass and a pro vision, helps against disability.
Police expansion, improvement of contrasts, visual recognition, sound … In recent years, new tools have been numerous. And the 2025 harvest is no exception to the rule with the main news. Starting with the App Store and its 1.8 million applications and games that will finally show accessibility information in the pages.
Now they will have an “accessibility information label” to allow users to know, before downloading, if the application or game adapt to their disability and meet their needs (voiceover, voice control, expanded text, sufficient contrast, reduction of movements, subtitles, etc.). It will also be a great help for developers who want to improve or highlight their accessibility functions more easily. The set will be implemented gradually in 2025.
Making more readable use for a person with disabilities is one of Apple’s objectives. After the iPhone and the iPad, the application of magnifying glass reaches Mac to allow visual disability to approach an element of its physical environment (text in a poster, visualize on a screen, write on a table).
To do this, the iPhone will use its camera in continuity (or a webcam in USB) to expand the screen on the MAC through a dedicated reader. The user can adjust the brightness, contrast or filters to adapt to their eyes. Enough to facilitate the reading of physical documents for students and other people at the conference.
The zoom will also appear in the famous Vision Pro Casco that we think can be adapted to disabled people. But Apple is determined to do so, on the contrary, an asset with multiple tools that arrive. With the zoom, this is the possibility of showing digital content in larger, but also of putting a magnifying glass in the elements of reality more easily thanks to the main camera. Live recognition also comes and its ability to describe the environment, read documents, interact with devices, etc.
The braille du bout of the iPhone
Among the new features announced, the incorporation of a Braille interface is perhaps the most impressive. “Braille Access” will transform the iPhone, the iPad, Mac or Pro Vision into Braille’s complete notes. Malvored users can start applications by entering Braille in the control version of the touch control screen, or using a connected braille device.
Now it will be easier to write in Braille, calculate or open Braille files. Apple also develops a live subtitling function that transcribes real -time conversations on the Braille screen.
The other new products also refer to people with hearing problems. Apple has launched a small headphones functions through Airpods Pro 2. The company adds background noise management, which hinders so many auditory disabled and sometimes causes tinnitus or whistles, with parameters of particular equalization or even traffic automation.
The subtitulation is also added to the improvement of understanding thanks to the “Live Listen” function by showing in the Apple Watch in real time what is said around the user. When Live Listing is activated on the iPhone, which becomes a microphone for airpods or compatible headphones and headphones, the subtitles will parade on the connected clock.
People with motor skills can also trust the movement and movement function. It was already possible to control your iPhone with your eyes, Apple works with Synchron to operate the iPhone with a neuronal implant and, therefore, be able to control the device by thought.
Thought control, copy of the fastest voice
The speech is not forgotten, especially for those who are afraid of losing it. The voice creation process becomes faster. If it took 150 sentences to record in advance and a long process of creation before being able to reproduce his voice and his intonations for the summary voice, the iPhone now only needs 10 sentences to record and the personal voice 2.0 creates everything in an almost instantaneous way.
A voice recognition also improved with the possibility of associating a voice with a name and, therefore, activating a system for your device to identify a person who would be around you and is addressed to you. Carplay will also take into account the recognition of car sounds such as horns, police sirens or even baby tears.
All these new features will be gradually implemented in the second half of the year, once the next iOS, macOS, watch and iPados operating systems are presented in June. Subsequently, an option will be added to more easily share accessibility configuration from an Apple device to another.
Source: BFM TV
