As reported last week, Apple’s global head of accessibility Sarah Herrlinger spoke this Tuesday at the Web Summit Lisbon 2024.At the event, Herrlinger talked about everything Apple has been doing to make its devices easy to use for anyone and also highlighted the use of AI to help people with disabilities.Apple and accessibility As reported by , Herrlinger emphasized that Apple has had a team specializing in accessibility since 1985.
The company’s vision since then has been to make accessibility “a human right” as the company believes it “drives innovation.” At the Web Summit, the executive used artificial intelligence as an example of how technology can improve the lives of people with disabilities.She noted how features like Eye Tracking let users control their devices using only their eyes, while Sound Recognition helps people with hearing loss identify things like alarms and doorbells.Of course, with the advances coming to Siri with Apple Intelligence, using Apple devices hands-free will become even easier.
Another notable advance according to Herrlinger is the Apple Watch’s AssistiveTouch, which lets users navigate and use their watch with hand gestures.The feature has become so advanced and useful that now everyone with a Series 9 and later can benefit from the Double Tap gesture to interact with the interface without touching the screen.For Herrlinger, Apple also sees accessibility in its devices as a way of “fighting social stigma.” For instance, with the latest update to AirPods Pro 2, users have access to clinical-grade hearing health features built into their earbuds.
Apple has a special webpage with more details about its accessibility features, and you can check it out here.Read also iOS 18 accessibility features hailed as life-changing by disability campaigner Apple tech accepted as social care expenses for disabled man after 9to5Mac video New Apple film ‘The Relay’ shows athletes with and without disabilities competing iOS 18 will let you set custom voice phrases to trigger actions, no ‘Siri’ necessary Vision Pro will soon be able to show live captions of everything being spoken around you You’re reading 9to5Mac — experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day.Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop.
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