Three Big Tech Updates for Global Accessibility Awareness Day

Published 04 June 2024

Author
Adam Speight
2 min read

Companies are developing more assistive technologies to provide innovative tools for disabled people. For Global Accessibility Awareness Day 2024 (May 16), Apple, Google and Microsoft revealed new tools for streamlining technology use for those with disabilities. We share the highlights.

  • Broadening User Interaction: Apple announced a range of accessibility features. Using the front-facing camera, the Eye Tracking feature allows users to control iPads and iPhones with their eyes, while Music Haptics uses the iPhone’s Taptic Engine to enable those who are deaf or hard of hearing to experience music through tailored vibrations. Vocal Shortcuts lets people with speech conditions create sound cues customised to their speech patterns that they can then use to control their phone. Meanwhile, Vehicle Motion Cues can help ease motion sickness when using an iPhone or iPad in a moving vehicle through animated dots that reduce sensory conflict.

  • Hands-Free Innovation: Some 98% of the world’s top million websites aren’t fully accessible for those with visual, auditory and learning disabilities (WebAIM, 2024). Google’s Project Gameface aims to change this with native Android accessibility improvements. Those with limited mobility can control Android devices with facial movements, such as by moving their mouth or head. Android devices’ cameras will watch out for these movements, and users can assign different commands to different movements according to their needs.

  • Flexibility Through Modularity: Highlighting the importance of accessibility in gaming for the more than 450 million gamers with disabilities globally, Microsoft-owned Xbox revealed a series of accessibility initiatives. The new Proteus Controller, built by Ireland-based ByoWave, is a modular adaptive kit offering flexibility for disabled gamers with its “snap and play” parts.