6 Accessibility features in iOS 16 we can’t ignore as designers
Celebrate diversity and create better products
According to the W3C, the word “accessible” is a relative term. That is, whether or not something is accessible to a particular person depends on that person’s setting and environment.
The term originally referred to physical access and was later broadened to include all forms of access such as inclusive design translated into the digital world. The concept of inclusive design has led designers and developers to consider accessibility from a very early stage in app (or website) development. Apple is one company that takes these considerations seriously: its relatively recent iOS 16 has many features targeted towards improving accessibility for users with disabilities.
As designers, we have the power and responsibility to make sure that everyone, no matter their abilities or situation, will be able to use our products. This can include people who are blind, colorblind, or have low vision. It can also include people who are deaf or have trouble hearing, have temporary or permanent mobility issues, or have cognitive disabilities.
I am writing this article to make people aware of the capabilities of iOS 16 in order to take advantage of them into our products. And so that nobody will sue you (:
Yes, there are 1 billion disabled people around the world and they have the right to sue if some websites are not accessible.
So let’s dive in:
One of the most impressive features is definitely
1. Door Detection in Magnifier
Magnifier now has a new feature called “Door Detection,” which helps people who are blind or have low vision find doors when they get to their destination. The tool can tell you how far away the door is, if it’s open or closed, how to open it (push it, turn the knob, pull the handle, etc.), what any signs say (like room numbers), what any symbols mean (like people icons for restrooms), and more.
Door Detection uses the lidar scanner, which can only be found on the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max, iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max, iPad Pro 11-inch 2nd and 3rd generation, and iPad Pro 12.9-inch 4th and 5th generation.
2. Detection Mode in Magnifier
This incredible tool will give description of the environment and the surroundings. It can detect people and objects.
Now you can save activities to use specific settings for recurrent tasks. “Store New Activity” in Settings will save your layout. I would include in this paragraph also the Magnifier’s Image Descriptions function. When you point your camera at anything, it describes what it sees. If you point it out at a scissor, for example, then it will describe the item and the material. This function is available to all iOS 16 users, unlike Door Detection. It’s not always accurate, but progress will improve it.
3. Live Captions and Facetime Live Captions
Users that are deaf or hard of hearing — and people who forgot their earbuds- can now follow along any audio content, whether on a phone or FaceTime call, using a video conferencing or social media app, streaming media content, or having a conversation next to them. The best part is that the captions take into account multiple speakers and sounds.
Users can change text size for readability. Live Captions on Mac allows callers to input an answer and have it read aloud in real time. Live Captions are created on device, thus user data is safe.
4. Apple Watch Mirroring
This means that Apple Watch can be controlled remotely from a paired iPhone, even using iPhone’s helper features like Voice Control and Switch Control. They can also use voice commands, sound actions, head tracking, or external Made for iPhone switches instead of tapping the Apple Watch display.
With Apple Watch Mirroring, users can control Apple Watch from their paired iPhone. Instead of tapping the screen, they can use the iPhone’s helper features, such as Voice Control and Switch Control.
Plus, Apple Watch users can do even more with simple hand gestures.
With the new Quick Actions on Apple Watch, a double pinch can answer or end a phone call, dismiss a notification, take a picture, play or pause music in the Now Playing app, and start, pause, or continue a workout.
5. Starting point detection in Apple Maps
You’ve been searching for a bus, but you’re lost in the big city. You go on your Iphone and ask how to walkt to the nearest bus stop you get all the directions with perfect timings. Except where exactly to start. Voice over users now get automatic sound and haptic feedback that identifies the starting point for walking directions in Maps.
Honestly, I am so bad at orientation that feel like I need it myself.
6. Customizable Sound recognition
Sound recognition has been available since iOS 14. This feature has been fundamental for deaf people. Take a crying baby. I can imagine how a deaf mother can sleep better when she will know that her iPhone will notify if the newborn is crying. But now thanks to machine learning your iPhone can recognize specific sounds. We are talking house bells, honks, oven beeps. This seems to me a kinda lifesaver feature. Even for me, that I love listening to loud music with my AirPods and regularly forget my cooking.
Additional Features
- With Buddy Controller, ombines any two game controllers into one, allowing multiple controllers to drive the input for a single player. Users of the Buddy Controller can ask a care provider or friend for assistance when playing a game and get help to reach the next level
- With Siri Pause Time, users who have difficulties speaking can control the amount of time that elapses before Siri responds to a request using the Siri Pause Time feature.
- With Add Audiograms to Health you can import your audiograms into the Health app on your iPhone
- With Siri Announce Notifications for hearing devices to announce iPhone notifications on your Made for iPhone hearing devices like it uses to do in AirPods
Thank you for reading!
