There are some big new features coming to the iPhone and iPad that are aimed at helping millions of users with disabilities. Apple says the updates, which will arrive later this year, include features such as Eye Tracking which uses artificial intelligence and the front-facing camera to allow people to control what's on the screen using just their eyes.
With this change enabled, those with physical disabilities will be able to navigate through the elements of an app and access functions such as physical buttons, swipes, and other gestures solely with their eyes. Apple is promising that it will work across iPadOS and iOS apps, and doesn’t require additional hardware or accessories.
As well as Eye Tracking there's also a new addition called Music Haptics. This will use Apple's clever Taptic Engine to send vibrations and taps through the device in time with the music. It's been confirmed that millions of tracks within the Apple Music platform will include this 'Music Haptics' option.
A feature is also being introduced which enables users to assign custom utterances to Apple's Siri virtual assistant. This will help people with speech issues launch shortcuts and complete complex tasks more easily.
Another change announced by Apple is something called Vehicle Motion Cues. It's hoped this could help people from feeling unwell when using their phones on long journeys. Research shows that motion sickness is commonly caused by a sensory conflict between what a person sees and what they feel, which can prevent some users from comfortably using iPhone or iPad while riding in a moving vehicle.
"With Vehicle Motion Cues, animated dots on the edges of the screen represent changes in vehicle motion to help reduce sensory conflict without interfering with the main content," Apple explained.
Other updates announced by Apple include new accessibility features coming to CarPlay along with Live Captions - which pop up in front of the wearer's eyes - coming to the Vision Pro headset
“We believe deeply in the transformative power of innovation to enrich lives,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “That’s why for nearly 40 years, Apple has championed inclusive design by embedding accessibility at the core of our hardware and software. We’re continuously pushing the boundaries of technology, and these new features reflect our long-standing commitment to delivering the best possible experience to all of our users.”
There's no word on a timeline for the release of these features but the announcement has been made to coincide with today's Global Accessibility Awareness Day, May 16th.