Apple reveals iOS 18’s accessibility features

OpenAI and Google have recently been showing off their new AI features, and now Apple unveiled its upcoming projects, too. 

However, the Cupertino tech giant has taken a different approach. It revealed several accessibility features for its upcoming iOS 18 and iPadOS 18.

READ: AI eye test detects brain injuries in minutes

The most interesting feature is eye tracking, which lets users control their iPhone and iPad with their eyes. Apple also announced Music Haptics, Vehicle Motion Cues, and many other features.

What are iOS 18’s accessibility features?

An official Apple Newsroom article has explained the upcoming operating system’s accessibility features. It starts with Eye Tracking, which lets people with disabilities control devices with their eyes.

This feature uses the front-facing camera to set up and calibrate in seconds. It doesn’t need other accessories, and it will use Dwell Control. 

The latter lets users activate functions like physical buttons, swipes, and other gestures with only their eyes. However, the video teaser and the blog do not reveal how people can use it. 

The clip above shows a person in a wheelchair looking at an iPad while the machine navigates through menus.

Music Haptics plays taps, textures, and refined vibrations to the audio of the music. Consequently, it makes songs more accessible to deaf users. 

Atypical Speech enables iPhones and iPads to launch shortcuts based on custom utterances. The company says it intended the feature for cerebral palsy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or stroke. 

Vehicle Motion Cues puts animated dots on the edges of the screen to represent changes in vehicle motion. As a result, people could continue using their devices without feeling dizzy. 

Besides iOS 18, Apple will also add accessibility features to CarPlay. Specifically, the app will have Voice Control, Color Filters, and Sound Recognition.

The former lets people control car apps with their voice. Color Filters help users see the screen better, and Sound Recognition notifies deaf drivers of car horns and sirens.

These features will be available once iOS 18 comes out in late 2024. Apple has not provided a specific release date at the time of writing.