Apple Previews Innovative Accessibility Features Combining the Power of Hardware, Software, and Machine Learning

 

  Software features coming later this year offer users with disabilities new tools for navigation, health, communication, and more  

 

Apple® today previewed innovative software features that introduce new ways for users with disabilities to navigate, connect, and get the most out of Apple products. These powerful updates combine the company's latest technologies to deliver unique and customizable tools for users, and build on Apple's long-standing commitment to making products that work for everyone.

 

Using advancements across hardware, software, and machine learning, people who are blind or low vision can use their iPhone® and iPad® to navigate the last few feet to their destination with Door Detection; users with physical and motor disabilities who may rely on assistive features like Voice Control and Switch Control can fully control Apple Watch® from their iPhone with Apple Watch Mirroring; and the Deaf and hard of hearing community can follow Live Captions on iPhone, iPad, and Mac®. Apple is also expanding support for its industry-leading screen reader VoiceOver with over 20 new languages and locales. These features will be available later this year with software updates across Apple platforms.

 

"Apple embeds accessibility into every aspect of our work, and we are committed to designing the best products and services for everyone," said Sarah Herrlinger, Apple's senior director of Accessibility Policy and Initiatives. "We're excited to introduce these new features, which combine innovation and creativity from teams across Apple to give users more options to use our products in ways that best suit their needs and lives."

 

  Door Detection for Users Who Are Blind or Low Vision  

 

Apple is introducing Door Detection, a cutting-edge navigation feature for users who are blind or low vision. Door Detection can help users locate a door upon arriving at a new destination, understand how far they are from it, and describe door attributes — including if it is open or closed, and when it's closed, whether it can be opened by pushing, turning a knob, or pulling a handle. Door Detection can also read signs and symbols around the door, like the room number at an office, or the presence of an accessible entrance symbol. This new feature combines the power of LiDAR, camera, and on-device machine learning, and will be available on iPhone and iPad models with the LiDAR Scanner. 1

 

Door Detection will be available in a new Detection Mode within Magnifier, Apple's built-in app supporting blind and low vision users. Door Detection, along with People Detection and Image Descriptions, can each be used alone or simultaneously in Detection Mode, offering users with vision disabilities a go-to place with customizable tools to help navigate and access rich descriptions of their surroundings. In addition to navigation tools within Magnifier, Apple Maps will offer sound and haptics feedback for VoiceOver users to identify the starting point for walking directions.

 

  Advancing Physical and Motor Accessibility for Apple Watch  

 

Apple Watch becomes more accessible than ever for people with physical and motor disabilities with Apple Watch Mirroring, which helps users control Apple Watch remotely from their paired iPhone. With Apple Watch Mirroring, users can control Apple Watch using iPhone's assistive features like Voice Control and Switch Control, and use inputs including voice commands, sound actions, head tracking, or external Made for iPhone switches as alternatives to tapping the Apple Watch display. Apple Watch Mirroring uses hardware and software integration, including advances built on AirPlay®, to help ensure users who rely on these mobility features can benefit from unique Apple Watch apps like Blood Oxygen, Heart Rate, Mindfulness, and more. 2

 

Plus, users can do even more with simple hand gestures to control Apple Watch. With new Quick Actions on Apple Watch, a double-pinch gesture can answer or end a phone call, dismiss a notification, take a photo, play or pause media in the Now Playing app, and start, pause, or resume a workout. This builds on the innovative technology used in AssistiveTouch® on Apple Watch, which gives users with upper body limb differences the option to control Apple Watch with gestures like a pinch or a clench without having to tap the display.

 

  Live Captions Come to iPhone, iPad, and Mac for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Users  

 

For the Deaf and hard of hearing community, Apple is introducing Live Captions on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. 3 Users can follow along more easily with any audio content — whether they are on a phone or FaceTime® call, using a video conferencing or social media app, streaming media content, or having a conversation with someone next to them. Users can also adjust font size for ease of reading. Live Captions in FaceTime attribute auto-transcribed dialogue to call participants, so group video calls become even more convenient for users with hearing disabilities. When Live Captions are used for calls on Mac, users have the option to type a response and have it spoken aloud in real time to others who are part of the conversation. And because Live Captions are generated on device, user information stays private and secure.

 

  VoiceOver Adds New Languages and More  

 

VoiceOver, Apple's industry-leading screen reader for blind and low vision users, is adding support for more than 20 additional locales and languages, including Bengali, Bulgarian, Catalan, Ukrainian, and Vietnamese. 4 Users can also select from dozens of new voices that are optimized for assistive features across languages. These new languages, locales, and voices will also be available for Speak Selection and Speak Screen accessibility features. Additionally, VoiceOver users on Mac can use the new Text Checker tool to discover common formatting issues such as duplicative spaces or misplaced capital letters, which makes proofreading documents or emails even easier.

 

  Additional Features  

 
  • With Buddy Controller , users can ask a care provider or friend to help them play a game; Buddy Controller combines any two game controllers into one, so multiple controllers can drive the input for a single player.
  •  
  • With Siri® Pause Time , users with speech disabilities can adjust how long Siri waits before responding to a request.
  •  
  •   Voice Control Spelling Mode gives users the option to dictate custom spellings using letter-by-letter input. 5
  •  
  •   Sound Recognition can be customized to recognize sounds that are specific to a person's environment, like their home's unique alarm, doorbell, or appliances.
  •  
  • The Apple   Books® app will offer new themes, and introduce customization options such as bolding text and adjusting line, character, and word spacing for an even more accessible reading experience.
  •  

  Celebrating Global Accessibility Awareness Day  

 

This week, Apple is celebrating Global Accessibility Awareness Day with special sessions, curated collections, and more:

 
  •   SignTime will launch in Canada on May 19 to connect Apple Store® and Apple Support customers with on-demand American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters. SignTime is already available for customers in the US using ASL, the UK using British Sign Language (BSL), and France using French Sign Language (LSF).
  •  
  •   Apple Store locations around the world are offering live sessions throughout the week to help customers discover accessibility features on iPhone, and Apple Support social channels are showcasing how-to content.
  •  
  • The Accessibility Assistant shortcut is coming to the Shortcuts app on Mac and Apple Watch this week to help recommend accessibility features based on user preferences.
  •  
  • This week in Apple   Fitness+℠ , trainer Bakari Williams uses ASL to highlight the features available to users that are part of an ongoing effort to make fitness more accessible to all, including Audio Hints, which are short descriptive verbal cues to support users who are blind or low vision, and Time to Walk and Time to Run episodes becoming "Time to Walk or Push" and "Time to Run or Push" for wheelchair users. Additionally, Fitness+ trainers incorporate ASL into every workout and meditation, all videos include closed captioning in six languages, and trainers demonstrate modifications in each workout so users at different levels can join in.
  •  
  •   Apple Maps features a new guide from the National Park Foundation, Park Access for All, to help users discover accessible features, programs, and services to explore in parks across the US. Guides from Gallaudet University — the world's premier university for Deaf, hard of hearing, and Deafblind students — feature businesses and organizations that value, embrace, and prioritize the Deaf community and signed languages.
  •  
  • Users can explore accessibility-focused apps and powerful stories from app creators in the App Store® ;   check out the Transforming Our World collection in Apple Books , featuring stories by and about people with disabilities; and learn about creative ways technology is advancing accessibility in Apple Podcasts® .
  •  
  •   Apple Music® will highlight the Saylists playlists, a collection of playlists that each focus on a different sound. Choosing one and singing along is a fun and engaging way to practice vocal sounds or speech therapy.
  •  
  • The Apple TV® app will highlight the latest hit movies and shows featuring authentic representation of people with disabilities. Plus, viewers can explore guest-curated collections from the accessibility community's standout actors, including Marlee Matlin ("CODA"), Lauren Ridloff ("Eternals"), Selma Blair ("Introducing, Selma Blair"), Ali Stroker ("Christmas Ever After"), and more.
  •  
  1. Door Detection and People Detection features in Magnifier require the LiDAR Scanner on iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13 Pro Max, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max, iPad Pro 11-inch (2nd and 3rd generation), and iPad Pro 12.9-inch (4th and 5th generation). Door Detection should not be relied upon in circumstances where a user may be harmed or injured, or in high-risk or emergency situations.
  2.  
  3. Apple Watch Mirroring is available on Apple Watch Series 6 and later.
  4.  
  5. Live Captions will be available in beta later this year in English (US, Canada) on iPhone 11 and later, iPad models with A12 Bionic and later, and Macs with Apple silicon. Accuracy of Live Captions may vary and should not be relied upon in high-risk situations.
  6.  
  7. VoiceOver, Speak Selection, and Speak Screen will add support for Arabic (World), Basque, Bengali (India), Bhojpuri (India), Bulgarian, Catalan, Croatian, Farsi, French (Belgium), Galician, Kannada, Malay, Mandarin (Liaoning, Shaanxi, Sichuan), Marathi, Shanghainese (China), Spanish (Chile), Slovenian, Tamil, Telugu, Ukrainian, Valencian, and Vietnamese.
  8.  
  9. Voice Control spelling mode is available in English (US).
  10.  

Apple revolutionized personal technology with the introduction of the Macintosh in 1984. Today, Apple leads the world in innovation with iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple TV. Apple's five software platforms — iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS — provide seamless experiences across all Apple devices and empower people with breakthrough services including the App Store, Apple Music, Apple Pay, and iCloud. Apple's more than 100,000 employees are dedicated to making the best products on earth, and to leaving the world better than we found it.

 

NOTE TO EDITORS: For additional information visit Apple Newsroom ( www.apple.com/newsroom ), or call Apple's Media Helpline at (408) 974-2042.

 

© 2022 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Mac, AirPlay, AssistiveTouch, FaceTime, Siri, Apple Books, Apple Store, Apple Fitness+, App Store, Apple Podcasts, Apple Music, and Apple TV are trademarks of Apple. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

 

  

  

  Press Contacts:  
Chloe Sweet
Apple
chloe_sweet@apple.com  

 

News Provided by Business Wire via QuoteMedia

AAPL
The Conversation (0)
Apple debuts iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max

Apple debuts iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max

 

  Powered by the A18 Pro chip and built for Apple Intelligence, the Pro lineup introduces larger display sizes, Camera Control, innovative pro camera features, and a huge leap in battery life  

 

News Provided by Business Wire via QuoteMedia

Keep reading...Show less
Apple announces Chief Financial Officer transition

Apple announces Chief Financial Officer transition

 

 Apple® today announced that Chief Financial Officer Luca Maestri will transition from his role on January 1, 2025. Maestri will continue to lead the Corporate Services teams, including information systems and technology, information security, and real estate and development, reporting to Apple CEO Tim Cook. As part of a planned succession, Kevan Parekh, Apple's Vice President of Financial Planning and Analysis, will become Chief Financial Officer and join the executive team.

 

"Luca has been an extraordinary partner in managing Apple for the long term. He has been instrumental in improving and driving the company's financial performance, engaging with shareholders, and instilling financial discipline across every part of Apple. We're fortunate that we will continue to benefit from the leadership and insight that have been the hallmark of his tenure at the company," said Tim Cook, Apple's CEO.

News Provided by Business Wire via QuoteMedia

Keep reading...Show less
Apple reports third quarter results

Apple reports third quarter results

 

  June quarter records for Revenue and EPS  

 

  Services revenue reaches new all-time high  

News Provided by Business Wire via QuoteMedia

Keep reading...Show less
Apple scores record 72 Emmy Award nominations and sweeps across top categories including Outstanding Limited series for "Lessons in Chemistry," Outstanding Drama for "The Morning Show" and "Slow Horses" and Outstanding Comedy for "Palm Royale"

Apple scores record 72 Emmy Award nominations and sweeps across top categories including Outstanding Limited series for "Lessons in Chemistry," Outstanding Drama for "The Morning Show" and "Slow Horses" and Outstanding Comedy for "Palm Royale"

 

  With best-ever Emmy showing, Apple TV+ lands nominations across 16 Apple Originals including "Lessons in Chemistry," "The Morning Show," "Slow Horses," "Palm Royale," "Loot," "Hijack," "STEVE! (martin) a documentary in 2 pieces," "Girls State," "The Reluctant Traveler With Eugene Levy," "Masters of the Air," "Silo," "Physical," "Hannah Waddingham: Home for Christmas," "The New Look," "Sugar" and more  

 

  "The Morning Show" lands first-ever nomination for Best Drama and leads with the most performance nominations for a drama series, including Best Actress in a Drama for stars and executive producers Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon  

News Provided by Business Wire via QuoteMedia

Keep reading...Show less
Apple The Exchange TRX to welcome its first customers this Saturday, June 22, in Kuala Lumpur

Apple The Exchange TRX to welcome its first customers this Saturday, June 22, in Kuala Lumpur

 

  Apple's first retail location in Malaysia will offer its full lineup of products and services, unparalleled support from over 160 team members, and sessions with local creatives  

 

 Apple® today previewed Apple The Exchange TRX, the first Apple Store® in Malaysia. Located in the heart of Kuala Lumpur's new Tun Razak Exchange (TRX) central business district, the new store will deliver the magic of Apple in the country like never before. Customers can discover and buy Apple's innovative lineup of products and services, receive exceptional service from knowledgeable team members, and learn how to get the most out of their devices through free Today at Apple® sessions.

News Provided by Business Wire via QuoteMedia

Keep reading...Show less
cell phone lying on table with app icons floating above it

How to Invest in Mobile Apps (Updated 2024)

The ubiquity of mobile devices and their prominence in everyday life has led to the development of mobile apps for everything from gaming and dating to banking and stock trading.

Mobile apps began rising to prominence in 2007 with the launch of the iPhone, which heralded a new era in connectivity brought about by revolutionary touch technology. The field has grown widely from thereon out, and the diversity of today’s offerings makes investing in mobile apps an appealing prospect.

With about 2.87 million apps in Google’s (NASDAQ: GOOGL) Google Play Store and around 1.96 million apps available in Apple’s (NASDAQ:AAPL) App Store, there is no shortage of app choices for mobile devices.

Keep reading...Show less
Icons for various apps floating above a smartphone.

Social Media Stocks: 5 Biggest Companies

The world’s largest social media platforms have revolutionized the way people connect on the internet, and the companies behind these platforms can offer major investment opportunities.

This year's strong rally in technology stocks, led by Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:FB), is a clear example of the huge presence social media companies have in the stock market. In late April, shares of the social media giant jumped 14.6 percent on higher-than-expected earnings. The news came alongside increasing investor confidence in the broader tech industry.

“Meta earnings show the company’s commitment to cost discipline while driving accelerating N-T revenue growth and also continuing to invest in longer-term transformational technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and the metaverse,” said Doug Anmuth, an analyst at JPMorgan Chase (NYSE:JPM).

Keep reading...Show less
BlackBerry Extends Partnership with Leading Managed Security Services Provider  to Ensure SMBs are Set Up for Cyber Success

BlackBerry Extends Partnership with Leading Managed Security Services Provider to Ensure SMBs are Set Up for Cyber Success

 
 

BlackBerry Limited (NYSE: BB; TSX: BB) and Solutions Granted today announced an extended partnership, naming the leading cybersecurity services provider a Master Managed Security Services Provider (MSSP), enabling it to better scale and meet the growing demand for cybersecurity services among small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs).

 
 

  BlackBerry Logo Black (PRNewsfoto/Blackberry Limited) 

 

"Solutions Granted has been honored as BlackBerry MSSP Partner of the Year for North America for five consecutive years and we're excited to take our partnership to the next level by crowning them as our top Master MSSP," said Adam Enterkin , Chief Revenue Officer, Americas, BlackBerry Cybersecurity. "BlackBerry is dedicated to increasing its focus on MSSP partners to ensure they're set up for success. Endpoints are proliferating, and so are the cyberattacks against them. Our extended partnership with Solutions Granted will help hundreds of small and mid-size businesses continuously adapt to an ever-changing threat landscape."

 

As a 'Master MSSP', Solutions Granted will be better positioned to help its own partners to deliver Managed Detection and Response (MDR) and other Managed Security Services to their mid-market and SMB clients.  In partnership with BlackBerry and heavily leveraging the Cylance® AI-powered portfolio, Solutions Granted helps thousands of clients secure their environments and prevent attacks. By working with Solutions Granted, MSSPs and managed service providers (MSPs) can offer industry leading managed security, without making the significant investment of building out their own security operations center (SOC).

 

  CylanceENDPOINT™ is among the solutions it helps managed service providers (MSPs) deploy to clients, either as individual managed services or integrated into a SOC-as-a-service offering.

 

"BlackBerry's support for our business model provides the flexibility we need to continue to meet customer demand and provide the best possible product support for their business needs," said Michael E. Crean , Chief Executive Officer, Solutions Granted. "We value the investment BlackBerry is making in our partnership and know this will go a long way in setting up our customers for success."

 

To learn more about BlackBerry MSSP Partners, visit blackberry.com/us/en/partners/mssp-partners .

 

  About BlackBerry  

 

 BlackBerry (NYSE: BB; TSX: BB) provides intelligent security software and services to enterprises and governments around the world.  The company secures more than 500M endpoints including over 215M vehicles.  Based in Waterloo, Ontario , the company leverages AI and machine learning to deliver innovative solutions in the areas of cybersecurity, safety and data privacy solutions, and is a leader in the areas of endpoint management, endpoint security, encryption, and embedded systems.  BlackBerry's vision is clear - to secure a connected future you can trust.

 

 BlackBerry. Intelligent Security. Everywhere.

 

For more information, visit BlackBerry.com and follow @BlackBerry.

 

  Trademarks, including but not limited to BlackBerry and EMBLEM Design are the trademarks or registered trademarks of BlackBerry Limited, and the exclusive rights to such trademarks are expressly reserved.  All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.  BlackBerry is not responsible for any third-party products or services.  

 

  About Solutions Granted Inc.  

 

Solutions Granted is a Master Managed Security Services Provider (Master MSSP). They offer cybersecurity solutions to North American MSPs and MSSPs and are committed to delivering solutions without requiring minimums, commitments, or long-term contracts. They proudly offer many security layers as well as a 24x7 U.S.-based Security Operations Center (SOC). Over the past several years, Solutions Granted has emerged as a clear leader in the channel, by winning countless awards including the CRN Security 100 list, Top 100 MSSP List, Top Global MSSP List, and BlackBerry MSSP Partner of the Year. Learn more at https://www.SolutionsGranted.com  

 

  Media Contacts:  

 

 BlackBerry Media Relations

 

+1 (519) 597-7273

 

  mediarelations@BlackBerry.com  

 
 
 

 Cision View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/blackberry-extends-partnership-with-leading-managed-security-services-provider-mssp-to-ensure-smbs-are-set-up-for-cyber-success-301803800.html  

 

SOURCE BlackBerry Limited

 
 

News Provided by PR Newswire via QuoteMedia

Keep reading...Show less
BlackBerry's Quarterly Threat Intelligence Report Finds Banks, Healthcare Providers and Food Retailers are Top Targets for Cybercrime

BlackBerry's Quarterly Threat Intelligence Report Finds Banks, Healthcare Providers and Food Retailers are Top Targets for Cybercrime

 
 

   Geopolitical unrest positions key industries as targets for state-sponsored actors and financially motivated attacks   

 

BlackBerry Limited (NYSE: BB; TSX: BB) today released its latest Quarterly Global Threat Intelligence Report highlighting an increase in cyberattacks directed at financial institutions, food retailers and healthcare providers, with 60 percent of all attacks targeting these three key industries.

 

News Provided by PR Newswire via QuoteMedia

Keep reading...Show less
person using credit card to pay for something on their phone

Mobile Investing in Australia

After lagging behind for a prolonged period, Australia's tech sector is ramping up at an accelerated pace. The tech sector is now equivalent to 8.5 percent of the country's GDP as of the end of 2021, an increase of 26 percent since the onset of COVID-19 through June 2021 and a massive 79 percent increase over the past five years. Tech contributes AU$167 billion to the Australian economy, trailing only the mining (AU$205 billion) and financial/insurance (AU$169 billion) sectors.

Australia's characteristically resilient economy — which had not experienced a recession in nearly 30 years prior to COVID-19 lockdowns — has provided a sturdy backdrop for its growing tech sector. The growth in the tech sector’s contribution to the GDP has outpaced average growth of other industries by more than 400 percent, a gain partly attributable to accelerated digital technology adoption during the pandemic.

This dramatic expansion is largely in response to Australia's need to catch up to the rest of the world and assert itself in the global tech marketplace. Should the tech sector continue to grow at its current rate it will eventually surpass the relative GDP contribution of the long dominant mining sector. This will also complete the process of bringing Australia more in line with other western economies such as the UK, and notably Canada, which is comparable to Australia in terms of its dominant mining and agricultural industries.

Keep reading...Show less
DGTL Holdings Completes Acquisition of Engagement Labs

DGTL Holdings Completes Acquisition of Engagement Labs

DGTL Holdings Inc. (TSXV: DGTL) (OTCQB: DGTHF) (WKN: A2QB0L) (FSE: D0G) ("DGTL Holdings") and Engagement Labs Inc. (TSXV: EL) ("Engagement Labs") are pleased to announce that DGTL has completed its previously announced acquisition of Engagement Labs by way of a plan of arrangement (the "Arrangement").

Transaction Details

News Provided by Newsfile via QuoteMedia

Keep reading...Show less

Latest Press Releases

Related News

×