device, seamless transitions from dictation to
commands, comprehensive navigation, voice
gestures (the ability to swipe, zoom, press, and
tap with your voice) and recorded commands -
the ability to record multistep gestures for apps
on your iPad or iOS device), whilst Attention
Awareness only activates when users look at
their screens, meaning they can talk to friends
nearby without Voice Control activating.
ONWARDS AND UPWARDS
Making technology more accessible isn’t Apple’s
job to do alone, but comparing its efforts with
rivals like Microsoft and Google demonstrates
the company’s commitment to every user. Users
with vision problems can use their devices with
or without a screen, users with hearing problems
can use AirPods to increase the volume, and
those with physical problems can use a mouse
to control their touch-screen device, or Voice
Control to avoid the use of peripherals entirely.
And for those with cognitive issues, Apple’s
friendly fonts, dictation, and predictive tools
help improve productivity, learning, and
enjoyment across the entire Apple ecosystem.
We still have a way to go if we want to build
a truly accessible world where everyone can
work, play, and learn equally, but Apple is miles
ahead on that journey. Combining the power of
its hardware with the ingenuity of its software
provides a second-to-none experience that just
keeps getting better. iOS 13, iPadOS and macOS
Catalina are packed with great new additions
like home screen widgets and iPad apps on the
Mac, but it’s their accessibility features that will
have the biggest impact on users for the years
and decades to come.