As Apple’s global head of accessibility, Sarah Herrlinger spoke at the Internet Summit in Lisbon on Tuesday, 2024. During the occasion, Herrlinger discussed Apple’s various efforts to simplify their products’ usability for everyone, emphasizing the innovative integration of AI technology to support individuals with disabilities.
Apple and accessibility
According to reports, Herrlinger highlighted Apple’s long-standing commitment to accessibility, revealing that the company has maintained a dedicated team focused on this initiative since as early as 1985. Since then, the corporation has envisioned making accessibility a fundamental human right, convinced that it drives innovation.
At the Internet Summit, a manager showcased the potential of synthetic intelligence to revolutionize the lives of people with disabilities by leveraging expertise and fostering inclusivity. Famous for innovations like Eye Monitoring, which empowers users to control their devices using just their gaze, and Sound Recognition, a feature that enables individuals with hearing impairments to detect important sounds such as alarms and doorbells.
With advancements in Siri, leveraging Apple devices hands-free is about to get a whole lot easier.
A significant breakthrough inspired by Herrlinger’s work is the Apple Watch’s innovative AssistiveTouch feature, empowering users to effortlessly navigate and utilize their device with intuitive hand gestures. With its characteristics now significantly enhanced and beneficial, users of devices with iOS 9 or later can seamlessly collaborate with their interfaces using the intuitive Double Tap gesture, eliminating the need for manual screen interaction.
As part of its commitment to accessibility, Apple recognizes that inclusive design can combat social stigma for individuals with disabilities. For instance, the latest update to iOS has introduced new features enabling users to.
Apple offers a dedicated webpage that provides in-depth information regarding its accessibility features.
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