Apple is rolling out updates to both iOS and CarPlay with a focus on accessibility, aiming to help users experiencing motion sickness and hearing loss.
A screenshot of the video illustrating the principle of operation of the Vehicle Motion Cues system for iPhone. Image credit: Apple
The new “Vehicle Motion Cues” feature uses iPhone sensors, including GPS and accelerometers, to detect when a user is in a moving vehicle, potentially triggering motion sickness. To alleviate this, animated dots on the screen will mimic vehicle movements, providing visual cues that align with the movement, reducing passenger discomfort.
Additionally, Apple is introducing “sound recognition” to help deaf or hard-of-hearing users detect important auditory alerts such as car horns and sirens, thereby improving safety on the road. These improvements are part of Apple’s ongoing efforts to enable users with disabilities to better interact with their devices and interfaces like Apple CarPlay.
Accessibility features introduced in CarPlay also include voice control, color filters and sound recognition.
Voice control allows users to navigate CarPlay and use apps using only their voice. Sound recognition is designed to alert deaf or hard of hearing drivers or passengers of car horns and sirens. For colorblind users, color filters improve the visual usability of the CarPlay interface, complemented by additional visual accessibility options such as bold text and large text.
This year, visionOS will also get new accessibility features, including system-wide live captions to help everyone, especially users who are deaf or hard of hearing, follow spoken dialogue in live chats and application audio. Live captions for FaceTime in visionOS will allow more users to connect and collaborate through their Personas. Apple Vision Pro will allow users to move captions during Apple Immersive Video using the window bar and will support more hearing aids and cochlear hearing processors designed for iPhone.
Visual accessibility improvements will also include reduced transparency, smart inversion and dim flashing lights, aimed at visually impaired users or those who prefer to avoid bright lights and frequent flashing.
Although Apple has a long history of developing accessibility features, CEO Tim Cook notes that these updates align with the company’s commitment to inclusivity. For example, users looking to reduce screen time and minimize distractions can use features like “Color Filters” combined with “Smart Invert” or “Classic Invert” to create a grayscale display. Enabling “Increase Contrast” can further improve visibility, demonstrating Apple’s commitment to meeting diverse user needs.
Written by Alius Noreïka
Originally published in The European Times.
source link eu news
