Apple previews new cutting-edge accessibility features

Apple has previewed some nifty, cutting-edge accessibility features that will give iPhone and Apple Watch users with disabilities more tools to navigate the world around them. As stated in its press release, the new features will help them navigate, communicate, hear and more.

Apple’s latest navigation feature, called Door Detection, will help blind or low-vision users find a door within the last few feet of their destination. Thanks to a combination of lidar scanners, cameras and on-device machine learning, door detection will tell users how close they are to the door they are approaching, whether the door is open or closed, whether it has a knob or handle, and if it can be pushed Open or pull away, and read the signs and symbols around it.

For those with sports and physical disabilities, there is Apple Watch Mirroring, which allows them to remotely control their Apple Watch from their iPhone. Use voice controls and switch controls instead of tapping the Apple Watch display, and thanks to AirPlay, whatever is displayed on the watch will pop up on the iPhone screen. They can also use gestures (such as double pinch) to answer or end calls, play or pause media, take pictures, or continue exercising, which is useful for people with missing limbs or hands.

Deaf and hard of hearing users can get live captions not only on iPhone, but also on iPad and Mac products. This feature will help users understand the context of any audio media content and protection, whether held in person, or via phone, FaceTime or video conferencing. In group FaceTime chats, Live Captions attributes automatically transcribed conversations to call participants, making it easier for deaf and hard of hearing users to tell who is speaking. Subtitles can also be resized to help them read them more easily.