Accessibility: Apple accessibility boss spills the beans
Features created for people with disabilities on iPhone & Co. ultimately help all users. Apple has been working on it since 1985, says Sarah Herrlinger.
Adaptability is at the heart of Apple's accessibility: Accessibility boss Herrlinger agrees.
(Image: Apple)
Apple is known for including numerous accessibility features as standard in its operating systems – and constantly expanding its range. During an appearance at the "Web Summit" in Lisbon in the middle of last month, the manager responsible for this area, Sarah Herrlinger, further explained the strategy behind this, as reported by the Portuguese portal ifeed. According to the Senior Director for Global Accessibility Policy & Initiatives, the iPhone and Mac manufacturer has been thinking about this issue since the Mac was introduced in the mid-1980s.
Accessibility for all
According to Apple, it has recognized that accessibility is not only useful for people with disabilities. It is not only "a human right", but also leads to more innovation. One example of this is the double tap on the Apple Watch. The feature was once intended to help people with limited ability to use the watch screen. It is now used by all users to confirm functions without using a second hand, answer phone calls and much more.
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The same applies to AI functions. For example, Apple has implemented eye tracking in iOS and iPadOS, which is not only suitable for people with disabilities. Sound recognition on the HomePod or other devices is also useful for more than just accessibility. For example, it informs hearing-impaired people when the doorbell rings or a fire alarm sounds. But this is precisely what can help all users, whether they have a disability or not, for example when HomeKit informs them remotely that someone is ringing the doorbell.
Fighting social stigma
Herrlinger sees Apple's holistic approach to hardware and software as a clear advantage over the competition, as it means that accessibility can always be taken into account. It is also helpful to break the social stigma of disability through the topic of "accessibility for all". Thanks to a firmware update, the AirPods Pro 2 can now also be used as a hearing aid for people with mild to moderate hearing loss.
Apple also includes a hearing test function to help people who have not yet been diagnosed with a hearing impairment. Technology should be used to meet the needs of all people, no matter how unique they are, according to the head of accessibility.
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