Latest news with #SarahHerrlinger
Express Tribune
19-05-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Apple launches accessibility features for people with sight and hearing impairment
Listen to article Apple has unveiled a suite of new accessibility features include live captions, upgraded braille support, personal voice replication, and new screen magnifier options designed for people with vision or hearing impairments on Wednesday, before Global Accessibility Awareness Day. In a significant shift, developers will now be required to include "nutrition labels" for accessibility in their app listings, showing support for features like voiceover, large text or voice control. Apple's senior director of global accessibility policy, Sarah Herrlinger, said the labelling initiative would help developers better understand how to build inclusive tools. 'It gives them a real opportunity to understand what it means to be accessible,' Herrlinger said. A highlight of the update is the new personal voice feature, which allows users to replicate their own voice using just 10 recorded phrases. The data remains on-device and encrypted unless backed up to iCloud. The screen magnifier, now available on Macs and iPhones, lets users zoom in on presentations or whiteboards, with adjustable settings for contrast, colour and brightness. The braille features include note-taking, mathematical input using Nemeth braille, and improved compatibility with devices. Apple also introduced 'Live Listen,' which allows AirPods to enhance audio in lecture halls or public settings. The update complements a previously released feature that turns AirPods into hearing aids. Herrlinger rejected the suggestion that Apple's accessibility tools come at a cost, despite the brand's premium pricing. 'All of this is available to you right out of the box at no additional charge,' she said. She added that users found it more economical to have multiple accessibility tools built into a single device rather than purchasing separate aids. Vision Australia's head of corporate affairs, Chris Edwards, who is blind and has a seeing eye dog, appreciate companies for ensuring the accessibility features were inbuilt into products and operating systems. 'I would imagine the interpretation of images through the new features will make these more accessible for everyone. Being able to interpret images live is a key next step to change people's lives,' he said. 'The new accessibility features looks particularly good for students in classrooms. I think it also highlights that braille is still a very important format.' The announcement comes just as Apple's main rival, Google, rolls out similar AI-powered accessibility tools on Android. Apple's updates will be released later this year.
The Guardian
18-05-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Apple to launch new accessibility features for people with vision or hearing impairments
Apple has announced a broad range of new accessibility features for iOS focused on people with vision or hearing impairments, with the company downplaying the notion that the price of Apple hardware means accessibility comes at a cost. On Wednesday, before Global Accessibility Awareness Day on Thursday 15 May, Apple announced new accessibility features to launch on iOS later this year, including live captions, personal voice replication, improved tools for reading, braille reader improvements and 'nutrition labels' in the app store. In these labels, developers will be required to list what accessibility features their app has, which may include voiceover, voice control or large text. Apple's senior director of global accessibility policy and initiatives, Sarah Herrlinger, told Guardian Australia that the nutrition labels would hopefully encourage developers to enable more accessibility options in the future. '[It] gives them a real opportunity to understand what it means to be accessible and why they should do it and then build on that,' she said. 'By doing it this way, we're also giving them the opportunity to grow into it; maybe there are a couple of the features that they already are doing really well, and they get an opportunity to highlight those as they learn about the other ones and start to build those.' The company also improved its magnifier app, bringing it to Mac and allowing users to use the camera or an attached iPhone to zoom in on screens or whiteboards in lectures to be able to read presentations – with adjustable brightness, contrast, colours and settings that make it easier to see texts and images. New braille features include note-taking with a braille screen input or a compatible braille device, and allow for calculation using Nemeth braille, a standard braille code used for maths and science. The new personal voice feature that can recreate a user's voice using just 10 phrases is an improvement over the existing model, which requires 150 phrases and for users to wait overnight for the model to be ready to use. Apple said this voice replication would be password-coded and remain on the device unless backed up to iCloud, where it would be encrypted, reducing the risk of someone's voice being used without their permission. Herrlinger said that as artificial intelligence advancements were made at Apple, the accessibility team was looking at how to integrate them into their work. 'We've actually been deeply working with our AI team for many years on features. And so as new opportunities arise, we always make sure that we're staying as cutting-edge as we can to build the best tech we can,' she said. Google's Android system has some similar accessibility features, including live captions, a braille reader and magnifier, and announced new AI-supported features this week. Live Listen, Apple's live captions feature, also allows users to get improved audio through their AirPods in places such as lecture theatres. In addition to live captions in this update, Apple also recently launched a feature allowing people with hearing loss to use AirPods as hearing aids. Apple's hardware often comes at a premium in the smartphone market. But Herrlinger rejected the idea that Apple's accessibility options come at a price, arguing the company was building them into its operating system for free. 'It is available to you right out of the box at no additional charge,' she said. 'And our goal is to build in a wide array of accessibility features, because we also know that every person's experience in the world is unique and so different people will use different accessibility features to support them, whether that be strictly around one disability or maybe multiple disabilities that they have.' Herrlinger noted that customers had said having multiple functions available on a principal device was more economical. 'Now they're all just built into a single device that is the same cost to everyone,' she said. 'So in our mind, it's more about that democratisation of accessibility within the operating system.' Vision Australia's head of corporate affairs, Chris Edwards, who is blind and has a seeing eye dog, applauded companies for ensuring the accessibility features were inbuilt into products and operating systems. 'I would imagine the interpretation of images through the new features will make these more accessible for everyone. Being able to interpret images live is a key next step to change people's lives,' he said. 'The new accessibility features looks particularly good for students in classrooms. I think it also highlights that braille is still a very important format.'
Time of India
14-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Apple introduces new accessibility features including braille note taker
Apple said on Tuesday it is bringing a host of new features later this year that are geared towards making its devices more accessible, including a braille note taker and expanded 'zoom' for its mixed-reality headsets, Vision Pro. For users who are blind or visually impaired, vision accessibility features will be expanded using Vision Pro's camera system. The updated zoom features can help users magnify everything in view using the main camera, the iPhone maker said. "We are dedicated to pushing forward with new accessibility features for all of our products," said Sarah Herrlinger, Apple's senior director of Global Accessibility Policy and Initiatives. Apple will allow approved apps to access the main camera on Vision Pro to provide live, person-to-person assistance for visual interpretation in apps such as Be My Eyes. Be My Eyes is an application that connects people who are blind or visually impaired with volunteers and companies worldwide through live video. The Vision Pro, lauded by analysts for its technology, represents Apple's entry into the headset market otherwise dominated by Meta Platforms. Apple is also introducing 'Braille Access' that turns iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Vision Pro into a braille note taker. With this feature, users can open any app by typing with a connected braille device or Braille Screen Input - an Apple system that allows users to enter braille into their devices. Apple's new features also include a system-wide reading mode designed to make text easier to read for users with disabilities such as dyslexia or low vision, the company said.
The Hindu
14-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Apple introduces new accessibility features including braille note taker
Apple said on Tuesday it is bringing a host of new features later this year that are geared towards making its devices more accessible, including a braille note taker and expanded 'zoom' for its mixed-reality headsets, Vision Pro. For users who are blind or visually impaired, vision accessibility features will be expanded using Vision Pro's camera system. The updated zoom features can help users magnify everything in view using the main camera, the iPhone maker said. "We are dedicated to pushing forward with new accessibility features for all of our products," said Sarah Herrlinger, Apple's senior director of Global Accessibility Policy and Initiatives. Apple will allow approved apps to access the main camera on Vision Pro to provide live, person-to-person assistance for visual interpretation in apps such as Be My Eyes. Be My Eyes is an application that connects people who are blind or visually impaired with volunteers and companies worldwide through live video. The Vision Pro, lauded by analysts for its technology, represents Apple's entry into the headset market otherwise dominated by Meta Platforms. Apple is also introducing 'Braille Access' that turns iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Vision Pro into a braille note taker. With this feature, users can open any app by typing with a connected braille device or Braille Screen Input - an Apple system that allows users to enter braille into their devices. Apple's new features also include a system-wide reading mode designed to make text easier to read for users with disabilities such as dyslexia or low vision, the company said.
Techday NZ
14-05-2025
- Business
- Techday NZ
Apple unveils major accessibility updates across its platforms
Apple has announced a range of new accessibility features set to be released later in the year across its platforms. The new features include Accessibility Nutrition Labels for the App Store, a Magnifier app for Mac, Braille Access on multiple Apple devices and an Accessibility Reader to enhance usability for those with disabilities including dyslexia and low vision. Widespread updates are also planned for Live Listen, Background Sounds, Personal Voice, Vehicle Motion Cues and more across the Apple ecosystem. Tim Cook, Chief Executive Officer at Apple, said, "At Apple, accessibility is part of our DNA. Making technology for everyone is a priority for all of us, and we're proud of the innovations we're sharing this year." "That includes tools to help people access crucial information, explore the world around them and do what they love." Sarah Herrlinger, Senior Director of Global Accessibility Policy and Initiatives at Apple, added, "Building on 40 years of accessibility innovation at Apple, we are dedicated to pushing forward with new accessibility features for all of our products. Powered by the Apple ecosystem, these features work seamlessly together to bring users new ways to engage with the things they care about most." Accessibility Nutrition Labels will appear on App Store product pages worldwide, giving users details on accessibility features within apps and games before download. These sections will cover VoiceOver, Voice Control, Larger Text, Sufficient Contrast, Reduced Motion, captions and other features. Developers will receive guidelines about displaying relevant accessibility information on their app listings. Eric Bridges, President and Chief Executive Officer of the American Foundation for the Blind, commented, "Accessibility Nutrition Labels are a huge step forward for accessibility. Consumers deserve to know if a product or service will be accessible to them from the very start, and Apple has a long-standing history of delivering tools and technologies that allow developers to build experiences for everyone." "These labels will give people with disabilities a new way to easily make more informed decisions and make purchases with a new level of confidence." The Magnifier app, previously available on iPhone and iPad, is coming to Mac. It connects to the user's camera so they can zoom in on surroundings, such as a screen or whiteboard, and allows multitasking with several live session windows. The Magnifier supports Continuity Camera and works with both USB and iPhone cameras. Users can adjust visual settings, capture and save multiple views, and integrate with Accessibility Reader, which converts physical text into a customisable, legible format. Braille Access will turn iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Vision Pro into full-featured braille note-taking devices. The tool integrates with the Apple ecosystem and supports app launching using Braille Screen Input or compatible devices. Users can take notes, perform calculations with Nemeth Braille, and open Braille Ready Format files. Live Captions functionality will allow real-time transcription for braille displays. Accessibility Reader will offer a systemwide reading mode, making text adjustable on iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Vision Pro. It gives users control over font, colour, spacing and offers support for spoken content. Accessibility Reader can be launched from any app and is built into Magnifier for enhanced reading of physical and digital text. Live Listen updates will include Apple Watch support, allowing users who are deaf or hard of hearing to view Live Captions on their watch while an audio session is underway. The Watch will also serve as a remote control for Live Listen sessions with support for AirPods and other Made for iPhone hearing aids, as well as integration with existing hearing health features such as the Hearing Aid function on AirPods Pro 2. Other updates include improved personalisation of Background Sounds with new EQ settings and automation, a faster implementation of Personal Voice enabling users to create their synthetic voice using just 10 recorded phrases in under a minute, and expanded language support for this feature including Spanish (Mexico). Vehicle Motion Cues will now be available on Mac and provide enhanced customisation to reduce motion sickness. Eye Tracking and Switch Control on iPhone, iPad and Apple Vision Pro will receive upgrades to support additional input methods and faster keyboard use. Head Tracking will allow users to control devices with head movement. Switch Control will add support for Brain Computer Interfaces, allowing device control without physical actions. Assistive Access will introduce a streamlined Apple TV app and allow developers to create more tailored experiences for users with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Music Haptics will be more customisable and support for Sound Recognition will be extended with Name Recognition for users who are deaf or hard of hearing. Voice Control enhancements will include a new programming mode in Xcode for developers with limited mobility, vocabulary syncing across devices and expanded language support. Live Captions will now include more regional language variants such as English (India, Australia, UK, Singapore), Mandarin Chinese, Cantonese, Spanish, French, Japanese, German and Korean. CarPlay updates will bring Large Text support and enhanced sound notifications for drivers or passengers who are deaf or hard of hearing. Other new features allow users to temporarily share accessibility settings across devices, a new shortcut to help retain information and expanded video resources to guide personalisation of Apple products with accessibility features. Apple Music, Apple Fitness+, Apple TV+, Apple Books and Apple Podcasts will feature stories, playlists and content to coincide with Global Accessibility Awareness Day. The App Store will highlight accessible apps and feature the story of Klemens Strasser, a developer committed to building accessible experiences.
