Accessibility
Apple Announces New Accessibility Features Across All Products
[caption id="attachment_373799" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Image: Apple[/caption] Apple on Tuesday announced new accessibility features for the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and more. The Cupertino, California-based tech giant said the features will offer "new ways for users with disabilities to navigate, connect, and get the most out of Apple products." The new functionalities harness advancements in hardware,...
Microsoft Announces BuildAbility, the First World for Minecraft: Education Edition
Minecraft has announced BuildAbility, the first world for Minecraft: Education Edition. BuildAbility focuses on accessibility and building inclusive spaces for players. During the Microsoft Ability Summit, Microsoft announced that it has partnered with Peel District School Board in Ontario on BuildAbility. The world has been built in collaboration with a small group of educators in...
Apple Updates Accessibility Website to Showcase New Tips
As part of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Apple has launched a redesign of its Accessibility site on the company's website. The redesign focuses on providing customers with disabilities the tools and resources to personalize Apple's products for their needs. As part of the relaunch, Apple will release a number of videos explaining how to use...
Apple Says Mouse Support for iOS 13, iPadOS Will Have Widespread Appeal Beyond Accessibility
Apple's newest accessibility-related features appeal to many more users than they are actually intended for. Sarah Herrlinger, director of Global Accessibility Policy & Initiatives at Apple, tells TechCrunch's Steven Aquino that the company realizes that mouse/pointer support in iPadOS and iOS 13 will appeal to a wide range of folks though it's primarily implemented as...
Google Updates Maps with Wheelchair Accessible Routes [u]
Google has announced a new feature in Google Maps, which shows wheelchair accessible routes. The long-awaited update helps people to find timely ways to navigate urban areas that are notoriously unfriendly to people with mobility needs. Accessing accessibility route on Google Maps, on the other hand, is really easy. Simply type your destination as you...
Uber and City of Ottawa Agree on Fee to Help Fund Accessible Transportation
Uber and the City of Ottawa have agreed to a surcharge that will go towards supporting accessible transportation. The solution was arranged due to the lack of Uber’s wheelchair-accessible fleet in the city. The city’s general manager of emergency and protective services, Anthony Di Monte, said the seven cent fee from every Uber trip will...
Apple Developed Bluetooth Low Energy Tech for Cochlear Implants
Apple is leading the way in terms of hearing impaired accessibility with their devices, as the tech giant has teamed up with Cochlear to create a new implant that allows the hearing impaired to hear audio from their compatible Apple devices. Now, a new story from Wired has revealed the lengths that the two companies went...
CNIB Aims to Make Yonge and St. Clair Canada’s Most Accessible Neighbourhood
The Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) is trying to make one of Toronto's busiest areas the most accessible neighbourhood in Canada with a new program aimed at helping visually impaired people find their way around. The organization is rolling out a program that will see small battery powered devices called beacons placed in...
Apple CEO Talks About Accessibility on Global Accessibility Awareness Day [VIDEO]
To mark the Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD), Apple CEO Tim Cook spoke about accessibility in an exclusive interview with James Rath, a young filmmaker who was born legally blind and caught Apple’s attention last year for creating a video about the impact Apple products have had on his life. Thanks @JamesRath @PintSzDiva @RikkiPoynter for visiting...
Apple Highlights iOS Accessibility Features: “Designed for Everyone” [VIDEOS]
Apple shared a series of seven videos to its YouTube channel yesterday evening, highlighting how iOS accessibility and accessibility apps are miles ahead of its competitors. The videos showcase how various people are using Apple Accessibility features in iOS to live their lives to the fullest. Check out the videos below… ‘In Flames We Rise’...
Apple Honored With Louis Braille Award for Building Accessibility Functions into all Products
Apple has been honored with the prestigious Louis Braille award for efforts made to build accessibility functions into all their products, including the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Mac. Apple engineer Jordyn Castor who has been blind since birth was among the members who received the award on behalf of the company. According to Apple,...
New Google Maps Feature Indicates Locations With Wheelchair Accessibility
Google’s latest update to its Maps service now adds wheelchair accessible locations to its list of features. The new feature will now tell you whether a location is suitable for people with access needs, but is currently only available to users in the United States for now, according to a new report from Business Insider. The […]