Apple is set to launch three new accessibility functions to enable greater usability for people with disabilities. The Assistive Access, Personal Voice and Point and Speak functions will be operational later this year, the company announced earlier this week.
Other features to help deaf or hard-of-hearing users and those with low vision across Apple products including Macs and iPads are also being introduced. It comes as the company welcomed several guide dogs from the charity Guide Dogs to its store in Birmingham as part of Global Accessibility Awareness Day on Thursday. The Point and Speak function allows those who are blind or have vision issues to point a camera at text and hear back what can be seen, helping people to navigate their visual environment.
Tommy Dean, technology development lead at Guide Dogs, said: "In today's digitally driven world, Apple devices offer users with vision impairments the freedom to live life on their own terms. With inclusive design and comprehensive training, these devices become essential tools for independence. Guide dogs are dedicated to enhancing our service delivery and empowering our service users to embrace the opportunities that technology offers, enabling them to live life on their own terms."
