Apple previews new accessibility features coming to iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch

Apple has today previewed a handful of new accessibility features coming to iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch later this year that offer users with disabilities new tools for navigation, health, communication, and more.

Door Detection, a new feature announced by Apple today, has been designed for users who are blind or low vision. Door Detection can help users locate a door upon arriving at a new destination, understand how far they are from it, and describe door attributes — including if it is open or closed, and when it’s closed, whether it can be opened by pushing, turning a knob, or pulling a handle. Door Detection can also read signs and symbols around the door, like the room number at an office, or the presence of an accessible entrance symbol on comparable iPhones and iPads with the LiDAR Scanner.

Apple Watch Mirroring, another new feature announced today, will help users control Apple Watch remotely from their paired iPhone. With Apple Watch Mirroring, users can control Apple Watch using iPhone’s assistive features like Voice Control and Switch Control, and use inputs including voice commands, sound actions and head tracking

Image: Apple

Later this year, Apple is introducing Live Captions on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Users will be able to follow along more easily with any audio content — whether they are on a phone or FaceTime call, using a video conferencing or social media app, streaming media content, or having a conversation with someone next to them.

Users can also adjust font size for ease of reading. Live Captions in FaceTime attribute auto-transcribed dialogue to call participants, so group video calls become even more convenient for users with hearing disabilities. When Live Captions are used for calls on Mac, users have the option to type a response and have it spoken aloud in real time to others who are part of the conversation. And because Live Captions are generated on device, user information stays private and secure.

Apple’s full list of new accessibility features can be found here.

Follow @TheApplePost on Twitter for the latest coverage and analysis on all things Apple. Read the day’s latest stories and stay on top of the latest Apple news, iPhone leaks and Mac rumors with the theapplepost.com app – available from the App Store.