Apple opens up to sign language and adds new accessibility features

In an effort to make its devices more accessible to all, Apple has just announced many new features to assist people with disabilities physiqueauditory or cognitive. The first is the launch of ” SignTime », a sign language interpreter service for the hearing impaired wishing to contact customer service. It will also be accessible in Apple Store without needing to book in advance. SignTime is announced for this Thursday, May 20, and will be offered in French (LSF), American (ASL) and British (BSL) sign language. This service will be accessible with a Navigator and therefore on all devices equipped with a camera, and will be launched initially in France, the United States and the United Kingdom.

The firm also announced a service on l’Apple Watch to simplify its use with a physical handicap. TheAssistiveTouch allows you to control the connected watch without having to touch the screen. The device uses machine learning to analyze sensors, including the gyroscope, theaccelerometer, or the optical heart rate monitor, and thus detect movements muscles and tendons. It will then suffice to perform certain actions, such as flex your wrist, pinch your fingers or clench your fist in order to move a cursor on the screen and access the various controls.

Apple adds support for eye tracking and new hearing aids

Still in the field of physical handicap, Apple announced the compatibility next iPad with tracking systems ocular third party, which will allow you to move a pointer on the screen and click on items with just your gaze. For the visually impaired, the software screen reading VoiceOver also receives updates, with more details on the images, such as reading and navigating inside a text taken in a photo, or even the description of a person’s pose and objects. In addition, the “Annotate” function will allow you to add personalized descriptions.

Apple Certified Partners (MFi) are expected to launch new two-way hearing aids this year, which will therefore be compatible with iPhone and iPad. These devices have a built-in microphone, which allows you to make phone calls or use FaceTime in hands-free mode. Apple is also adding support for audiograms, the results of a hearing test, which allows certain frequencies to be automatically adjusted to make them more audible.

Ambient sounds to mask background noise

To take into account neurodiversity, or simply to help those who have difficulty concentrating because of a background noise or deafening silence, Apple added a generator ambient sounds. Several options will be available including white noise, ocean, rain or a stream.

Many other features are announced for later this year, such as the ability to use mouth sounds instead of physical buttons for people with limited mobility and non-verbal communication. It will also be possible to modify the display and text options for each application, and choose new options to customize his Memoji with a implant cochléaire, an oxygen tube or a flexible protective helmet.