Read the World Today - New iPhone accessibility features include personal voice and live speech

Apple unveiled new iPhone features to enhance communication accessibility for users who are blind, have low vision, are nonspeaking, or at risk of losing their ability to speak.

The new iPhone features include live speech, personal voice, a detection mode in Magnifier, and a custom interface for people with cognitive disabilities. These features were designed with help from members of various disability communities, and the new software features are slated for later this year, according to the company’s press release.

“At Apple, we’ve always believed that the best technology is technology built for everyone,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s chief executive officer.

Here is a rundown on what’s coming:

Assistive Access for users with cognitive disabilities

Users can customize their interface with high contrast buttons and large text labels in icon or grid-form on their phone’s home screen to help lighten the cognitive load. This feature also includes an emoji-only keyboard or option to record a video to share in Messages.

Live Speech and Personal Voice

This feature allows nonspeaking people or those who have lost their speech over time to type what they want to say and have it spoken during FaceTime calls or in-person conversations.

By reading a randomized set of text prompts and recording for 15 minutes, users can also create a personal voice that sounds like them.

Point and Speak in Magnifier

For people with vision disabilities, this feature will let users interact with physical objects that have several text labels. The feature can take text on a microwave and announce the text on each button as users move their finger across the keypad.

Additional features

Pair compatible hearing devices − Deaf or hard-of-hearing users can pair iPhone-compatible hearing devices.
Voice control − Is it “do,” “due,” or “dew?” This feature will add phonetic suggestions for people who type with their voice.
Switch Control − Users with physical and motor disabilities can turn any switch into a virtual game controller.
Adjust text size − Users with low vision can adjust text size across apps such as Finder, Messages, Mail, Calendar and Notes.
Pause moving images − People sensitive to rapid animations can pause GIFs in Safari or Messages.
VoiceOver speed − Siri’s voice can be sped up or slowed down with options ranging from 0.8x to 0.2x.