Monday, 23 June 2025
28.1 C
Singapore
29.3 C
Thailand
21.2 C
Indonesia
27.5 C
Philippines

Google enhances mobile accessibility for users with low vision

Google unveils new Android accessibility features, enhancing navigation and communication for users with low vision.

In alignment with Global Accessibility Awareness Day, Google has announced several new updates to its accessibility features, aimed at helping users with visual impairments better interact with their surroundings through their Android devices.

A major enhancement has been made to Google’s Lookout app, which assists users who are blind or have low vision. The app now utilises advanced AI to identify specific objects in the environment, such as seating and bathrooms. This update expands Lookout’s capability to detect and categorise seven types of objects. “As you move your camera around the room, Lookout will notify you of the direction and distance to the item,” explained Eve Andersson, Google’s Senior Director of Product Inclusion, Equity, and Accessibility, in a recent blog post.

Android’s Look to Speak app, which enables users to select phrases using eye movements that the device then vocalises, has introduced a text-free mode. This new feature is designed to facilitate communication for people with cognitive differences, literacy challenges, and language barriers, enhancing inclusivity and accessibility.

Broader accessibility initiatives

Google is also broadening the reach of its Project Gameface, originally available on PC, which allows users to control a computer’s cursor through head movements and facial gestures. This feature is now extended to Android users, with developers encouraged to integrate it via GitHub.

Additional improvements include support for Auracast-enabled Bluetooth devices on Google Maps, allowing users to receive audio from broadcast devices in public spaces like theatres and gyms. Google Maps has also expanded its detailed voice guidance for walking directions to Android and iOS globally, in all supported languages.

The redesign of Google’s sound notifications—triggered by noises such as fire alarms—reflects significant user feedback, with enhancements to the onboarding process, sound event browsing, and the customisation of sound alerts.

These developments demonstrate Google’s ongoing commitment to improving accessibility across its platforms, ensuring that technology is more usable for everyone. Yesterday, Apple similarly announced upcoming accessibility enhancements to its devices, indicating a broader industry focus on inclusivity.

Hot this week

Meta turns all Facebook videos into reels as it updates video sharing

Meta will soon make all Facebook videos share as reels and remove the 90-second limit to unify the video experience across its platform.

StarHub ranks among Southeast Asia’s largest companies for second year

StarHub ranks 187th on the 2025 Fortune Southeast Asia 500, with strong enterprise growth and continued focus on digital innovation.

Top robot vacuums to buy in 2025 for every home and budget

Discover the best robot vacuums to buy in 2025, from advanced mop-and-vac hybrids to compact models that suit every home and budget.

Imoo launches flagship Watch Phone X10 in Singapore for child safety and connectivity

Imoo launches Watch Phone X10 in Singapore, offering real-time calls, GPS tracking, and water resistance for safer, smarter child connectivity.

HPE unveils next-generation Nonstop Compute solutions for mission-critical workloads

HPE launches NS5 X5 and NS9 X5 Nonstop Compute systems with more memory and performance for mission-critical enterprise operations.

How Asia’s innovation is reshaping the global economy

Asia is becoming a global innovation powerhouse, driving sustainable growth through AI, clean energy, and deep tech ecosystems.

Adobe launches LLM Optimizer as AI replaces search engines in content discovery

Adobe unveils LLM Optimizer to help brands appear in AI chats like ChatGPT as AI becomes the new way people discover and shop.

Rising Chinese PC brand iSoftStone is on track to overtake Apple and HP

Due to fast growth in the education and gaming sectors, Chinese PC maker iSoftStone is set to overtake Apple and HP in China.

The Blood of Dawnwalker lets you step into a dark, vampire-filled world

Explore the dark world of The Blood of Dawnwalker, a vampire RPG set in 14th-century Europe that will be released for PC and consoles in 2026.

Related Articles

Popular Categories