Did you know every iPhone is accessible?

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Front and Centre
Voice Features
Zoom Features
WCAG 2.2 Standards

Back in 2009 when Apple launched the iPhone 3GS, they also unveiled their accessibility features such as VoiceOver, zoom, white on black colour invert and mono audio.

While VoiceOver was available to Mac users since Tiger in 2005, this iOS release in 2009 was the start of Apple’s mobile accessibility journey which allowed people with sight loss to interact with a touch screen devices. This was far removed from the button-based phones such as the Nokia C5 with its third-party Screen Reader Talks.

Apple changed the game and this shift in approach to gesture-based navigation allowed people with visual impairments access to new apps, something that was very limited on the button-phone market. Android did follow with TalkBalk and other accessibility options which we will cover in a future blog.

Front and Centre

Apple continued to add accessibility features and improvements to every iOS release. In 2019 with the release of iOS 13, Apple pushed accessibility front and centre. No longer hidden away in sub menus, the accessibility menu was placed in the top tier menu making it easier to find. This was a clear indicator that accessibility was still an important concern to Apple.

Voice Features

VoiceOver

Many improvements have been made over the years to VoiceOver and it is one of the most versatile screen readers available. This continued improvement allows blind people to be fully independent using their device.

Speak Selection

Speak selection allows a user to highlight text which will be spoken back to the user. This is very useful for people with low vision, dyslexia, or dyspraxia.

Speech Controller

Turning on Speech Controller allows a user to point to text and have the controller read it back to them.

Audio Descriptions

Having an audio descriptions toggle switch in the accessibility settings allows you to default apps and websites to use audio descriptions where available.

Voice Control

Using Voice Control allows users with limited limb movement or indeed, no limb movement at all, to use every feature on their iOS mobile device. It blends Siri commands and a numbered grid system to allow the user to activate any part of the screen with their voice.

Zoom Features

Zoom

Zoom allows a user to double tap with three fingers to increase the size of the screen and then move the screen by dragging three fingers. This is very useful on the home screen and in apps that do now allow pinch to zoom as it will force the screen to magnify.

Magnifier

Magnifier has improved over the years and now offers colour contrast options. People use magnifier to read traditional documents, check flight information boards, and oncoming bus numbers.

Display and text size

In these accessibility settings, the font can be greatly increased and text can be made bold as well as remove transparency where it has permission to do so.

WCAG 2.2 Standards

Above are just a few of the many accessibility features available on iOS devices. However, it is the responsibility of app and website designers to build their apps to the WCAG 2.2 standards to allows these tools to work correctly. If you would like any advice on these standards, please don’t hesitate to contact Vially.

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