May 16 marked World Accessibility Awareness Day, a day dedicated to talking, thinking, and learning about digital access and inclusion for the more than 1.3 billion people with disabilities around the world.

    Eight new accessibility features that Google is rolling out across its own products and platforms built with and for people with disabilities.

    AI-powered accessibility updates for Android:

    • Easily find objects around you and capture images with Lookout: Lookout on Android helps people with blindness and low vision use their phone’s camera to get more information about the world around them. Lookout mode is rolling out in beta today, providing a new way to find specific objects. Choose one of seven object categories – like seating and tables or bathrooms – then as you move the camera around the room, Lookout will notify you of the direction and distance to the object. Now, if someone captures a photo directly in the app, they’ll get an AI-generated description of the image and learn more about the images they’ve taken. The Lookout search mode and image capture button will help you get more information about your surroundings.
    • Use text mode to communicate with Look to Speak: With the Look to Speak Android app, you can select pre-written, customizable phrases with your eyes and say them out loud. Starting today, Look to Speak is introducing a textless mode. With this mode, you can also select and personalize emojis, symbols, and photos to activate speech. This new feature is based on feedback to help make communication more accessible for those with cognitive differences, literacy issues, and language barriers.
    • Hands-free cursor for Android developers: Developers can now access Project Gameface for Android devices via GitHub. With Accessibility Service for Android and Google MediaPipe, developers can create apps that allow users to customize facial expressions, gesture sizes, cursor speed, and more. Project Gameface can be expanded to include educational, work, and other customizations, such as the ability to type messages to family or look for a new job.

    Expanded accessibility options in Maps and new business opportunities:

    • More detailed directions while walking and even more information about your surroundings with Maps: For those who are blind or visually impaired, Google is expanding detailed voice guidance and screen reader capabilities for Lens in Maps for Android and iOS worldwide in all supported languages. With the screen reader capabilities for Lens in Maps, you’ll hear the name and category of places around you – like ATMs, restaurants, or transit stations – and how far away a place is so you can quickly orient yourself and decide where to go. And when you’re walking and can’t see your phone, detailed voice guidance provides audio prompts that let you know when you’re heading in the right direction, crossing a busy intersection, or redirecting if you’ve gone the wrong way.
    • Get accessibility information no matter where you are: Maps now has accessibility information for more than 50 million locations, thanks to input from business owners and Maps community members. A special icon points to a location with a wheelchair accessible entrance with more information about accessible restrooms, parking, and seating on the About tab. And now, when you’re viewing a location on your cell phone, you’ll also be able to filter reviews to easily find helpful information about wheelchair accessibility.
    • Auracast attribute for business profiles: For those who need help with hearing assistance, business owners can now add the Auracast attribute to their business profile. Auracast audio streaming allows venues such as theaters, gyms, and auditoriums to broadcast enhanced or assistive audio to visitors using Bluetooth hearing aids, headphones, and Auracast-enabled earbuds.

    New designs for project-related and audio notifications:

    • Project Relate: An Android app for people with non-standard speech that allows you to create a personalized speech recognition model for communication and better understanding. Custom cards allow you to customize the phrases you teach the model so it understands the words that are important to you. There’s now a new way to select text and import phrases from other apps as custom maps, like notes in Google Docs,
    • New design for audible notifications with feedback: Audible notifications alert you when household sounds – like a doorbell ringing or a smoke alarm going off – with push notifications, flashes from camera lights, or vibrations on your phone.

    SEO

    Source: blog.google

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