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Per Pressemitteilung hat Apple verschiedene Neuerungen für Bedienungshilfen, speziell auf dem iPhone, dem iPad und der Apple Watch angekündigt. Damit richte man sich nach eigener Aussage vor allem an Nutzer mit eingeschränkter Mobilität, Gehör, Sehvermögen und mit kognitiven Einschränkungen. Die Nutzbarkeit von elektronischen Geräten sei ein Menschenrecht, so Apple. Zu den neuen Bedienungshilfen gehören Verbesserungen bei der Nutzung des iPhone, des iPad und der Apple Watch. Letztere wird sich künftig beispielsweise auch mit verschiedenen AssisitiveTouch-Optionen ausstatten, auf dem iPad wird Apple später im Jahr ein EyTracking für die Bedienung einführen. Zudem gibt es Verbesserungen bei der Kontaktaufnahme mit dem Apple Support. All dies geschieht vor dem Hintergrund des heute stattfindenden "Global Awareness Day". Viele der Funktionen sollen aber erst später im Jahr erscheinen, was auf eine Einführung im Zusammenhang mit iOS/iPadOS 15 bzw. watchOS 8 hindeutet.

Sarah Herrlinger, Apples Senior Director of Global Accessibility Policy and Initiatives, wird in der Pressemitteilung mit den folgenden Worten zitiert:

"At Apple, we've long felt that the world's best technology should respond to everyone's needs, and our teams work relentlessly to build accessibility into everything we make. With these new features, we're pushing the boundaries of innovation with next-generation technologies that bring the fun and function of Apple technology to even more people -- and we can't wait to share them with our users."

Sämtliche angekündigten Neuerungen für die Bedienungshilfen gibt es im Anschluss:

• Background Sounds - In support of neurodiversity, Apple is adding a Background Sounds feature that's designed to minimize distractions to help users stay focus, stay calm, or rest. Balanced, bright, or dark noise sounds are available, as well as ocean, rain, or stream sounds. All of the sounds can be set to play in the background to mask unwanted environmental or external noise. Apple says the sounds mix into or duck under other audio and system sounds.
• AssistiveTouch - For users with limited mobility, AssistiveTouch will allow the Apple Watch to be used without the need to touch the display or the controls. Built-in motion sensors, the optical heart rate sensor, and on-device machine learning will let Apple Watch detect subtle differences in muscle movement and tendon activity that will control a cursor on the screen through hand gestures like a pinch or a clench. AssistiveTouch launches later this year.
• iPad Eye-Tracking - Later this year, iPadOS will support third-party eye-tracking devices to let people control ?iPad? with their eyes.
• SignTime - SignTime will allow customers to communicate with AppleCare and retail customer care using American Sign Language in the United States, British Sign Language (BSL) in the UK, or French Sign Language (LSF) in France using a web browser. SignTime launches May 20.
• New Memoji Customizations - New memojis are coming to better represent users with oxygen tubes, cochlear implants, and a soft helmet for headwear.
• VoiceOver Improvements - Recent updates to VoiceOver let users explore more details about people, text, table data, and other objects within images. VoiceOver can describe a person's position along with other objects in images, and with Markup, users can add image descriptions to personalize their photos.
• MFi Hearing Aid Improvements - Apple is introducing new support for bi-directional hearing aids, enabling hands-free phone and FaceTime conversations. Next-generation models from MFi partners are coming later this year.
• Audiograms for Headphone Accommodations - Headphone Accommodations will gain support for audiograms, so users can customize their audio by importing their latest hearing test results.
• Sound Actions for Switch Control - This replaces physical buttons and switches with mouth sounds -- such as a click, pop, or "ee" sound -- for users who are non-speaking and have limited mobility.
• Display and Text Size Settings - Will be customizable on a per app basis for users with colorblindness or other vision challenges to make the screen easier to see.