Google announced the most recent
updates to their technology yesterday (11th) emphasizing the need to
address the technology requirements of all people regardless of their
disabilities. According to their official blog, several new tools have been
introduced along with some improvements to existing apps and software.
The company is testing voice
commands on android devices to help manipulate the on screen functions for
people who find it difficult to use the touch screen due to paralysis, tremor
or other conditions. The app named ‘Voice
Access’ is going through the beta testing process and is soon to be released as
a Play Store app which can be freely downloaded on to your smart device. The
voice commands facilitated by the app include options to open and close apps on
phone, navigate around the phone and interact with the screen in general. For
example, ‘Open Settings’, ‘Scroll Down’, ‘Go Home’ commands would conveniently handle
the touch screen functions that are regularly used with a phone.
Furthermore, Google Docs is also
allowing voice commands to support typing, editing and formatting. All you have
to do is select ‘Voice Typing’ in the Tools menu and you are free to start
editing your document with voice commands.
On account for supporting the
disabled, Google has also driven their attention to ways of enhancing accessibility
with their new tool ‘Accessibility Scanner’. This tool is capable of suggesting
accessibility improvements for Android apps such as recommending to increase
contrast, enlarge smaller buttons etc. for the developers. Also, Google’s
latest Android N is hoping to support ‘Vision Settings’, where the users can
control the font and display sizes, magnification etc. These features are
expected to help visually impaired individuals to independently set up their
own device and activate the features they need, says Google’s official blog.
These wonderful enhancements are being
recognized and appreciated by a significant of the community who lack the
access to advanced technology due to their physical inabilities.
Sources
http://www.theverge.com/2016/4/11/11411460/google-voice-access-android-app-accessibility
https://googleblog.blogspot.com/2016/04/building-more-accessible-technology.html
https://www.google.com/accessibility/
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