Google is making Android better for the visually impaired

By Michael Allison May 20, 2022

Google is bringing enhanced support for braille in Android with the next major update coming this fall. The company announced this on Global Accessibility Awareness Day. The move comes after a similar announcement by Apple earlier in the week.

In Android 12 and lower, people with visual impairments who needed braille displays to comfortably use their phones would need to download the BrailleBack app from the Play Store and connect their Android device to a braille display. The company is now building support for braille displays directly into Android itself. It’ll be available for testing in Android 13 Beta 3, set for launch in July.

Android 13 at Google I/O. — Image used with permission by copyright holder

“With this new update, there are no additional downloads necessary to use most braille displays. People can use braille displays to access many of the same features available with Talkback. For instance, you can use display buttons to navigate your screen and then do activities like compose an email, make a phone call, send a text message or read a book,” Google’s Nimer Jaber, Accessibility Analyst, said in a post.

Google is also improving its TalkBack service compatibility with braille displays. TalkBack is another service that’s aimed at helping users who are visually impaired use their devices, albeit leaning more on spoken instructions. It’s improving navigation with new shortcuts for scrolling, as well as additional ones that bring in enhanced editing features when working with documents. This will also be made available for testing with the next Android 13 beta release.

Google isn’t the only one making a better, more accessible operating system. Apple also announced it would be bringing new accessibility features to iOS 16 such as Door Detection, Live Captions, and more. Both updates will come out pretty close in time to each other as well. Android 13 is expected to roll out in September, with iOS 16 coming shortly after.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Michael Allison

Mobile News Writer

A UK-based tech journalist for Digital Trends, helping keep track and make sense of the fast-paced world of tech with a…

Mobile

Google Pixel 9: news, rumored price, release date, and more

The Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro are Google's latest and most powerful devices, but it won't be that way for long. Rumors of the Google Pixel 8a mean this pair of flagships will be supplanted as the latest Google phones fairly soon — but they'll be able to hold on to the title of "most powerful" for a little while longer. The Google Pixel 9 range, while definitely on the way, isn't due to arrive any time soon.

But when it does, it's sure to be a trio of blockbusters. Leaks for the Pixel 9 family have been trickling in at a steady pace, and it seems like Google is planning on making some big changes this time around. If leaks are correct, we expect a new look and some exciting new AI features that go beyond what we've seen before.

Mobile

Google has a magical new way for you to control your Android phone

Holding the Google Pixel 8 Pro, showing its Home Screen.

You don’t need your hands to control your Android phone anymore. At Google I/O 2024, Google announced Project Gameface for Android, an incredible new accessibility feature that will let users control their devices with head movements and facial gestures.

There are 52 unique facial gestures supported. These include raising your eyebrow, opening your mouth, glancing in a certain direction, looking up, smiling, and more. Each gesture can be mapped to an action like pulling down the notification shade, going back to the previous app, opening the app drawer, or going back to home. Users can customize facial expressions, gesture sizes, cursor speed, and more.

Mobile

Android 15 has a clever way to make notifications less annoying

The Lock Screen on the Google Pixel 8 Pro.

This year's Google I/O 2024 was kicked off with one of the rare keynotes where Android did not see most of the limelight. AI -- and more specifically, Gemini -- was the talk of the show, and even the Android section of the keynote was filled with all the intelligent features coming with Android 15. The second beta of Android 15 rolled out just a few hours after the keynote, and it brings many more features that weren't discussed onstage. One of them is "Adaptive Vibration," which seems exclusive to Pixel phones for now.

As the name suggests, Adaptive Vibration is designed to fine-tune the vibration strength of incoming notifications based on the environment or where your phone is located. Android Authority discovered the feature under the Sound & vibrations menu in Android 15 's settings.