Apple announces new accessibility features, including mirroring Watch apps to an iPhone, and a live captioning tool for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS coming in 2022
Apple had already been adding accessibility controls across its devices, including AssistiveTouch for Apple Watch and iPad eye-tracking in 2021. The new additions extend that work from device-specific controls to using an iPhone as an interface for Watch apps and to captions across Apple’s main operating systems.
The announcement also begins a sequence of broader accessibility releases: Apple later added cognitive, vision, and speech features and eventually introduced App Store accessibility labels. That makes the 2022 release an early step in a more visible, recurring accessibility roadmap.
First-order effects
Apple Watch users who need an iPhone-based interaction method gain a new way to access Watch apps, while users of iOS, iPadOS, and macOS gain a planned live-captioning tool across those platforms.
Apple expands the accessibility scope of its device ecosystem rather than limiting new controls to a single product.
Second-order effects
The cross-platform captioning release raises the value of keeping accessibility workflows consistent across Apple devices, while Watch-app mirroring ties the Watch experience more closely to the iPhone.
Apple’s later accessibility releases, including App Store Accessibility Nutrition Labels, shift accessibility from operating-system features toward information users can use when choosing apps.
Third-order effects
If Apple continues this release cadence, accessibility becomes a standing platform layer spanning device control, communication, and app discovery rather than a collection of isolated settings.
The later move to on-device generated subtitles and other Apple Intelligence-powered accessibility features suggests that Apple’s accessibility roadmap is increasingly incorporating new system capabilities into its core platforms.
The trend: Apple is turning accessibility into a recurring cross-platform product strategy, expanding from input assistance toward captions, app transparency, and newer system capabilities.
At Apple, we design for accessibility from the ground up and we're constantly innovating on behalf of our users. The cutting-edge features we are sharing today will offer new ways for people with disabilities to navigate, connect, and so much more. https://www.apple.com/...
@benedictevans This is the lens I'm increasingly using for all big tech advancements in AI, mapping, and accessibility: how does this fit in with the company's #AR position and industry timeframe?
So it sure feels like Apple is essentially preannouncing a bunch of software features ahead of WWDC next month which means the keynote is prob gonna be mega packed
@trevorcroker From what I've heard Apple is going to be very restrictive with APIs on the glasses, i.e. no direct access to the camera for things like doing your own face recognition
A lot of tech reporters on here like to ascribe positivity like this to marketing and PR spin, which isn't entirely wrong. But in this case, software like this truly is innovative; it's literally life-changing. Take it from me. https://twitter.com/...
Imagine being hearing impaired and then learning that the OS will now solve for that across apps. Product teams shipping life-changing tech never gets old. Also, side effect of accessibility R&D: BREAKTHROUGH features for everyone else. https://twitter.com/...
Live captions at the system level was one of the best, most useful additions to Android in recent years, and I'm super happy to see Apple adding it to iOS as well 🙌 https://techcrunch.com/...
Woah! Coming in an iOS and watchOS update later this year (iOS 16 and watchOS 9), Apple will let users mirror their Apple Watch to their iPhone using a new feature called “Apple Watch Mirroring,”; all part of Apple's accessibility push. https://www.apple.com/... https://twitter.c…
I love these new accessibility features Apple just previewed. I also love that they are making a separate announcement and press release for it. These things matter, and should be announced far and wide, not in a footnote of a change log. https://www.apple.com/...
So many new #accessibility features from Apple that reflect how our digital lives can create new challenges for people with disabilities but also a ton of opportunity when the focus is on delivering an inclusive experience that bridges digital and IRL. https://www.apple.com/...
Apple has some really neat accessibility features coming. Door detection will help blind or low vision people locate doors. Apple Watch Mirroring will let people control an Apple Watch from an iPhone. Live Captions are also coming to iPhone, iPad, and Mac https://www.theverge.com…
I talked to Apple accessibility senior director Sarah Herrlinger about Apple Watch Mirroring, an upcoming feature that will bring the watch to people who might not otherwise be able to use it. https://www.fastcompany.com/ ...
Beyond excited to see the hard work of my former team and colleagues becoming public!! So happy for all of you (and miss you all too!)! https://www.apple.com/...
live captioning is a very exciting technology. Building a transcript of a video not only improves accessibility,it builds a searchable index that makes the video content far more useful in other work streams https://twitter.com/...
The pre-WWDC Apple news drop continues. Today Apple has pre-announced Accessibility features coming to iOS/iPadOS 16 and macOS 13: https://www.macstories.net/... Door Detection and Live Captions seem incredible (also great for future AR device). Tons of other features in every OS…