Is the Apple watch accessible?

apple-watchPeople often ask me if there are any GPS programs that are especially suited to people who travel by foot and have visual impairments (there are) and whether or not I use them (I don’t). I use a Seeing Eye dog to get around safely, and with one hand constantly gripped on the harness, it would be difficult to maneuver a phone or other contraption to ask it where I am or what direction I should turn.

That is one (of many) reasons I am intrigued with the new Apple Watch. If I had the unit strapped to my wrist, maybe I’d be able to manipulate it with my free hand.

A lots been said about the launch of the new Apple Watch, but it seems little has been made about whether or not it is accessible to people with disabilities, so I did a little research.

Good news! Every Apple Watch ships from the factory with VoiceOver built in. VoiceOver is the same gesture-based screen reader I use with my iPhone, and apparently a speaker on Apple Watch tells blind users everything that’s happening on the screen even if we can’t see it.

Those of us who are blind will have to learn new Apple Watch gestures for VoiceOver users and figure out how to work with both the crown and the Touch screen to navigate, but hey, people who can see the screen will have to learn new techniques, too. The Apple watch accessibility page says assistive technologies for people with hearing loss come standard on Apple Watch as well. From their site:

As with every product we make, we want as many people as possible to enjoy using Apple Watch. That’s why it’s designed with assistive technologies and features that make it easy for people with disabilities to use. Accessing them is also simple, either through Settings on the device itself or through the Apple Watch app on your iPhone.

I can’t wait to get my hands on one.


 

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