We ’re not all blessed with 20/20 vision , super - knifelike listening and the dexterity to easily operate a touchscreen — and even for those of us who are , it ’s improbable to last . Whether you ’re adapting a phone for yourself or a protagonist or household member , these are all the mode you could adapt Android and iOS to make them more accessible .
Adapting Android
Your option on Android might vary depending on the make and model of the phone , but we ’ll speak you through what ’s available in the stock version ofAndroid 9 Pie — what you have on your phone should stomach at least some resemblance to it .
start with the basics , text size is align via configurations under Display , advance , and Font size ( you get some sample text to help you cull the right Libra ) . There ’s a separate item on the same blind , Display size of it , which let you adjust the sizing of user interface element ( like ikon , menus , and dialogs ) as well as text .
Back on preferences , tap Accessibility for a plethora of other alternative : Select to address will study out texts , while TalkBack reads out everything on sieve , so you do n’t have to expect at the exhibit at all to operate your phone . The text edition - to - lecture yield link assure the rate and sales talk of the speech for both services .
Image: Senior Homescreen
These tools take some getting used to — work through menu option and dialog box option and so on — but after a inadequate adjustment menstruum it can make a real difference if you ’re not capable to see the screen by rights for whatever intellect .
Elsewhere on the Accessibility sieve , the Color inversion transposition is separate from the dark manner Android is introducing , and simply inverts the colors on filmdom , potentially spend a penny them well-off to read for some user . meter to study is an interesting feature too , go on notifications and other temporary alerts on screen for longer , so you ’ve sustain more time to read them .
Magnification is the menu to head to if you require to make certain parts of the display swelled , as and when needed : The modality can be launched with a triplex - tap on filmdom , or via a software button down at the bottom of the display ( it ’s not active all the time ) .
Screenshot: Gizmodo
To bring up another package button , this fourth dimension moderate all kinds of different phone controls , tap Accessibility Menu then employ service from the Accessibility menu . The Overview software clit ( unremarkably a hearty , bottom right ) gets replaced by an Accessibility button : Tap on it for instant access to volume and luminance controls , the Google Assistant , your recent apps , the Quick preferences Zen and more .
The mind is that you expend less fourth dimension tapping around on sieve and fiddling with hardware buttons to get at these same options . The phone can be turn off from this dad - up menu , and you may get back to the Accessibility menu if needed too .
Then there ’s Bixby orGoogle Assistant , which are able to become the potentially laborious undertaking of tapping out web lookup or placing sound calls into simple representative commands that might be easy for those with vision or motor controller government issue . On Pixel phones , Google Assistant can take exposure for you as well .
Screenshot: Gizmodo
Finally , it ’s also deserving flagging Android launchers , which reskin the whole operating system — you could find all kind of rocket launcher for all form of purposes , but some are build with simplicity and ease - of - use in judgement , and that makes them staring for someone looking for a more straightforward smartphone experience .
Simple Launcheris one of the best examples of this , with its chunky icon and clearly clear text . link can be dial flop from the desktop , and there ’s provision for an SOS contacts list reachable in a individual wiretap too . Even better , it ’s all free to utilize and wo n’t bombard you with advertizing either .
Senior Homescreenis even simpler , though you do have to pay a couplet of dollars if you desire to remove the ads . You get your choice of apps on the principal screen , making any Android phone prosperous to manage right from the start .
Screenshot: Gizmodo
All your launcher can be get at via options through Apps & presentment , Default apps , then Home app .
Adapting iOS
If you dive into the configurations app on iOS , then tap General and Accessibility , you ’ve got a alternative of way to make the operating system easier to use . Tap Larger Text , for example , to line up the size of textbook in iOS and most apps . you may also habituate the Bold Text and Increase Contrast toggle flip to make text more legible .
For arrest text record out , there are three similar choice to break up from on the Accessibility menu . Use VoiceOver to have everything on iOS spoken to you , including menus , dialog box and so on — everything that ’s on blind gets key to help navigation . The associated preferences let you align the talk charge per unit and pitching .
Under Speech you may enable Speak Selection or Speak Screen . The first one only reads out schoolbook when it ’s highlighted , and the 2d one will read out all the text on a screen , but only when you sneak down with two fingers from the top . Again , the speaking rate can be adjusted as you wish .
Screenshot: Gizmdoo
Back on the Accessibility carte , Zoom is perfect for taking a closer look at what ’s on silver screen . Once you ’ve enabled it , treble - tap with three fingers on the display to zoom in , then drag out around with three fingers to move the zoom focal point . The options on the menu screen include a Pseudemys scripta for adjusting the maximum rapid climb grade .
For those who struggle with operating a touchscreen , iOS has another set of alternative : intercept AssistiveTouch from the Accessibility menu and you ’re capable to impart up an on - screen ball furnish wanton access to notifications , the home covert , the control marrow , and gestures ( like three - finger swipes ) .
you’re able to actually configure the AssistiveTouch bubble yourself to quite an extent , so you could double - tap it to launch Siri , for instance , or bid and carry on it to get at the presentment . It ’s even possible to register customs gestures you observe easy to make and link up them with certain iOS action mechanism .
Screenshot: Gizmoodo
Further down the Accessibility menu are even more options for tweaking how iOS works : turn on subtitles and captions by default , improving audio quality for listen assistance , ignoring repeated touch , and so on . LED Flash for Alerts is a utile toggle electric switch to twist on — it’ll light up the photographic camera LED when you get a telling , so you do n’t have to rely on hearing an hearable tone .
Do n’t forget Siri either , and everything it can do to control your phone with your voice ( with more optionson the direction with iOS 13 ) . From preferences , exploit Siri & Search to make certain Siri can be activated with a “ hey Siri ” voice command , and from the lock CRT screen , reducing the amount of fiddling you postulate to do with buttons and swipe .
Siri is capable to make call for you , send messages , launching apps , add point to your calendar , get directions on Apple Maps , set up reminders , look up the weather , and so on … so anyone who struggles to discharge these actions by tapping on the screen can call up assistance from Siri instead .
Screenshot: Gizmodo
With the control Apple take over iOS , you do n’t get the same form of third - party interface - tweaking apps that you do on Android : Apps just do n’t have the necessary license or hooks into the o . If you want to make an iPhone prosperous to utilise , you ’ll necessitate to rely on the built - in options .
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