Apple just gave us a peek at some of iOS 27’s new features

The third Tuesday in May is World Accessibility Awareness Day. Over the past few years, Apple has marked the occasion by revealing some of the accessibility features that will be added to its operating systems “later this year.” That means, while we wait for the big reveal of iOS 27, macOS 27, and all the other big updates at WWDC on June 8, this is our first official look at some of the features coming with these updates this fall.

As you might expect, the new accessibility features available in iOS 27 rely heavily on Apple Intelligence. They include big improvements to VoiceOver, Magnifier, Voice Control, and Accessibility Reader, as well as on-device-generated captions and some new Vision Pro features.

Magnifying glass and voiceover Get an important update to Visual Intelligence. They can give a more detailed answer about what’s in the viewfinder or what’s in an image. This is a good indicator of the work Apple is doing on visual intelligence in general, because the same basic systems are used to identify objects and text in photos and videos across the system.

THE Voice control The feature currently works using a defined list of discrete commands, but will evolve in OS 27 updates to use natural language. You can describe what you want to tap, zoom, or scroll not only by name, but also by color or content. Again, this is a good overview of the AI ​​features present in the operating system: it uses new AI capabilities to “see” and understand what’s on your screen, and this will likely be part of Siri and other features for everyone.

THE Accessibility Reader now works on a wider range of content with more complex formatting like tables, images, and multiple columns. Once again, Apple is using AI to better understand and interpret what’s on the screen.

New operating systems will be able to generate and display subtitles for any video, not just those with subtitle metadata. It can do this entirely on-device on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, and Vision Pro.

Those who use an electric wheelchair and cannot use a driving joystick will appreciate the new Vision Pro wheelchair control functionality. It uses Vision Pro’s eye tracking to manipulate a wheelchair control interface that works with the Tolt and LUCI alternative driving systems in the United States using either Bluetooth or a wired connection. Apple says it is working to support more wheelchair systems and readers in the future.

Some additional operating system updates coming this fall are:

• Vehicle movement cues come to visionOS. Vision Pro will also support facial gestures for performing taps and system actions, as well as a new way to select items with the eyes while using Dwell Control.
• Tap Hosting offer a new way to customize configuration in iOS and iPadOS.
• Designed for iPhone hearing aids Pair and transfer Apple devices more reliably, with an improved setup experience across iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and visionOS.
• Larger text support is coming to tvOS.
• Name recognitionwhich can alert deaf or hard of hearing users if someone says their name, works in more than 50 languages ​​worldwide.
• For sign language interpreting app developers, a new API helps users add a human interpreter to an ongoing FaceTime video call.
• Those who have difficulty interacting with traditional controllers can now connect the Sony access controller as a game controller with iOS, iPadOS and macOS.

All of these things will happen “later this year.” Apple doesn’t mention iOS 27, macOS 27, visionOS 27, etc. by name (these don’t officially exist until they’re announced at WWDC in June), but that’s what “later this year” means.

If you’re looking for something available right now, Apple’s announcement mentions that the third-party Hikawa Grip & Stand, a Magsafe grip for iPhone designed for those who need extra help gripping their iPhone, is available worldwide from the Apple Online Store.

Apple