Google is currently testing an Android app that will let you control some primary functions with only your voice, the company announced today. The accessibility software is called Voice Access, and it's designed to let people with disabilities take better advantage of core Android functions in a hands-free manner. It's in beta right now, and although the application period has ended, the company says it should be released as a free Play Store app at some point in the future.
The app will let you open apps, scroll with voice commands, and select items onscreen. "For example, you can say 'open Chrome' or 'go home' to navigate around the phone, or interact with the screen by saying 'click next' or 'scroll down,'" the company wrote in a blog post. It also incorporates a numeric system, so everything from apps to drop-down menu options will be assigned a number you can say aloud to perform a task. The improvements here should help Android to be more accommodating to any and all users. Apple's iOS has long included similar tools for people with vision, hearing, and motor skill impairments.
Google announced a series of other accessibility improvements across its product line. Developers can now run an Accessibility Scanner on their apps to get suggestions on how to improve them, with recommendations like enlarging buttons and increasing screen contrast for those with visual impairments. The company says it's also introducing a new version of its text-to-speech navigation software for Chromebooks, as well as bringing voice-based editing to Google Docs.
Comments
About time. Glad they are finally taking this seriously.
By Lomifeh on 04.11.16 9:24pm
I wonder if that select-by-numbers thing will be accessible with a keyboard shortcut on tablets like the Pixel C… Being able to use the device without lifting my hands from the keyboard would be awesome. It’s one of my favorite little niche browser extensions. Of course, if they implemented it with the keyboard, it’d be better to do it with letters instead of numbers.
By Degru on 04.11.16 10:23pm
Vimium?
>Vimium is a Google Chrome extension which provides keyboard shortcuts for navigation and control in the spirit of the Vim editor
>Clicking "f" shows letters next to every link on the page.
Typing one of those letters opens the link.
github/com/philc/vimium
By Jeff Kang on 04.12.16 1:30pm
I use "Keyboard Mode". Basically just the keyboard navigation functionality without all the rest of the stuff that Vimium has (I don’t need it because Chrome keyboard shortcuts are enough)
By Degru on 04.13.16 1:59pm
Good news! It may be late, but the changes have come. The numerical system of access to apps is very good
By paginacontactos on 04.12.16 3:08am
apk mirror has this if you want to try it
By Jgilson on 04.12.16 1:50pm
"Apple’s iOS has long included similar tools for people with vision, hearing, and motor skill impairments."
Again with the Android bashing. Android has also long included accessibility features, this is taking it to a new level not available on iOS. In my experience trying to help my almost blind 90 year old dad be able to use his iPhone 6 plus, the iOS accessibility features are extremely lacking.
By bazaal on 04.13.16 6:23pm