Table of Contents
- Eye Tracking: A New Way to Navigate
- Vocal Shortcuts: Voice-Based Controls Redefined
- Music Haptics: A New Sensory Experience for Music
- Vehicle Motion Cues: Addressing Motion Sickness
- iOS 18: The Next Step in Innovation
On May 15, 2024, Apple announced a series of new features for its iPhone and iPad devices. These features, including Eye Tracking, Vocal Shortcuts, Music Haptics, and Vehicle Motion Cues, are designed to enhance the user experience and accessibility of Apple’s devices. With the upcoming release of iOS 18, Apple continues to underscore its commitment to continuous innovation. These advancements are poised to revolutionize the way users interact with their devices, marking an exciting era for Apple users.
Eye Tracking: A New Way to Navigate
Eye Tracking is one of the innovative features Apple is introducing. This technology enables users to control their devices using the front-facing camera to navigate through apps. It leverages artificial intelligence to understand what the user is looking at and the gesture they intend to perform, such as swiping and tapping. This marks a significant advancement in accessibility, as it’s the first time Apple has introduced the ability to control an iPad and iPhone without the need for additional hardware or accessories.
Vocal Shortcuts: Voice-Based Controls Redefined
Apple is also introducing Vocal Shortcuts, a feature that enhances Apple’s voice-based controls. It allows users to assign different sounds or words to launch shortcuts and complete tasks. For example, Siri can launch an app when the user says something as simple as “Ah!”. This feature is particularly beneficial for users with conditions that affect speech, such as cerebral palsy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and stroke.
Music Haptics: A New Sensory Experience for Music
For music enthusiasts, Apple is introducing Music Haptics. This feature enables users to experience the millions of songs in Apple Music through a series of taps, textures, and vibrations. It will also be available as an API, allowing music app developers to provide users with a new and accessible way to experience audio.
Vehicle Motion Cues: Addressing Motion Sickness
Apple is also introducing Vehicle Motion Cues, a feature designed for users who experience motion sickness in cars. This feature displays animated dots on the edges of the screen that sway and move in the direction of the motion, helping users focus on moving content rather than stationary content, which can cause motion sickness.
iOS 18: The Next Step in Innovation
In addition to these features, Apple announced on May 6, 2024, that iOS 18 will be released to the public “soon,”. While the specific features of this update are yet to be disclosed, it’s clear that Apple continues to innovate and improve the user experience for its devices.
These new features demonstrate Apple’s commitment to making technology accessible to everyone. By continually innovating and introducing new features, Apple ensures that its devices cater to a diverse range of user needs. It’s an exciting time to be an Apple user, with these new features set to revolutionize the way we interact with our devices.
