Apple will add eye control to iPhones and iPads

Apple will add eye tracking to its iPhones and iPads this year. The tech giant announced this. This is an accessibility feature that should help people with disabilities operate their device. Apple is also releasing other new accessibility features.

Apple announces the new accessibility features ahead of Global Accessibility Awareness Day. Eye tracking allows users to control their iPhone or iPad with eye gestures. The selfie camera is used for this. For example, it is possible to move through apps and menus. By looking at an 'element' a little longer, it is activated. It is also possible to operate physical buttons via eye tracking, among other things, the company says.

The tech giant will also launch Music Haptics for iPhones later this year. The phone uses the Taptic Engine to emit 'taps, textures and refined vibrations' while playing music. This way, people who are deaf or hard of hearing can experience music, Apple says. This feature will be available through Apple Music. There will also be a Music Haptics API, so developers can integrate this feature into their own apps.

Apple also shows Vocal Shortcuts, which allow users to set pronunciations. When they say it, their device executes a Siri Shortcut, for example. Apple says this feature is specifically designed for people with progressive conditions that affect speech, such as cerebral palsy, ALS or stroke. Apple is also introducing features that should reduce motion sickness while using an iPad or iPhone. CarPlay will receive voice control and other accessibility updates for users who are color blind or have other visual impairments. VisionOS, in turn, will get live subtitles and more.

Apple says the features will be available 'later this year', but the company does not share a concrete release date for the various features. The features may become available with iOS and iPadOS 18. Apple will probably announce that software during WWDC in June, with a release in the fall.

Eye control on an iPad. Source: Apple