Android Accessibility Features

Due to the various available Android devices and brands, wording and location of the following options may vary. However, because many are app-based, they are downloadable for free on the Google Play Store. This allows plenty of users to have full access even if their phones aren't pre-loaded with them. Many of the demonstrations of these features are with Pixel phones so results may vary across all Android devices.

Image of three android accessibility features screens

Hearing

Live Transcribe and Sound Notifications (link)
- Use your phone's microphone to listen and transcribe audio into a text format that's easily viewable on your device.
- There are up to 80 languages supported as of now and you can quickly switch between two languages at a time to keep up with conversations.
- Sound notifications allow your device to notify you if certain sounds, like your name being called, to make sure you don't miss something important.
- These features are downloadable via Google Play Store and integrates into Android Accessibility Settings.

Live Caption (Learn More)
- Allows audio playing from the device to be transcribed onto your display to easily follow along with the content.
- Only available in English as of now.
- Profanity filter can be enabled to prevent transcription, those words are instead replaced with an asterisk (*). Noises like applause and laughter are also capable of being labeled in the transcription.
- Integrates with volume control to easily enable and disable
- Caption your phone calls.

Hearing Aids (Learn More)
- Can be paired via Bluetooth settings or in Accessibility:
  - Open your device's Settings app . Tap Accessibility Hearing aids Tap Continue Pair new device.
- Your phone will tell you that both left and right are active, in case multiple aids are needed.

Sound Amplifier (link)
- Your phone's microphone is used to boost certain sounds and limit background noise that can distract the user.
- Allows for clearer conversations.
- Only enabled when using headphones.
- App available via Google Play Store

Vision

Image of android accessibility talkback voice features screens

TalkBack
- Screen reader that allows the user to use gestures on the device and the device will read aloud the screen.
- Can be combined with Braille settings, including adding a Braille keyboard
- Notifications can be customized and read aloud to the user, such as low battery status or new messages.

Low Vision Tools
- Invert colors, contrast, increase text size, bold text are a few examples of what can be changed to help the display be more accessible to users.
- Zoom and screen magnifier are available to make screen text more visible and easier to read for users.

Lookout
- Use your phone's camera to identify objects nearby and even do a search for the object in question. This is also a method of live translating or copying text.
- Samsung has Bixby Vision, which is their version of Lookout. Nearby object searching offers Pinterest results of the objects.
- These features are accessed through the pre-installed camera app and typically found scrolling through photo, video, portrait, etc.

Reading Mode for Android
- Allows changes of the screen you're viewing to customize the layout in a more comfortable and easy to view reading mode.
- Can be used to read aloud the new layout of text to further assist in following along with the text.
- App is available via Google Play Store.

Mobility

Voice Access (Sound Amplifier)
- Another feature of Sound Amplifier is allowing the user to control their device all through voice.
- Prompts the user with numbered options to tell the device what to select on the screen.

Action Blocks
- Essentially another term for Shortcuts, these are widgets that are displayed on the device's home screen that will perform whatever action is created.
  - Examples include calling somebody without dialing the number or opening the phone app or opening a specific URL on Chrome.
- Can be setup to say something aloud on the speaker of the device, such as “Hi, my name is ____” to assist with speech disabilities.
- App is available via Google Play Store.

Camera Switches (link)
- Uses facial gestures using the front camera or adding external devices to control the phone.
- App is available via Google Play Store.

Project Activate
- Uses facial gestures for those who have a speech disability or handicap to communicate to others on their device.
- Set-up preset responses with specific facial gestures that can be customized, such as smiling or looking up.
- App will walk the user through setting up the presets in the settings.
- Very simplified and is suited more towards quick actions such as specific phrases. It would take a long time to set up several phrases or actions using this app.
- App available via Google Play Store.

Look to Speak
- Has preset commands that can be utilized with eye tracking. User would look in the suggested direction for the phrase they wish to use.
- Customizable phrases.
- Great for caregivers when asking basic questions
- App is available via Google Play Store.

More Android accessibility information