Google adds accessibility apps for people with disabilities

On the occasion of the 9th Global Accessibility Awareness Day, Google has released Action Blocks, an Android app that uses Google Assistant to launch actions by pressing home shortcuts. In addition to the above, Google has also released a series of updates on AI-powered accessibility tools like Live Transcribe and Sound Amplifier.

Action Blocks works on Android 5.0 and above in English, can be linked to any Google Assistant action. In fact, they can be configured to do whatever Google Assistant can do, including (but not limited to) queuing for shows, controlling connected lights, asking for slideshows or calling support. a family member.

Google also updated the Live Transcribe feature, providing real-time text-to-speech transcriptions for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Live Transcribe can now set a user's phone to vibrate when someone nearby says their name; accept custom names or terms for different locations and entities not often found in the dictionary; and search within 3 days of valuable conversations stored locally on the device. In addition, the language of support has expanded to Albanian, Burmese, Estonian, Macedonian, Mongolian, Persian and Uzbek.

Google's Sound Amplifier feature also has many new updates to support voice controls on Android devices.

These moves are aimed at maximizing the support of people with disabilities that are limited with exposure to modern technology. Google confirms that AI use plays an important role in overcoming this limitation. In addition, companies such as Microsoft and Amazon have invested heavily in AI to improve access to technology and many other intelligent needs of people with disabilities.