Google Accessibility Updates: New Features and Programs

Google enhances accessibility features across its products, empowering users with disabilities through innovative tools and resources.

### Enhancements in Accessibility: Google’s Latest Updates
* 🎤 Laura Allen, Head of Strategy & Programs for Accessibility & Disability Inclusion at Google, introduces the latest accessibility updates in this episode of "**What's New in Google Accessibility**."
* 🌍 The Google Accessibility Trusted Tester program is expanding from the US and Canada to the UK, allowing testers to **provide feedback on new products to improve accessibility for all users**.
* 📱 The Pixel camera-based app Magnifier has been launched to assist blind and low-vision users with **zooming and adjusting contrast**, designed in collaboration with the **Royal National Institute of Blind People** and the **National Federation of the Blind**.
* 📸 Guided Frame 2.0, an AI-powered camera feature, helps users **capture photos using audio cues and haptic feedback**, now recognizing not just faces but also **pets and documents**, available on Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro.
* 🗺 Google Maps introduces new screen reader capabilities and accessible walking routes, making navigation **easier for individuals using mobility aids**, and includes a new “**disabled-owned business**” attribute to support businesses owned by people with disabilities.
* 🔧 Android users can now customize Google Assistant Routines with **personalized images and captions**, enhancing usability for those with **cognitive differences**.
* 🔍 Chrome has improved accessibility with a feature that **detects typos in the address bar**, now available on Android and iOS, making it **easier for users with dyslexia and language learners** to navigate the web.
* 📬 To stay updated on accessibility improvements, viewers are encouraged to **sign up for the accessibility newsletter** at g.co/a11y/news.

[light music plays] [host speaking] What’s New in Accessibility at Google. Hi, everyone! It's Laura Allen again, Head of Strategy & Programs for Accessibility & Disability Inclusion here at Google. Welcome back to another episode of What's New in Google Accessibility, a series where, every few months, we tell you about new ways that we're making our products and features more accessible for everyone. In this episode, we'll talk about accessibility updates coming to Pixel, Maps, Search, Chrome, and more. First up, we're growing the Google Accessibility Trusted Tester program. For years, our program has been available in the US and Canada. Now we're expanding to the United Kingdom. Accessibility Trusted Testers have the opportunity to try out new Google products before the broader public and share their feedback directly with our user experience researchers. Trusted testers play a vital role in helping us build products that work for everyone. If you're interested in being a Trusted Tester,

you can learn more at g.co/a11ytt. And if you're located outside of the US, Canada, or the UK, you can still sign up for user research at google.com/userresearch. In Pixel News, we released some exciting updates and features to support people in the blind and low vision community. Magnifier is a Pixel camera-based app that allows you to zoom in on something like you would using a physical magnifying glass. You can also adjust the contrast color filters and brighten the camera based on your vision needs. The app is designed in collaboration with trusted partners at the Royal National Institute of Blind People and the National Federation of the Blind. Magnifier can be useful in a lot of different situations, like when you're reading a menu in a dimly lit restaurant, or viewing street signs at a distance, or even zooming in on a concert main stage from far away. As somebody who has low vision, I can honestly say that I've been using this app almost daily, and I found it so useful.

Magnifier is available on Google Play for Pixel 5 or higher, excluding the Pixel Fold. In more Pixel news, we recently released Guided Frame 2.0 - the newest version of our AI-powered camera feature that aims to help blind and low-vision users like me capture selfies with a combination of precise audio cues, high-contrast animations, and haptic feedback. Now, Guided Frame recognizes more than just faces. With the 2.0 version, you can use your front and rear-facing camera to take photos of your pets, your dinner, or even your documents. This update is already available on Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro and is rolling out to more models soon. To learn more, check out the video we created with Lachi, a recording artist and cultural activist who identifies as blind. [voice assistant] 3.2.1 Photo taken. She demos Guided Frame and explains what this feature means to her and to others in the blind community.

We'll link to the full video in our YouTube notes. On Maps, we've launched new features that make some daily tasks easier and more accessible. First, we released new screen reader capabilities that pair with Lens in Maps. Lens in Maps uses AI and augmented reality to help people discover new places and orient themselves in an unfamiliar neighborhood. Now, if your screen reader is enabled, you can tap the camera icon in the search bar, lift your phone, and you'll receive auditory feedback about the places around you. [voice assistant] Restaurant Conais. Fine dining. 190 feet. Like ATMs, restaurants, or transit stations. And that includes helpful information like the name and type of the place or thing and how far away it is. We're also adding accessible walking routes to Google Maps on iOS and Android to serve as step-free directions. Accessible walking routes can be helpful for people who use wheelchairs, crutches, or other mobility aids.

as well as for people who are traveling with luggage or strollers. This feature was already available for transit directions, but now you can search for step-free walking routes all around the world just by toggling on “wheelchair-accessible” under route options. Another feature we're really excited about is our new “disabled-owned business” attribute. It makes it easier for you to find and support businesses owned by people with disabilities. When businesses based in the US choose to identify as “disabled-owned” in their business profile, the attribute will appear in their listings on Maps and Search. This builds on our existing business attributes which include Asian-owned, Black-owned, Indigenous-owned, Latino-owned, LGBTQ+ owned, veteran-owned, and women-owned. On Android, we've added a new way to customize Assistant Routines. Routines help you access information and customize your daily tasks using the Google Assistant. You can now customize your Routines’ home screen shortcuts.

by adding your own images, captions, and by adjusting the size of the shortcut. Research has shown that personalization like this can be particularly helpful for people with cognitive differences and disabilities. We hope that this makes Assistant Routines helpful for even more people. Last but not least, on Chrome, we've made it more efficient to search with the Chrome address bar. Earlier this year, we introduced a new feature in the Chrome address bar on desktop that detects typos and displays suggested websites based on what Chrome thinks you meant. This can improve accessibility for people with dyslexia, language learners, and anyone who makes typos by making it easier to get to previously visited websites, despite spelling errors. We've now expanded this feature to Chrome on Android and iOS, so you have the same experience across all your devices. Thanks for tuning in to another episode of What's New in Google Accessibility. We hope you've enjoyed learning about some of our latest efforts.

to improve our accessibility products and features. If you want to learn more, sign up for our accessibility newsletter at g.co/a11y/news or by clicking the link in the description of this video. Until next time! What's New in Accessibility at Google

What’s new in Google accessibility | Episode 4

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Google is expanding its Accessibility Trusted Tester program to the UK, allowing more people to provide feedback on new products.

The Pixel's Magnifier app has been launched to support the blind and low vision community, offering features like zooming, contrast color filters, and camera brightness adjustments.

The app, developed in collaboration with the Royal National Institute of Blind People and the National Federation of the Blind, aims to assist users in various situations, such as reading menus or viewing distant signs.

New Accessibility Features on Pixel Devices and Google Maps

The Magnifier app is now available on Google Play for Pixel 5 and higher, excluding the Pixel Fold.

0, an AI-powered camera feature, now helps users capture photos of not just faces but also pets, food, and documents, and is rolling out to more Pixel models.

Google Maps has introduced new screen reader capabilities and is adding accessible walking routes to provide step-free directions for users with mobility aids.

Google Maps now offers step-free walking route searches worldwide and introduces a "disabled-owned business" attribute for easier support.

Android users can customize Assistant Routines' home screen shortcuts, aiding those with cognitive differences.

Chrome's typo detection and website suggestion feature has been expanded to Android and iOS, improving accessibility for users across all devices.

Google is working to improve its accessibility products and features.

Interested individuals can sign up for the accessibility newsletter at g.

co/a11y/news or through the video description link.

The company is committed to making its products more accessible for everyone.