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How to search your iPhone in iOS 16

There are two easy ways to open the Search screen on your iPhone. The Search feature can help you find data and apps on your device, as well as quickly search the internet.

To use the first option presented below, you will first need to update to iOS 16. Here’s how to use the Search function, sometimes called the smart search bar, on your iPhone:

From your unlocked Home screen, simply tap the Search button located in the center of the screen, toward the bottom just above the dock. This option is available in iOS 16. read more

Wimbledon trials 5G headsets for visually impaired tennis fans

Wimbledon, known for its rich tradition and captivating matches, is taking a significant step towards inclusivity. In a groundbreaking move, the prestigious tennis tournament is trialing Vodafone 5G powered GiveVision headsets on Centre Court and No.1 Court. This innovative technology allows visually impaired fans to experience live tennis in a whole new way, breaking down barriers and creating opportunities for greater enjoyment.

How is Wimbledon incorporating 5G technology for visually impaired tennis fans?

By harnessing the power of 5G technology, Wimbledon is offering visually impaired fans a remarkable opportunity. The GiveVision headsets stream live footage from local TV cameras over 5G, while also enhancing the visuals to suit each individual’s sight profile. Through this groundbreaking initiative, visually impaired spectators can immerse themselves in the thrill of the game, watching the action unfold from anywhere within the crowd. read more

How to show Battery Percentage on your iPhone

How to show Battery Percentage on your iPhone

Whether it’s important to you to be able to see exactly what percentage your iPhone’s battery is on at any given moment, or you’re attempting to track and preserve your iPhone’s battery usage, showing the battery percentage in the battery icon can be helpful.

Open the Settings app, and select Battery.

Toggle Battery Percentage to on. It will be green when enabled.
You will now see the battery percentage in your battery icon.

If you have an iPhone X or later, you should be able to see the percentage of your iPhone battery. read more

Samsung TVs introduce significant accessibility with SeeColors Mode

Samsung has recently introduced a significant accessibility upgrade to its lineup of TVs and computer monitors. This article aims to provide an overview of Samsung’s latest initiative, highlighting the key features of the newly introduced SeeColors mode.

Which Samsung TV and monitor models will support the SeeColors feature?

Samsung’s SeeColors mode will be added to the 2023 lineup of Neo QLED TVs, QLED TVs, and OLED TVs. Furthermore, it will be available on Samsung’s smart monitors, as well as the Samsung G95SC gaming monitor.

What does the “Color Vision Accessibility” certification signify for Samsung?

The renowned organization TÜV Rheinland has awarded Samsung with the “Color Vision Accessibility” certification for its SeeColors feature. This certification acknowledges Samsung’s commitment to enhancing accessibility for individuals with color blindness or color-related vision impairments. read more

How to use Apple Music’s Karaoke Mode

Apple Music has a new feature called Apple Music Sing. This fun feature allows you to sing along to your favourite songs, whether you’re alone or with friends and family. If you subscribe to Apple Music, this cool new feature uses machine learning algorithms to separate a song’s vocals and background music in real time. As a result, you will be able to adjust the volume of the vocals so you can only focus on your voice.

Note: You need to have an iPhone 11 or later, an iPad Pro (3rd generation and later), an iPad Air (4th generation and later), an iPad mini (6th generation), an iPad (9th generation or later), or Apple TV 4K (2022) to do karaoke on Apple Music. Also, you must have an active Apple Music subscription. read more

These apps empower visually impaired users with virtual labels and image exploration

Visually impaired individuals can now leverage the power of two apps, developed by a team at the University of Michigan, to enhance their everyday experiences using iPhones. These apps, VizLens and ImageExplorer, provide valuable features such as virtual labels for control panels and the ability to explore images through touch and audio feedback.

How does VizLens enable visually impaired users to interact with control panels?

VizLens acts as a real-world screen reader, allowing users to read labels on control panels by pointing at buttons of interest using their fingers. By utilizing smartphone cameras, users can comprehend and operate various interfaces found in their surroundings, including home appliances and public kiosks. By taking a picture of an interface, VizLens employs optical character recognition to automatically detect text labels. Users familiarize themselves with the layout on their smartphone touchscreen and can then move their finger across the physical control panel, with the app vocalizing the button beneath their finger. read more

How to add a website to your Home Screen

If you have a favourite website you use daily, consider adding the website to your Home Screen on iPhone or iPad. This is perfect for quickly accessing a website without needing to enter the URL in Safari each time. You can bookmark the website to a Home Screen icon that looks just like an app and opens just as easily.

How to add a website to your Home Screen:

Open the website in Safari, and select the Share icon at the bottom of your screen.

Select Add to Home Screen.

Name the icon and select Add in the top right corner.

The website will appear like any other app icon on your Home Screen. read more

Cal State Fullerton develops Assistive Glasses for people with vision loss

Cal State Fullerton computer engineering students have developed “Assistive Glasses,” a hands-free wearable technology device. The glasses can help people with visual impairments detect and identify often-used objects — something a guide dog cannot always do.

Class of 2023 graduates Jeremy Chang, Abel Desoto and Rodney Nobles and their faculty adviser Kiran George, professor of computer engineering, partnered with the Dayle McIntosh Center for the Disabled in Anaheim.

What technologies does the prototype use?

The prototype uses smart technologies, including artificial intelligence, machine learning, voice recognition and a bone conduction speaker, which leaves the ear canal open, unlike traditional headphones. Desoto explained that the speakers are close to the ear and in contact with the head to amplify noise by vibrating directly on the bones. read more

How to enable Google Assistant’s two new speaking styles

Google has announced the addition of two new voices for the Google Assistant. These two new voices, Lime and Indigo are for United States English users.

Google Assistant’s Lime is a male voice and Indigo is a female voice, which joins the ten other voices currently available. These voices are namely Red (default), Orange, Amber, Green, Cyan, Blue, Purple, Pink, British Racing Green, and Sydney Harbor Blue.

To change the voice of Google Assistant, users can say, “Hey Google, change your voice.” This command works across smart speakers and smart displays, users will need to listen to each voice individually and pick from there. read more

New haptic system guides people with vision loss

Clipped to a walking frame, wheelchair or white cane, Dornell is a smart handle for sight-impaired users which sends tiny vibrations to the hand to indicate the direction to take or the presence of obstacles. The fruit of previous research in robotics for inclusion, this project is currently the subject of an INRIA Challenge to introduce new haptic technologies and solve scientific issues linked to multisensory perception, says the French research institute Inria in a press release.

“When we walk, touch is the sense we use least. This makes it available for sending messages to the person walking. Hence our idea to generate feelings on the skin with tiny vibrations to guide disabled people,” says Marie Babel, who alongside Claudio Pacchierotti co-heads the INRIA Challenge Dornell, a transversal research initiative involving three of the Institute’s teams. Marie Babel has worked extensively on steering aids for wheelchairs. The new technological brick will add haptic feedback to previously developed systems. Around twenty researchers, doctoral students, engineers and technicians are involved in the project. read more

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