Apple’s Sarah Herrlinger: Accessibility is a Human Right at Lisbon 2024

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Apple’s Sarah Herrlinger: Accessibility is a Human Right at Lisbon 2024

At a recent event in Lisbon, Ms. Sarah Herrlinger shared insights into Apple’s four-decade journey in making technology accessible for everyone. Highlighting the company’s core belief in accessibility as a fundamental human right, she emphasized their commitment to integrating accessibility features directly into their products’ core design, rather than as afterthoughts.

Ms. Herrlinger illustrated how Apple leverages AI and machine learning to drive impactful accessibility features. She showcased innovations like eye tracking, built directly into iOS and iPadOS, enabling users to control devices with their eyes, eliminating the need for expensive third-party accessories. She also highlighted Sound Recognition, which uses on-device machine learning to alert users of important sounds like doorbells, sirens, and even a crying baby, customized to individual needs.

Emphasizing that accessibility drives innovation for all, Ms. Herrlinger discussed AssistiveTouch for Apple Watch, allowing users with limb differences to control the device with hand gestures. She also introduced features like Vehicle Motion Cues, which use animations to reduce motion sickness, and Music Haptics, allowing deaf and hard-of-hearing users to feel music through vibrations.

Addressing the stigma surrounding hearing loss, Ms. Herrlinger unveiled a groundbreaking hearing experience with AirPods Pro 2. This includes features for noise reduction, a built-in hearing test, and hearing aid software capabilities, all within a product many already use. Ms. Herrlinger concluded by reaffirming Apple’s commitment to collaborating with the disability community, ensuring their products meet the needs of everyone, embodying the mantra “nothing about us without us.”