No Need To Download Apps Anymore, Google Tries Braille Display Support On Android 13 Beta

Android will have native support for braille displays (Photo: Google)

JAKARTA - In the next few weeks, Google will start testing Braille display in Talkback for Android 13 Beta. As hinted at I/O '22, Android 13 will offer "out of the box" support for braille displays via the platform's Talkback screen reader.

"This device helps people who are deafblind access their phones and blind people use their phones discreetly," said Google Accessibility Analyst, Nimer Jaber in a Google blog, Thursday, May 19.

Previously, people connected their Android devices to a braille display using the BrailleBack app, which had to be downloaded separately from the Play Store, or using a virtual keyboard in Talkback instead of a physical device.

With this new update, there is no need for additional downloads. People can use the braille display to access many of the same features available with Talkback.

"For example, you can use the display buttons to navigate your screen and then perform activities such as composing an email, making a phone call, sending a text message, or reading a book."

There are also new shortcuts that make it easier to use the braille display with Talkback. Furthermore, there are now shortcuts for navigation that make it easier for users to scroll and move to the next character, word or line.

There are also shortcuts for setting and editing, such as jumping to the end of the document or selecting, copying and pasting. You can sign up for the Android beta program to try Talkback 13 in the next beta release.