Google Launches a Series of New Features for People with Disabilities

Google's bafu feature for people with disabilities (photo: Google)

JAKARTA - Google has just launched a new accessibility feature that will make completing everyday tasks faster and easier, such as taking selfies, getting walking directions, or searching the web.

Identity Attributes for disabled-owned businesses

New identity attributes for the disability community are now available in Google Maps and Search. So, when an individual chooses to identify their business as disabled-owned, that attribute will appear on their business profile.

These attributes will give customers more details about a business and give sellers the option to identify themselves as members of the community.

Use screen reader capabilities with Lens in Maps

Lens in Maps (formerly known as Search with Live View) to help people find places around them, now also works for the blind or low vision with screen reader capabilities in Lens in Maps coming to iOS starting today, and on Android at the end of this year.

You just need to tap the camera icon in the search bar and pick up your phone. If a screen reader is enabled, you'll receive auditory feedback about places around you with useful information like the name and category of a place and how far away it is.

Walking route for wheelchair users

Google will roll out the option to request accessible walking routes for people in wheelchairs globally on iOS and Android. With this feature, you can get a stair-free route when asking for walking directions in Maps.

Additionally, Google will also bring information about wheelchair-accessible places to business and place pages in Maps for Android Auto and Google-equipped cars, helping you travel with more confidence.

When you search for a place on Google Maps and click on it, a wheelchair icon will appear if the destination has a stairless entrance, accessible toilets, parking or seating.

Search faster in Chrome's address bar

To help dyslexics, earlier this year, Google introduced a new feature in Chrome's address bar that detects typos and displays websites suggested by Chrome according to what the user intended. Now, this feature is expanding to Chrome on Android and iOS.

A more accessible camera for Pixel

Sometimes, people like to use cameras to see the world around them better. With Magnifier, you can use the camera to magnify something just like using a physical magnifying glass. Magnifier is now available on Google Play for Pixel 5 and up, excluding Pixel Fold.

Finally, earlier this month Google also launched the latest version of Guided Frame, which uses a combination of audio cues, high-contrast animations, and haptic (tactile) feedback to make it easier for blind or low-vision people to take beautiful selfies.

With this update, Guided Frame now recognizes more than just faces, so you can use the front and rear cameras to take photos of pets, or even documents. This update is already available on the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro and rolling out to the Pixel 6+ later this year.