Android 13 will natively support braille displays, another step towards accessibility.
Like every year, tech giants Google and Apple are hard at work on the next major version of their mobile operating system. Mountain View made some mention of the latest, Android 13, during their annual I/O developer conference. Opportunity to learn the main directions of development for this year. Availability will remain.
Android 13 will natively support Braille displays
Android already has a number of features for braille input, but Google is about to take another big step with Android 13. As the I/O conference hinted at, Android 13 will begin offering native support for a braille screen through the company’s TalkBack feature. You won’t need to download the BrailleBack app to use the physical inputs instead of the virtual keyboard.
You’ll have access to many of TalkBack’s features, from interface navigation to shortcuts to simple tasks like text messaging. New keyboard shortcuts are designed specifically for braille displays, such as moving to the next line in a document or copying text.
Another step towards accessibility
Support for Braille displays will arrive in the upcoming Android 13 beta, which is expected within “several weeks”. This should allow people with more or less severe visual impairments to use the phone without using voice commands. And at the same time, it should make smartphones much more practical for people with hearing impairments who can’t rely on audio devices.
So it’s an extra step in the right direction to make our smartphones real daily companions for everyone, not just the lucky ones who can make full use of their five senses.