Apple recently released its new operating system iOS 7.1, available now for download via the over-the-air Software Update and iTunes. In its previous update, Apple made the biggest progress to date regarding accessibility in their software; now iOS 7.1 offers even more accessibility features, especially ones to benefit blind and low vision individuals.
New accessibility features in iOS 7.1 include:
1. An Accessibility option to turn on “Button Shapes,” intended to make buttons easier to distinguish from other text on the screen like icon labels.
2. Users now have three options to increase contrast the screen instead of a single Toggle. The three options involve reducing transparency, darkening colors and reducing white point (to help those who suffer from glare.)
3. When users enable the Bold Text option now, it thickens both the icons and the text on iOS labels. It also changes the fonts used in the keyboard and the calculator.
4. Offers a Reduce Motion option which affects Apple’s Weather app, Messages and multitasking animations.
5. New wallpapers which may make finding images and text easier for low-vision users.
6. Individuals can also alter speech rates for each language on the language rotor.
