Apple Stores to Begin Selling Accessibility Accessories in Early 2016

[MacRumors]

Apple is rumored to begin selling accessibility-related accessories and peripherals in its retail stores sometime in early 2016. The report, from Mac Otakara [Google Translate], states that the new iOS- and OS X-supported devices will go on sale between January and March of next year.

No specific hint was given as to what kind of peripherals users can expect to find within an Apple Store once accessibility products go on sale at the company's retail locations. Apple has been a big supporter of accessibility on the software side for years now, offering features such as Grayscale, AssistiveTouch, VoiceOver, accessibility shortcuts, and more.

Apple's various accessibility efforts even earned it the Helen Keller Achievement Award from the American Foundation for the Blind back in May.

Article Link: Apple Stores to Begin Selling Accessibility Accessories in Early 2016

 

[SteveJobs2.0]

Nothing wrong with having more individuals being able to use smartphones despite physical and mental limitations.

 

[Abazigal]

Even Google is not turning up any examples of what such accessories might entail. This will be interesting.

 

[navaira]

Will there be an accessory that makes the Calendar display larger text with more contrast rather than tiny grey letters on white?

 

[happydude]

any push toward getting tech in the hands of everyone regardless of disability is always good. glad apple is pushing forward.

 

[Klae17]

Even Google is not turning up any examples of what such accessories might entail. This will be interesting.

This post is not about Android or Google or Samsung. Keep the thread positive!

 

[Mac Fly (film)]

Are they going to make their pricing more accessible? For iPad mini 3 you could purchase a Smart Case for €69 (not cheap), but now for the thinner iPad mini 4 you must purchase the silicone case (€69) and Smart Cover (€45) for a total of €114. Apple's stingy-ness knows no bounds.

Cue the Apple defenders—but you don't have to buy it. This is true. But now the customer much work to find a reliable case that fits. Apple knows this. Their position of power is becoming ever more like a position of greed.

 

[riverfreak]

Will there be an accessory that makes the Calendar display larger text with more contrast rather than tiny grey letters on white?

Revamping the entirety of iOS (post iOS 8) to make it less precious and arcane would be a huge benefit for accessibility. Ever seen an elderly person with even slightly reduced vision try to use iOS? It's a disaster.

 

[dysamoria]

Too bad iOS accessibility took a serious turn for the worst with iOS 7... But hey, it's popular among people that don't have design training, which is most people, so there mustn't be any actual problem.

 

[drumcat]

Accessibility is undervalued. It can often set forward improvements in standard use.

I loved the nod towards VoiceOver in the Xmas / Stevie Wonder commercial.

 

[doelcm82]

I'm glad Apple has acceded to sell accessibility accessories, and that they are not doing it accidentally.

 

[lombax54]

This post is not about Android or Google or Samsung. Keep the thread positive!

Pretty sure he or she meant Google Search did not show any results about what accessories Apple might be selling.

 

[steve knight]

My wife would love it. she has been using voiceover since the iPhone 4 I think. seems it gets buggier as it goes.

 

[Tycho24]

This post is not about Android or Google or Samsung. Keep the thread positive!

Dear God...
You are REALLY bad at comprehension.
When the op said "Google hasn't come up with examples of these accessories" he means that typing those words in the search engine called Google yields few results. Derp de derp derp derp.
How the hell you jumped to the ignorant conclusion that they were making ANY kind of of comment comparing Apple to Google, Android, or Samsung is beyond me.
You should go delete your comment.
It is seriously embarrassing to you.

Even more hilarious is the fact that this is obviously a really really really really really stupid comment made by someone confused & shooting from the hip without an inkling of understanding of what they're commenting on... yet somehow two different people "liked" this comment.
*smh*
Wow... this is a new low for internet posting.