I’m really surprised there’s not more discussion about Assistice Access mode. It’s designed for people who have cognitive disabilities, but I see a lot of potential for people who want a minimal experience and for reducing distractions. Link to more info - https://www.macrumors.com/2023/05/16/apple-previews-ios-17-accessibility-features/
I’m running the release candidate and have been switching into Assistive Access mode when I want to force myself to stop playing with my phone; I have the basic apps, plus Spotify, Google Maps and WhatsApp enabled, but no email or Safari. When I try to open a web link in WhatsApp, it just doesn’t do anything - which is exactly what I want sometimes.
However, there are a few fairly big issues…
Notifications - the very simple badge is great, but it doesn’t seem to make a noise when I get a new WhatsApp. Phone calls do get alerts, not sure about SMS/iMessage since I never get any!
Phone app - it’s too simplified, a call log is a basic requirement.
Messages app - I seem to have to go to ‘other’ before I access my recent messages, then there’s no way to reply (ie no keyboard). I guess this is a bug?
Settings - it seems like WiFi isn’t used in this mode, though you can’t see your signal. That’s a problem, since I get very poor signal at home and rely on WiFi calling. When I exit the mode, my phone is never connected to WiFi and I have to manually reconnect - seems like a bug.
FaceID - doesn't seem to work (maybe intentionally?) and autocomplete of passwords doesn’t either (the keyboard lets you select the username, but then the Face ID prompt doesn’t appear and so it never gets filled in).
Overall, I love the concept, but my two use cases it doesn’t quite work for - my elderly relative still using a ‘dumbpone’ would need alerts for texts and a call log. My use to switch off almost works, but really needs WiFi to work and FaceID (for online banking, for example). I’d also love to reduce the size of the ‘back’ button, though appreciate why it is how it is.
I don’t know if developers can have an adapted version of their app to run in this mode (like first party apps) - would be great if so.
Anyone else played about with this? Using it? Any other thoughts?
I’m running the release candidate and have been switching into Assistive Access mode when I want to force myself to stop playing with my phone; I have the basic apps, plus Spotify, Google Maps and WhatsApp enabled, but no email or Safari. When I try to open a web link in WhatsApp, it just doesn’t do anything - which is exactly what I want sometimes.
However, there are a few fairly big issues…
Notifications - the very simple badge is great, but it doesn’t seem to make a noise when I get a new WhatsApp. Phone calls do get alerts, not sure about SMS/iMessage since I never get any!
Phone app - it’s too simplified, a call log is a basic requirement.
Messages app - I seem to have to go to ‘other’ before I access my recent messages, then there’s no way to reply (ie no keyboard). I guess this is a bug?
Settings - it seems like WiFi isn’t used in this mode, though you can’t see your signal. That’s a problem, since I get very poor signal at home and rely on WiFi calling. When I exit the mode, my phone is never connected to WiFi and I have to manually reconnect - seems like a bug.
FaceID - doesn't seem to work (maybe intentionally?) and autocomplete of passwords doesn’t either (the keyboard lets you select the username, but then the Face ID prompt doesn’t appear and so it never gets filled in).
Overall, I love the concept, but my two use cases it doesn’t quite work for - my elderly relative still using a ‘dumbpone’ would need alerts for texts and a call log. My use to switch off almost works, but really needs WiFi to work and FaceID (for online banking, for example). I’d also love to reduce the size of the ‘back’ button, though appreciate why it is how it is.
I don’t know if developers can have an adapted version of their app to run in this mode (like first party apps) - would be great if so.
Anyone else played about with this? Using it? Any other thoughts?
