Bloomberg Line — Apple has officially unveiled its long-awaited iOS 18, bringing a host of new accessibility features aimed at making its devices more inclusive.
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The most notable is Eye Tracking functiontechnology that allows users to control their iPhone or iPad using only their eyes, marking a significant leap in accessibility.
The eye tracking feature in iOS 18 uses artificial intelligence and takes advantage of the front camera to configure and calibrate the device so that the user navigates between the elements on the screen simply by changing their gaze.
To select an item, users use the permanence control functionwhich activates an item after a preset amount of time spent looking at it.
Although currently It is in beta phase and experiencing some bugsthis feature is expected to improve with new updates, the company explained.
In addition to eye tracking, iOS 18 features other accessibility improvements:
- Music Haptics: This feature adds haptic feedback to audio, providing vibrations and textures that sync with the Apple Music catalog.
- Voice shortcuts: An extension of voice command functionality, designed to assist people with speech disabilities by offering more refined voice command options.
How to set up eye tracking in iOS 18
To enable eye tracking on your iPhone, follow these steps:
- Place your iPhone on a stable platform near your face, about 18 inches away.
- Make sure your device is running the iOS 18 beta.
- In the Settings app, select Accessibility and then Eye Tracking in the Motor – Accessibility section.
- Activate the function by activating it and participate in the calibration exercise, guiding a colorful circle with your gaze. Upon completing this configuration, you enter Dwell Control.
- By focusing your eyes steadily on one point, you can interact without touching it. Customize your experience by adjusting the Dwell Control settings found in the AssistiveTouch options.
- After calibration, you will notice a distinctive visual cue, a white outline, indicating your focused area or application. To select, just keep your gaze.
You can still enjoy traditional touchscreen features along with eye tracking.
In case the accuracy drops, reconfigure the settings with your iPhone placed on a stand and your face at a uniform distance for optimal responsiveness.
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