Using the Apple Watch by gestures and more accessibility controls

Adjustments for vision problems

Within all the Accessibility settings that we are going to talk about, we want to start with the vision settings, which is perhaps where users have the most possibilities of being able to modify and adapt the use of the Apple Watch to their needs, since it is just one of the problems that can most hinder its use. To access all the settings you have to, on your Apple Watch, go to Settings> General> Accessibility> Vision.

voice over

The first vision-related accessibility feature to keep in mind is VoiceOver. It’s about a integrated screen reader, which will transmit everything that happens inside your Apple Watch, and will allow you to move around it. This available in up to 37 languagesdifferent, and of course it is compatible with all the native applications of the Cupertino company. To activate it, you just have to press the Digital Crown three times.

One feature you can also use if you decide to use VoiceOver on Apple Watch is the screen curtain. The moment you activate it, what it does is turn off the screen, but the device, and navigation throughout the system through VoiceOver, remains fully activated. To be able to activate the screen curtain you just have to follow the following steps.

1. On iPhone, open the Apple Watch app.
2. Click on “My watch”.
3. Tap Accessibility > VoiceOver > Screen Curtain.
4. To disable it, follow the same steps we just described.

zoom in

Another of the tools available to all users with vision problems is Zoom. In this case, the operation is very simple, and it is about enlarge any part of the screen to be able to see it in a better way. In fact, it allows you to enlarge the original size up to 15 times in order to adapt to different types of visual impairment.

For travel you can use the Digital Crown, scrolling through the screen from row to row or even using two fingers to scroll across the screen. Without a doubt, it is a very suitable way to be able to see everything much better, facilitating and improving the experience that many users have with the Apple Watch.

Other Featured Controls

In addition to VoiceOver and Zoom, there are other tools that are also very interesting to improve the experience that users with vision problems have when using the Apple Watch. I/O tags are a series of labels that are added to the buttons so that users can see if they are activated or not more easily.

Another setting that you have to keep in mind is the function Grayscale, which is intended to help all users for whom color can hinder visibility, yes, once you apply it, it will be established throughout the system. You can also use bold textto make it look darker throughout the system, or even, you can combine it with the text sizewhich you can modify according to your needs.

In addition, Apple also gives the possibility of reduce movement on the screen, making some elements of the screen simpler and more directly associated with the gestures that are made. Just as you can reduce background transparency of various elements such as alerts, Siri or Glances. Finally, another function that you also have to value is that of using a extra large dialwhich allows you to see the time more easily given the size that its numbers acquire.

Adjustments for hearing problems

Once you know the settings that can be used to improve the accessibility and use of the Apple Watch for people with vision problems, it’s time to do the same with those users who have hearing problems, and be able to offer them the best possible experience with the apple watch.

Turn on mono audio

Some people have Difficulty hearing clearly in both ears at the same time, having problems in one of them, so they may not be able to perceive all the sound at the time they use Bluetooth headphones next to the Apple Watch. This is due to the fact that the stereo recordings of many tracks cause that when it comes to playing, the same is not heard through the left earphone as through the right.

However, this has a very simple solution that Apple provides to all users, and that is mono audio. This consists of making both the right earphone and the left earphone reproduce exactly the same thing. It will even allow you to adjust the balance to increase the volume in one of the two ears. In order to do this you have to go to the Apple Watch app, click on “My watch”, click on General> Accessibility> Mono audio.

Make the Apple Watch vibrate in a special way

One of the main functions of the sounds within the Apple Watch is to notify the owner of the different notifications that are entering it. Obviously, for people who are hard of hearing, it can be much more difficult to hear these sounds clearly, and in order to alleviate this in some way, Apple provides the Taptic Engine and the special vibration.

When you receive a notification on Apple Watch, the Taptic Engine feature makes it so that you also receive a gentle touch on the wrist. In addition, you can also activate the Vibration notifications or activate the Special Vibration for receive pre-announcements of common alerts. To do this you have to go to Settings> Sounds and vibrations.

write by hand

In the event that you are not using the voice dictation function and also cannot find the smart answer when replying to a message, you can always reply hand writing the letters on the screenso that later the Apple Watch itself is able to convert all of it to text. To be able to send a message or reply with Write by hand, follow the steps below.

1. On Apple Watch, open a text message or email.
2. Scroll to the bottom of the message.
3. Tap the Handwrite icon.
4. With one finger, write the answer.
5. Tap Send in the top right corner of the screen.

Adjustments for motor problems

Finally, it’s time to talk about features that users with impaired physical and motor skills can use to get the most out of Apple Watch. This is equipped with fitness algorithms and sensors that have been designed for assist wheelchair users to more accurately track all your activity.

To do this, the Apple Watch has wheelchair mode, so when activated, the iPhone keeps track of how many times the user pushes the chair instead of counting steps, thus registering different types of pushes, speeds and terrain. Additionally, the Boosts goal will also be enabled in the Activity app, instead of the Standing goal.

wheelchair sports

But this does not end here, within the Training application, wheelchair users have two exclusive training options, which are Wheelchair Walk and Wheelchair Run. In this way, you only have to select one of these two types of training and the Apple Watch will start using the appropriate sensors to record it. In order to activate the health and fitness features designed for wheelchair activity, you need to edit the wheelchair preferences in the Health section of the Apple Watch app, which you can do by following the steps below.

1. Open the Apple Watch app.
2. Tap Health.
3. Click “Edit” in the top right corner.
4. Click on Wheelchair.
5. Select Yes.
6. Tap OK in the top right corner.