Google and Xbox Announce New Accessibility Features

Google and Xbox have both detailed today the rollout of various new accessibility features. On the Google side, Search, Chrome, Google Assistant, and the Pixel Camera app are all getting new accessibility updates, but Google Maps is probably the app that’s getting the biggest changes.

Google Announces 8 new accessibility features

Businesses on Google Maps and Google Search can now identify as disabled-owned. Google already implemented other attributes for businesses owned by people of color, veterans, women, and people who identify as LGBTQ+.

Google Maps is also adding wheelchair-accessible options for walking routes, as well as Wheelchair accessibility info on Maps for Android Auto and Android Automotive. Lens in Maps, the feature previously known as Search with Live View, is also adding screen reader support.

In Google Assistant, users are getting more options to customize routines, which are used to automate multiple actions with a single command. Google Assistant now lets users choose different shortcut styles with a custom size and image for their routines, which can help to them more easily recognizable on the home screen.

Chrome for iOS and Android is also getting a feature that detects typos in the address bar to suggest websites based on what users typed. This feature is already available on the desktop, and it can be especially useful for people with dyslexia.

Google also highlighted how its Magnifier app, which is available on Pixel 5 and newer models, can zoom in up to 30x to help people with low vision read small text or identify details in their environment. Guided Frame, a Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro feature that can identify what’s in front of the camera will also roll out to Pixel 6+ devices later this year.

New Xbox accessibility updates

Microsoft also announced a couple of accessibility updates today, starting with a new “Accessibility in Games” channel on the Xbox Store. This new channel will display all games with accessibility feature tags, and Xbox players can filter games based on various accessibility features (gameplay, audio, etc.).

On Windows 11, the Game Bar is getting a new “Game accessibility” settings menu. There, players will be able to find visual and audio-related accessibility controls such as speech-to-text and text-to-speech.

On Xbox consoles, the September update introduced the ability to pair Xbox controllers right from the Xbox Accessories app, without the need to press the console’s Pair button. Microsoft is currently testing with Xbox Insiders the ability to remap controller buttons to almost 90 keyboard keys. These remapping options will only be available on the Xbox Adaptive Controller and Elite Series 2 within the Xbox Accessories app.