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Curtin University receives grant to investigate the impact of mobile apps on people with a disability

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An investigation by researchers at Curtin University into how mobile apps can support individuals with a disability has been awarded the 2016 Dr Louisa Alessandri Research Grant.

Someone using their smart phone maps app outside surrounded by leaves on the floor


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“Okay Google, turn on Voice Access”

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As part of its focus to make Android devices more accessible to people with disabilities, Google has launched Voice Access Beta, a new accessibility service that allows Android users to control all of the functionality of their device by voice alone.

Google Voice Access Beta Logo

The new app allows users to change settings, writing texts, scrolling to the end of a page, using the camera, contacts and more.  This will allow a greater inclusion to users unable to operate the touchscreen due to a disability.


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Uber's new accessibility features create job opportunities for Deaf and hearing impaired drivers

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Uber has recently improved its app’s accessibility for drivers who are Deaf or hearing impaired, removing communication barriers so that they can have an equal opportunity to become an Uber driver.

A man holding a phone with the Uber app displayed, standing in view of a busy road

What is Uber?

Uber is an online transportation network that allows consumers with smartphones to submit a trip request which is then routed to Uber drivers who use their own cars.


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Twitter supports alternative text for images sent via app

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Twitter has announced that images tweeted from its iOS and Android apps can now include alternative text, ensuring that users of assistive technologies such as screen readers can understand the nature of the visual content.

Two screen shots of the composer for Twitter on iOS. The first showing the new "Add description" button overlayed on an image thumbnail in the composer, and the second showing the composition of alt text for an image. Image credit: Twitter


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Blind Citizens Australia wraps up successful convention in Perth

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The Blind Citizens Australia (BCA) annual convention was held over the weekend at the Mercure hotel in Perth, with approximately 120 attendees discussing a range of issues.

Much of the focus related to the 40th anniversary of BCA with presentations and discussions relating to how products and services for people who are blind or vision impaired have progressed over that time, current issues both locally and internationally, and the significance of BCA in the future.


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Android Wear 5.1.1 includes long-awaited accessibility features

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The latest version of the Android Wear operating system version 5.1.1 includes several new accessibility features which allows wearable devices to become accessible for many users.

Accessibility icon highlighted in Android Wear 5.1.1 (under Location and above Screen Lock)

The new features are largely vision-related, with support for magnification, colour inversion and large text. The magnification feature can be accessed via specific gestures.

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Consumers encouraged to nominate accessible apps

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Users of mobile device apps have been encouraged to nominate their favourite accessible apps for the 2015 Apps For All Challenge.

App icons hovering above the screen of a tablet device. Image credit: ACCAN

The challenge, now in its second year, seeks to find Australia’s most accessible apps and encourage software developers to include digital accessibility when they create apps.


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Samsung boosts smartphone accessibility with Galaxy Talkback for the S6 and S6 Edge

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Samsung’s Galaxy S range of smartphones are due to receive a significant accessibility upgrade with the addition of Galaxy Talkback and several new features for Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge devices.

Two Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge devices stacked together. Image credit: TechStage via Flickr


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Audio description app trialled in the UK

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The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) has commenced a trial of a new app designed to deliver audio description for programs on video-on-demand services.

MovieReading logo

The app was developed by the Italian company Universal Multimedia Access, which also created the MovieReading app. This allows a caption file for a movie to be downloaded to a user’s smartphone or tablet, so that the captions can be watched as the movie screens in a cinema.

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Mobile device usage surges in Australia

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The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has released new research showing the growing use of tablet computers which, in turn, emphasises the need for improved mobile device accessibility.

Microsoft Surface tablet resting upright on a wooden surface


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