Apple partners with BCI developers to expand accessibility
Apple’s work with Synchron enables brain signal-based control of iPhone, iPad, and Vision Pro through new BCI integration.
Apple has announced a new set of accessibility features arriving later this year, including a breakthrough initiative that allows users to control their devices using brain signals. The company also plans to streamline its Personal Voice tool and expand accessibility support across its platforms.
In partnership with Brain Computer Interface (BCI) developers like Synchron, Apple is working to enable users to navigate iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Vision Pro using neural input.
Synchron’s device, called the Stentrode, is a stent-like implant placed in a vein near the brain’s motor cortex via a minimally invasive procedure. It reads brain signals and translates them into commands for digital interfaces.
The Wall Street Journal reports that Apple is building system-level support for BCIs in iOS 19 and visionOS 3, including a new protocol compatible with Switch Control.
This will allow users to operate Apple devices without physical interaction, an innovation aimed at supporting individuals with conditions such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
One early tester of the technology, Mark Jackson, who has ALS, described using his Stentrode in conjunction with Apple’s Vision Pro headset to virtually explore environments like the Swiss Alps.
While Jackson noted limitations in cursor control and speed, the collaboration marks a significant step forward in assistive technology.
In addition to brain control support, iOS 19 will enhance Apple’s Personal Voice feature, originally introduced in iOS 17. This feature enables users at risk of losing their speech to create a personalised synthetic voice.
Previously, the tool required users to record 150 phrases and process them overnight. In iOS 19, the process has been reduced to just 10 phrases, with the model processed in under a minute. Apple says the updated output will sound smoother and more natural.
Other upcoming accessibility features include a Magnifier app for Mac and App Store Nutrition Labels to help users assess the accessibility of third-party apps.
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