Google has added some very useful accessibility features into the Android OS over the years and Voice Access is one of them. The company launched Voice Access back in 2018 as an Android app that people can use to control their phone using their voice. This feature gives the ability to use your phone hands-free and is much helpful to people with motor disabilities. Google supercharged Voice Access with the launch of Android 11 but it is now bringing those additional features to older Android versions. The company has started rolling out an updated version of Voice Access that is now available globally to all devices running Android 6.0 and above.
Starting December 3, the new and updated version of Voice Access has started coming to older version Android phones in beta. This version brings a refreshed interface and the power of machine learning to make it easier to use voice to control your phone. Here’s what the new update brings to Voice Access.
New Android Voice Access Features
With the power of Google AI and a new refreshed interface, the Voice Access app makes it easier for people to control their phones with their voice. Previously, the app had a confusing view as it would draw numbers against items on the page. But now, the tech giant has updated the app, and users can ask for labels instead of numbers. For example, you previously could say commands like “tap 1,” “scroll down on 6,” and so on. Now, you can use optional label overlays, which you can summon by saying “Show Labels” and “Hide Labels” as you need them.
Apart from this, the update also adds new commands to help users do things faster in their favorite apps. So you can now simply say “search for pop music” on YouTube or “get me home” in Maps instead of saying “tap search,” saying the search term, and then say “enter”. This used to be a bit clunky, but the new update fixes the issue. Google designed Voice Access for people with motor disabilities like ALS and spinal cord injuries. But it is also helpful for people who want to use their phone hands-free, like if they’re cooking or people with a temporary disability, like a broken arm.
