Apple Highlights Vision Pro's Accessibility Features with Head, Wrist, and Index Finger Controls

Apple's new Vision Pro headset is controlled with eye and hand movements by default. For those with accessibility needs, however, features like VoiceOver, Pointer Control, and Dwell Control will allow users to interact with visionOS in other ways. In a WWDC session for developers, Apple has provided more details about these features.

Vision Pro Pointer Control

Pointer Control

Pointer Control will allow the Vision Pro to be controlled based on head, wrist, or index finger position rather than eye tracking. Users will be able to adjust movement sensitivity to further fit their individual needs.

Dwell Control will provide on-screen options for Tap, Scroll, Long Press, and Drag, allowing for users to interact with the interface without using their hands.

Vision Pro Dwell Control

Dwell Control

There's also Guided Access, an accessibility feature that will promote focus by restricting visionOS to a single app at one time. Apple says the feature aims to minimize distractions by backgrounding other apps, removing non-essential UI elements, and suppressing hardware button events that could be distracting.

Vision Pro Guided Access

Guided Access

Apple's screen reader VoiceOver will be available on the Vision Pro. Users will be able to set up a VoiceOver shortcut in the Settings app on visionOS that allows for the feature to be activated with a triple press of the Digital Crown.

Vision Pro is launching in early 2024 in the U.S. for $3,499, and more details about the headset are available in our Vision Pro roundup. For more details about the accessibility features, check out Apple's WWDC session.

Related Roundup: Apple Vision Pro
Buyer's Guide: Vision Pro (Buy Now)
Related Forum: Apple Vision Pro

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Top Rated Comments

TheYayAreaLiving ?️ Avatar
19 months ago
Check out the gestures in VisionOS. You can also create custom ones.

Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
madebybela Avatar
19 months ago
so many possibilities with an AR interface and they choose to port over the awful iOS settings layout.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
3xBoom Avatar
19 months ago

I wonder how the device works with people who have strabismus/lazy eye.

For example, my right eye is my dominate eye. However, when I switch between my left and right eye my alignment changes a bit. Not too noticeable in public but I do not have binocular vision despite getting surgery to fix the cosmetic issue.
Apple should plan onto having a "pirate" edition (SE) to be sold for half price. Jokes aside, I am certain that they will find a way to address various issues of significance to a minority of their customer base. Eye asymmetries are quite frequent and their algorithms might already account for that.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
klasma Avatar
19 months ago
Index finger light saber!
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AdeFowler Avatar
19 months ago
I really hope there’s some kind of option in accessibility, to use some kind of gesture rather than use the hardware buttons. e.g... blink three times to take a photo; close your eyes for five seconds to put the device to sleep.

I have cerebral palsy and my comedy hands will not be able to use the buttons. ?
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
moabal Avatar
19 months ago
I wonder how the device works with people who have strabismus/lazy eye.

For example, my right eye is my dominate eye. However, when I switch between my left and right eye my alignment changes a bit. Not too noticeable in public but I do not have binocular vision despite getting surgery to fix the cosmetic issue.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)