You may have noticed a theme over the last couple of posts, and maybe, just maybe, can guess where we are going to go with this blog post (I mean, other than the massive hint of a title…).

That’s right, we’ve talked about Voice Typing and Voice Access for Windows computers, as well as Voice Dictation and Voice Control on Apple devices, now it’s time to bring Android devices into the conversation! But, we’re not just going to talk voice dictation and voice access, let’s explore some of the many accessibility features built into your Android device!

Voice Dictation

To use voice dictation on an Android device, you need to have Google’s keyboard, GBoard, installed. Odds are if you’re using an Android phone, this was already installed on your phone, but just in case it’s not, you can download GBoard from the Play Store.

Now the steps to using voice dictation on an Android device are a little complex, but I’ll break it down for you…

1. On your GBoard keyboard, touch and hold the microphone icon until the words “speak now” show up on your phone
2. Say what you want typed

…that’s it. It’s that simple. We were joking about how complex it is to use voice dictation on an Android phone. 😛

Type with your voice – Android

Voice Access

You guessed it, Voice Access allows you to access and control your Android device using your voice! Newer Android cell phones have this feature built-in and it can be found in the Accessibility Settings on your device, or, if you have “Hey Google” detection on, you can simply say “Hey Google, Voice Access”!

Don’t have Voice Access? Download Voice Access from the Play Store!

The first time you open Voice Access, you will be guided through a tutorial on how to use it. You can even access this tutorial again if you forget some of the commands!

Android Accessibility Article, Getting Started with Voice Access

Switch Access

A switch is an alternate version of a mouse, allowing a user to perform tasks typically completed with a mouse, through a switch. Switches come in a variety of types, from foot pedals, to buttons, to ones that can be activated with breath or blinks!

Did you know that you can control your Android device with a switch?! You sure can!

Android Accessibility Article, Control your Android device with Switch Access

Camera Switches on Android Devices

But wait, what if you don’t have a switch, and don’t want to buy one? No worries, your Android device has a built-in switch, one you probably use every day… your camera! That’s right, you can control your Android device using your camera as a switch!

If you are interested in using your Android device with your camera as a switch, please check out this Android Accessibility Article on Camera Switches.

TalkBack

TalkBack is a feature that not only acts as a screen reader (audibly describing what is on your screen), but it can also describe your actions and tell you about alerts and notifications! You can even use TalkBack with a braille keyboard! Wow.

Learn more about TalkBack – Android Accessibility Article.

Lookout

Through the use of your camera, Lookout provides information to users about their surroundings. This can be very helpful if you can’t see the text on a street sign (maybe it has some poor contrast, or the sun is in your eyes), or need help reading a menu. Lookout can even give audible cues to help an individual scan a barcode and find out information about that food item, or provide information about the type of currency you are holding.

Learn more about Lookout and how it can be used! Android Accessibility Article, Lookout.

To be continued…

There are too many Android Accessibility features to be covered in a single blog post, so stay tuned! We’ll continue discussing Android Accessibility features in a future blog post.