As WWDC 2025 approaches, rumours swirl about what Apple may unveil: enhanced AI features, a new naming convention for all the operating systems, and a visual glass-like overhaul, including round Home Screen icons. There’s also speculation about improvements to Apple Intelligence—a brand that, despite the hype, hasn’t exactly set the world on fire. But for disabled people like me, all eyes are on something less flashy but far more consequential: Voice Control. Voice Control today: clever, capable—and still flawed Apple’s Voice Control app, first introduced six ago in macOS Catalina, allows hands-free control of a Mac, iPhone, or iPad. It was a game-changer for many disabled people, particularly those with motor impairments who rely on dictation and voice navigation. But its limitations are ...

As WWDC 2025 approaches, Apple is widely expected to reveal a significant redesign of watchOS—part of a broader visual refresh inspired by visionOS. This could include rounded icons, translucent UI elements, and a more unified experience across Apple’s platforms. There’s also speculation that Apple will shift its naming scheme to match the calendar year, introducing “watchOS 26” instead of the expected “watchOS 12.” In terms of functionality, reports point to expanded Apple Intelligence features—though a full Siri overhaul may not arrive until later in the year. Battery-conscious AI enhancements, better contextual awareness, and possibly predictive health prompts are anticipated. Hardware-wise, rumours suggest new health tracking capabilities like blood pressure monitoring for Apple Watch ...

Apple’s WWDC 2025 keynote is just days away, and expectations are high. This year’s announcements are rumoured to include a dramatic visual overhaul—complete with rounded icons on the Home screen and a more unified interface across macOS and iOS. Apple may also introduce a new naming scheme for its operating systems, and its AI effort, Apple Intelligence, is expected to see improvements after a lukewarm debut last year. But beyond new names and fresh polish, disabled people are asking the same question they do every June: Will this be the year Apple finally fixes the accessibility gaps we live with every day? Despite its deserved reputation as a leader in accessibility and inclusive design, Apple continues to leave significant issues unresolved. As I’ve written in The Register over the pas...

macOS finally lets you record custom vocabulary in Voice Control – but Apple still has work to do Did this really just happen? Tucked away in a recent macOS Sequoia update, Apple has quietly rolled out a long-awaited feature: you can now record custom vocabulary in Voice Control on the Mac. This feature first arrived on iOS in version 18.0 last year — now, at last, macOS has caught up. No fanfare, no splashy announcement. As one prominent Apple influencer told me, “It’s quite crazy Apple didn’t tell us.” But for disabled people who rely on voice-first computing, it’s a big deal. So what’s changed, why does it matter — and where does Apple still fall short? What is custom vocabulary in Voice Control? Voice Control is Apple’s built-in speech recognition system that lets users navigate and di...

Each May, Apple marks Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) with a series of announcements showcasing its commitment to disabled people. A few weeks later, Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) sets the tone for the company’s next big software and hardware moves. As we approach these important moments, the conversation around Apple accessibility 2025 is coming into sharper focus. It’s a moment filled with both high hopes and important questions from the disabled community. In this post, I want to share my perspective on what Apple must do next to truly move accessibility forward. For all of Apple’s achievements in this space, real-world experience shows that there’s still a long way to go. Accessibility needs to be about more than features that look good in a press release — i...

When I first started using Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, they transformed my daily life. As someone with a quadriplegic disability, the ability to access messages, make calls, and interact with the world using just my voice was liberating. For 12 months, the experience was rock solid. Then, in October 2024, it broke. The bug: voice assistant fails after phone or WhatsApp calls Since Meta firmware version 10.0, a critical bug has rendered the “Hey Meta” voice assistant and message readout features unresponsive after any phone or WhatsApp call. The only way to restore functionality? Physically remove and refold the glasses — something I cannot do independently. This is not a minor inconvenience. It’s a complete loss of access for disabled users like me.It’s more than a glitch — it’s an accessi...

Meta is gearing up to unveil its much-anticipated Hypernova smart glasses, an advanced wearable expected to launch as early as the end of the year. Following the success and growing adoption of the Ray-Ban Meta glasses, this new iteration aims to significantly elevate the technology—and the price tag, reportedly set around the $1,000 to $1,400 mark. But as we anticipate cutting-edge features, the real measure of success must be how accessible these innovations are to disabled people. What to expect from Hypernova smart glasses According to Bloomberg, the Hypernova smart glasses will feature a built-in heads-up display in the lower-right corner of the right lens, allowing users to see notifications, photos, and app interactions directly within their line of sight. This marks a considerable ...

Apple has long been a pioneer in accessibility, crafting hardware and software that unlock new possibilities for disabled people. While big tech grapples with shifting priorities around inclusion, Apple’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion remains central to its ethos. As a disabled person who relies on Apple’s ecosystem daily, I’ve experienced both the transformative power of its tools and the gaps that still hinder full independence. With 2025 set to be a pivotal year for innovation in AI, voice control, wearables, and third-party app integration, Apple has a unique opportunity to redefine accessibility standards. Here are four critical areas where the company can lead the charge. Enhanced Voice Control and Siri for greater autonomy Voice Control and Siri are lifelines for us...

Accessible technology has the power to transform lives, but for disabled people, significant barriers remain. As we approach 2025, the tech industry has a chance to embrace inclusion like never before. Here’s my wish list for the advancements I hope to see, ensuring disabled people can fully participate in the digital age. 1. Technologies that truly advance accessibility While advancements in speech recognition, AI-driven captioning, and augmented reality are promising, they often fall short of practical usability for disabled people. By 2025, I hope to see assistive technologies that are not only innovative but also user-centric—designed with the input of the disabled community and tested in real-world scenarios. For instance, AI-powered wearable devices, like those designed to guide visu...