If you have visited an Apple Store during the past 2 weeks to check out the new Apple Watch, you may have come away disappointed that it had not been possible to fully explore the many accessibility features that it includes for blind and low vision users.
However, according to a report on AppleWorld.Today, Apple has now rolled out a new facility that should allow people to test the accessibility features for themselves during a try-on appointment:
Apple has made the Apple Watch accessibility experience interactive in a way that ensures customers can make an informed decision on whether an Apple Watch is right for them. Hands-on time with a fully enabled Apple Watch allows customers to explore the accessibility features of this potentially game-changing device.
If you wish to take advantage of this facility, the first thing that you will need to do is schedule a try-on appointment at your local Apple store. This can be done either via the Apple website, the Apple Store app on your iOS device or by phoning Apple (for those in the US or Canada, the number is 1-800-692-7753).
If making your appointment by phone, it is suggested that you ask the Apple representative to let your selected store know in advance that you are specifically interested in the accessibility features of the Watch. If booking by the web or iOS app, you should do this by personally contacting the store ahead of your scheduled appointment.
According to AppleWorld.Today, this will ensure that the store will have available for your appointment an Apple Watch “preloaded with a full version of Watch OS and paired to an iPhone”, and not one of the standard demo units which offer no opportunity to interact with the Watch.
Not only will this give you the opportunity to explore the accessibility features of the Watch, but you can also try them with some of the features of the Watch, such as sending messages and searching for locations in the Map app.
We are really pleased that Apple has found a way for blind and low vision users to now carry out some meaningful and useful testing of the Apple Watch in store.
If you take advantage of this facility, we would love to hear your experience.