Apple Watch and VoiceOver

By Misty Dawn, 10 September, 2014

Forum
watchOS and Apple Watch Apps

Does anyone know if the upcoming release of Apple Watch will come with VoiceOver?

I've tried googling the topic and can't seem to find much, if anything, about this.

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Comments

By Bandit on Wednesday, September 24, 2014 - 04:22

As has been stated on this site countless times, as well as in other locations...No details as far as accessibility on the Apple Watch have been released. The general consensus is that we won't know anything until the device is released and someone has either purchased one or gone in to an Apple store to play with one.

By dvdmth on Wednesday, September 24, 2014 - 04:22

I can speculate, but it will be a wild guess. My speculation is that, since the watch has its own user interface, rather than running iOS, there will not be any accessibility features at launch, or at least any features would depend on the iPhones the watch is used with. However, given Apple's commitment to accessibility, I expect VoiceOver, or some other means of accessibility, to be implemented down the road.

Again, this is strictly a guess. Take it for what it's worth.

By Michael Hansen on Wednesday, September 24, 2014 - 04:22

Member of the AppleVis Editorial Team

Hello Misty,

Unfortunately, there is no information available from Apple as to whether the new Apple Watch will have accessibility features.

By Misty Dawn on Wednesday, September 24, 2014 - 04:22

In reply to by Bandit

Pretty ridiculous we have to wait until launch to know whether or not we can use something like this, but that's just my opinion...

By Misty Dawn on Wednesday, September 24, 2014 - 04:22

Also, a completely new interface? I don't know why they couldn't've just stuck with the iOS one...?

By bfm_guy on Monday, November 24, 2014 - 04:22

Well, I of course know nothing more than anyone else, so everything I say here is strictly speculation. However, I actually think it's got a really good chance of having VO at launch. Here's why: First, while I of course wasn't there for the design process, I take issue with the comments that suggest that it's a completely different UI and not iOS. It's still built on multi-touch, though there's also the digital crown. Also, whether or not they call it iOS, you can be sure it's built on the same platform, just as Apple TV is built on iOS, though it looks and feels a bit different. Just think, the Apple watch will include SIRI, iCloud support, Continuity, typical apps, and will integrate seamlessly with the iPhone. Plus it will accept altered versions of apps that are already in the iOS App Store. Next, Apple Watch already includes SIRI and a speaker capable of playing music and sounds etc. While we didn't actually hear SIRI talk on the watch at the special event, I have to believe that she will, and if she can talk, then the output voice framework is present already which could easily enable VO. Finally, there's tons of feedback even for sighted folks that goes beyond looking at the display, so I just feel like with all this combined and Apple's continued commitments to accessibility which Tim Cook reaffirmed during a recent interview, I think it will have VoiceOver right away.

By david s on Monday, November 24, 2014 - 04:22

My guess is it will not have VO because VO will require a speaker which in turn make the watch thicker/bigger. Too small of a speaker will sound crappy and Apple is not known for coming up with crappy products. LOL At least no crappy products for the Apple fans.

But then again, I guessed they were going to fix all the VO issues in 8.1 and we know how that turned out.

By Santiago on Monday, November 24, 2014 - 04:22

Hello,
I think that the Apple Watch will have VoiceOver once its released. The reason no other SmartWatch is accessible, is because, well, first of all, they run a highly modified version of Android, or a specialized OS, and secondly, most of these watches don't have a built-in speaker. The Apple Watch, however, will have a built in speaker, and it will also have certain features which I am really looking forward to. Some of these have to do with the navigation apps, such as Apple Maps, and the new vibration feedback system it comes with.

Santiago

By sockhopsinger on Monday, November 24, 2014 - 04:22

It's just another gimmick! I suppose the next thing will be to have everyone get an interactive iOS tattoo on the top of their hand so that they can interact with Apple products through brain waves. I love technology, but there is such a thing as taking it too far.

By Siobhan on Monday, November 24, 2014 - 04:22

Ok here's my oppinion, first sock hop singer is right, this is a bit to far, three hundred and fifty bucks for what, a vibrating, wrist watch? You can bet any amount of cash, I'll look, smile, walk away. Another thing, if this does indeed have Voice Over how are you exactly going to hear it, jacked up to even the dead can hear it, or what about the notifications that nudge you when a message comes in, or a callendar event pops up, what if you didn't feel it, so you reaise the watch to press the crown to, do something, now you've taken the extra step to fix what came in before going back to dealing with looking at your tweets or whatever you wanted to do in the first place. I couldn't be more disapointed this thing is coming out if you asked me. Plus, down the road when they upgrade it,a nd it's obvious they will, what's to keep you int he loop when you've spent so much on it in the first place? it's not like you can subsidize the cost of a new iPhone. As much as i'd like Apple Pay and wish I had a device to do that, I'll wait my six months, look at the iPhone, or even hold on until there's no more support for the five I currently am ok with.

By Usman on Monday, November 24, 2014 - 04:22

None of the other smart watches are accessible. so I'm just curious to know why people on here believe this one is going to be? Simply because it is from Apple is far from insuring accessibility. After all, its a brand new product and with any new products, its going to have its issues. Let us not forget that the original iPhone didn't have voice over, nor did any of the older iPods.

By Tree on Monday, November 24, 2014 - 04:22

I am going back and forth about being excited about the Apple watch. In general I like the whole smart watch idea and I do believe that Apple is our best chance at an accessible entry in this category. I hope that we can know about the watch's accessibility before it comes out, but its really not that surprising that we don't know yet. Nobody even knows what the battery life on the thing is going to be, which is a very basic and essential peace of info. It sounds like there are still a lot of question marks about the watch and I don't think Apple even has all of the answers yet.

I hope the watch is going to be accessible and awesome, but I feel like Apple is falling behind when it comes to accessibility so we will see.

By Siobhan on Monday, November 24, 2014 - 04:22

I'm not suggesting every single thing they put out has to have accessibility built in, let's face it some aps we wish we can play, use, do, etc aren't and we accept that for the most part, or try to get a developer's attention, it ight work, might not. Holy crap, long sentencem sorry about that. What i was trying to say, was if you would need to raise your watch to listen to something, wouldn't that defeat the whole, nudge, you have something coming in, apporach? Tim cook has already said we'd need to charge it daily, big shock as some iPhones do that anyway. I agre accessibility may be taking a bit of a jog backward, simply because they have to much working on their plates, beats new devices, new os and ios versions, and this? It wouldn't surprise me int he least if they barely gave lo vision a zoom option. My apologies to anyone who is offended by that.

By KE7ZUM on Monday, November 24, 2014 - 04:22

Actually someone already verified that voice over woudl not even be considered. they called apple accessibility and tha'ts what they said. It's not in the manual therefore no voice over. I'm fine with that as I won't buy that piece of junk. I can see it beeing a flop, and frankly I'll be laughing hard and jumping for joy if it is.

By Michael Hansen on Monday, November 24, 2014 - 04:22

Member of the AppleVis Editorial Team

All,

Apple has not publicly commented on whether the upcoming Apple Watch will or will not include accessibility features.

There are still many details of the Apple Watch that are yet to be revealed, and it is very possible that accessibility features--if there are any--fall into this category. Given that battery life is still somewhat of an unknown, there are likely many more details yet to be announced.

When considering any rumors purported to be from Apple Accessibility, it's worth remembering that Apple has very specific policies about what its employees can--and cannot--say in public. While it is very possible that people are being told there is no information available about the accessibility of Apple Watch, the likelihood of an Apple Accessibility representative providing any additional information is very low.

By Chris on Monday, November 24, 2014 - 04:22

Hi.

If I had to guess, I would say this thing would have no accessibility. Even if they prooved me wrong and did include VoiceOver, I wouldn't be surprised if it used compact sacraptha.
I don't expect this thing would have a lot of internal storage, but again, I can always be proven wrong.

I agree that the price is way too high. It's one thing to pay that kind of money for an iPhone, but for an accessory that connects to another device.
No, the price is absurd! I would rather spend that money on an iPad Mini or a Victor Reader Stream New Generation or any number of other, more useful things. SOrry for the rant, but this is really irritating me. Has anyone noticed that Apple is playing with fashion a bit too much?

By Siobhan on Monday, November 24, 2014 - 04:22

I might have gotten that wrong, but keep in mind, why does apple release things every year? Oo I want a blue phone, no i want a larger screen, no i want one that talks... My point being, though its possible to trade in the old gadgets, it's possible to sell them for cash, apple fases out things, and if someone can't upgrade their life after a certain point, they are in a sense, up a creek without a paddle.

By Usman on Monday, November 24, 2014 - 04:22

I think to the poster who is going to be happy if apple watch ended up being a flop is a little more than harsh and unreasonable to say the least. Are we so low that we're going to wish a product bad luck just because its going to be inaccessible? to me, that is just silly.
Moreover, calling it a piece of junk is also quite unreasonable considering the amount of engineering and innovation so I disagree with it being a piece of junk simply on the basis of it not being accessible. Let us not forget that we are a very small community. If blind people don't buy it, the loss is hardly going to hurt apple in the earning reports for the Apple watch.

By KE7ZUM on Monday, November 24, 2014 - 04:22

Actually It's not just me who is sayign that. I'm readig a lot of negativity sourounding it on blogs for the sighed as well. so in a sence especially with the prices I think it will flop. a perspective $5000 (no that is not a miss type)for the gold model of apple watch? I guess we'll see when it hits the market in January.

By Unregistered User (not verified) on Monday, November 24, 2014 - 04:22

Just a thought, why not call apple and ask to speak to Customer Relations. There, you can ask about if the upcoming Apple Watch will have accessibility support. Even if they say they have no information, you could clearly state why accessibility would be important to you.

In all honesty, Customer Relations does indeed record the feedback and adjusts apple products based on what customers are asking for, complaining about, etc.

By david s on Monday, November 24, 2014 - 04:22

First thing we have to remember is Apple is in business to make money. With that being said, Apple will do what it can to attract the most customers. They hired executives from Tag Heuer and Burberry for this product.

Will this be a junker? It will depend on the user. I see this being more of a fashion statement rather than a practical gadget. I can see some folks spending over 5K on this just like they would on a regular watch.

I think eventually there will be a model with VO. And when it does come, I hope it will be more refined. Less buggy and have a wireless charging system.

By DudeLove721 on Wednesday, December 24, 2014 - 04:22

It isn't a confirmation, but I came across this article the other day. Apple released their watch kit to developers, which is what they will use to create apps for the apple watch, and there are areas to input VO information:
http://blog.austinseraphin.com/2014/11/19/proof-that-the-apple-watch-has-accessibility/

Like I said, it's not a confirmation, but either they're putting accessibility in this version of the watch or plan to in the future at the very least.

By Mister Kayne on Wednesday, December 24, 2014 - 04:22

I started using my iPhone with an awesome stereo bluetooth headset. Surprising that even though this is not an apple bluetooth device, it paired easily with the phone.

If you are wondering why I said that. I was thinking about this senario. Phone in pocket, watch in hand, headset in ear. No need to remove the phone for every notification or alert/ call. Just use the watch to read it out for you if it has VO technology.

On second thoughts I will have to charge 3 devices, carry 3 devices, keep my mind on 3 devices. The effort is overkill. Guess I ain't going to buy an iWatch ever unless it makes me a sandwich.

By riyu12345 (not verified) on Tuesday, February 24, 2015 - 04:22

Hi.

I know the watch will come with voiceover. I've been doing my own research and can say, I'll be buying it myself, iether as soon as it comes out, or a couple days after.

I like the idea of having a fitness app. I like the idea of the tapping tech thing that's going on with it. I like that you could probably plug headphones into it and listen to music, radio and other things on it.

Oh not when walking, although I bet people will do that, but when sitting down or in the gym or so on.
For me, I'm going to buy it. And I don't mean the golden one, I mean the £250 one.

By Ray on Tuesday, March 24, 2015 - 04:22

Looking forward to the Apple Watch too. And like Brad, I'll be getting it hopefully pretty soon after launch. I like the idea of reading texts and emails withut taking my iPhone out in public, and with the Bluetooth headset on, and tapping on the Apple Watch, I would feel less exposed when on a bus or train. Let's hope it lives up to the hype eh? WHo knows, I might get bored of it after a few weeks....

By Pavel Ondra on Tuesday, March 24, 2015 - 04:22

I am not so sure, if i am going to buy this gadget. First, in our area they will probably release it later then in USA, second, i dont think that voice commands will work in czech language for some long time yet.
But i vould at least go to some apple store here or in Germany, where they will probably sell it earlier and give it a try. I also read these articles about voiceover, but i am always very sceptic about these unofficial leaks etc etc. One think i vould probably use it to vould be checking messages and replying. So lets see next monday.

I agree, but I am counting on it having Voiceover, and of course will do the research and play with it in the Apple shop before handing over the money. Launch date is usually the same here in the UK as in the US, so watch this space....

By Pavel Ondra on Tuesday, March 24, 2015 - 04:22

Btw, are there any accessible smartwatches already? Or, will apple be first with these features?

By Holger Fiallo on Tuesday, March 24, 2015 - 04:22

In reply to by Bandit

If apple is so commited to accessibility as someone put a post in applevis it will have it. We will see about it on Monday.

By Anders Boholdt… on Tuesday, March 24, 2015 - 04:22

Hi everyone

I also will be glad for an answer regarding the question about if blind people can use Apple Watch with VoiceOver. I has searched on the Apple website, but I not can find information regarding accessibility.

See the link http://www.apple.com/watch/ for more information.

Anoter question - has Apple Accessibility Team a site on Facebook etc., where I can see information about upcoming news about accessibility?

Very thanks in advance.

Regards,
Anders.