Goodbye to the Home Button, Hello to Face ID; What Might This Mean for Blind and Low Vision iPhone Users?

Don't think there will be any issue with FaceID. I have face recognition feature on my HP Windows laptop, and it has IR camera that detects my face. Windows Hello never failed me, I tried it in various situations; a photograph never replaces my face as the IR beams can identify whether what is being shown is a photograph or real human face depending on the temperature emitted from the object in front of the camera IR sensors, also tried it with my glasses, with my beard shaved and even with a photograph of me on a large LED screen. It has been always nice experience.

I would find faceid a pain in the neck, at least for my usage pattern. I often need to unlock while the phone is in my pocket and faceid would make it impossible and typing the password would be difficult the way vo makes you do it. Also, its real nice to be able to reach over and just unlock without having to bring the phone to where my face is. So, I will not be getting the X. But what worries me is that will I always be stuck with some old model because I don't want faceid?

Will turning on the accessibility settings make face ID less secure? As I understand it, without the accessibility settings turned on the iPhone will require the user to have their eyes open and be looking at the iPhone, so that someone couldn't access your phone by, say, pointing it at your face while you're asleep. But VO users don't have that extra security. So could someone unlock a VO user's phone just by pointing at their face? I don't see how this can be both accessible to all and equally secure for everyone.

I agree about the security of face ID it sounds like we as VoiceOver users are being expected to compromise security for the sake of accessibility, I know having the attention mode on or off is entirely optional but if you don't have a choice due to nature of visual impairment its no choice at all.
there is a feature where face or touch ID can be quickly disabled in ios 11, but of course say we are out and about we might not have time to activate it before its two late.
hopefully apple might be able to add both touch ID and face ID to the same phone in future, but I am not exactly happy about having to compromise my security just so I can use a feature. as others have said its also very convenient being able to just reach over and use touch ID.

We already know Face ID isn't perfectly reliable yet. It didn't work the first time for Mr. Schiller, even on stage. As for reliably activating the function that disables touch/face ID, we'll have exactly as much time to do that as anyone else since it simply involves pressing the side button five times in rapid succession.
While I don't think accessibility in Face ID will be a problem, I think I'd find it annoying personally. My phone is often on my desk, and I simply reach over with a finger to unlock it. Face ID would require that I pick up the phone which, depending on what situation you are in, might be undesirable or even rude.

I'm more worried that Apple will decide that we need yet another VO gesture for the home button instead of the single swipe-up from the bottom that others are getting. I like being able to operate my phone with one hand which I won't be able to do if I have to do something ridiculous like swipe up with four fingers. We'll just have to wait and see though.

Although the iPhone X seems like a wonderful phone, given it's high price tag, I am most likely going to stick with the Iphone 8 Plus, as I am not ready to trust Face ID over Touch ID. Not that Face ID is a bad thing, but for me, I would rather wait until the technology has been out in the wild before using it. Heck, I just recently started using Apple Pay and that has been out for over a year.

I recognize that face ID is more secure and it's probably the future for Apple products. But, it struck me during the 9/12 event that face ID absolutely is not quicker an easier for things like Apple Pay. The presenter tried to sell that point but I'm not buying. With touch ID, I can in one motion hold my phone by the payment reader with my finger on the home button and within a couple seconds, my purchase goes through and that's it. Now, with face ID, it appears that I am forced to click the side button twice, bring the device in front of my face to authenticate and then put the device by the payment reader so that's at least 3 steps instead of one. Face ID for things like Apple Pay is not more intuitive and it's certainly not easier.

Considering how long it generally takes to set up a selfie with the front camera and listening to VO to get the right angle, FaceID just seems like it will take longer to get right compared to a simple finger press. None of the new features for both the 8 and the X are particularly interesting nor not all that groundbreaking especially in terms of overall accessibility. The best thing Apple can do now is to put the new A11 bionic chip into the SE models and keep them onboard in the product line. Touch ID is quick and easy and security just has never been that much of a concern with it despite the statistics they produced, and I really don't care for the wireless lifestyle they keep pushing; I like my headphone jack and the SE form factor and nothing they've been releasing is making me want to upgrade.

I totally understand what some of you guys are saying about the security, or lack thereof? with face ID for VoiceOver users. But let me put this question to you, do you guys have any better ideas? We asked if Apple had a solution to the problem of people who never kept their eyes open, or had prosthetics or other eye conditions that might prevent Face ID from working as it should, and Apple came back with the solution of turning off the pay attention feature in accessibility settings. Just the fact that they even considered that idea, before any of us asked about it should speak volumes about Apple as a company, and how forward thinking they are when it comes to making their products accessible to blind and visually impaired folks. The nice part is if you don't want to use Face id, you don't have to. No one's forcing you to. You can buy an iPhone 8 or 8 plus and have wireless charging and a better camera plus all kinds of other stuff i'm obviously forgetting. Sure you won't have all the other features but at this point, some folks, like myself just aren't quite ready to shell out that kind of cash, or even use Face ID. I'm very, very happy with my iPhone 7 for now and when it's time for an upgrade for me, I'll probably go with the 8. It is so good to have choices. Choices are a good thing guys, so please remember that when considering this stuff.

During yesterday's keynote the specific wording was that you have to "look" at the iPhone 10 for face ID to work. To me, this means with eyes open. If I were to upgrade to that phone, which I will not be doing, this would prevent me from using this feature. If fingerprint ID were incorporated into the button that takes the place of the home button, I would be OK with it. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. It was mentioned that we could still access the phone through the use of a code, however, this would mean that I would have to have a set of ear buds if I, a Voice-Over user, do not want my password heard by others. As a user who hardly ever uses ear buds, I don't want to have to carry a set, plug it in, then enter my password. And I will not pay the high price for Apple's Ear Pods. Being totally blind since birth, I have no eye muscle control. I cannot open my eyes, nor can I make a face on demand, as I have never used my eyes and never seen what, for example, a smirk looks like. One feature of face recognition in the iPhone 10 is animated emojis. You can send an emoji that changes depending on whether you are wearing a happy, cross, or sad face for example. This won't be able to be done by someone like me. Also, notice that I am writing the phone model as 10 rather than X. I think this should clear up any confusion. The "X" is a roman numeral for 10. I am hearing people refer to the phone model as the letter "x", which is incorrect.

I have read in other posts that Apple has possibly added a toggle in the Accessibility settings that would permit Facial ID to ignored closed eyes in order to unlock. So if this is the case, then that would solve the issue.

Although most of us call it the iPhone X, the "X" is the Roman numeral for 10, so we are still naming it correctly. Furthermore, many of the tech blogs, like iMore.com and MacWorld are also calling it the iPhone X, even though Tim Cook called it the iPhone 10. So whether you call it the iPhone 10 or the iPhone X, it's the same thing.

Even more, Apple themselves call the Mac OS 10 "OSX", so again, doesn't really matter which way you write it.

The accessibility settings of iOS 11 will have a setting called Attention. Switching this off will allow a blind person to simply lift the iPhone to their face and it will unlock. This has been posted many times but somehow, some people always seem to miss it. Apple has us covered. Plus as has been previously stated, Face ID only appears on the iPhone x. If you don't want it, you don't have to get it. But I at least want people to be educated about what options they have.

In fact, I believe that these changes are for the better. I welcome and embrace the new features. I thank Apple for always making sure that people with disabilities are able to have access to their devices.

I've got reservations about no home button. I've always used that to orienate myself with my ipad. Sometimes, I have had to give sighted users mainly my family my ipad for what ever reason. And sometimes I need to turn Vo. off to make life easier for them. Well, no matter how well-meaning they are sometimes they hand me my device in portrait mode or landscape with the home button to my left is more common. Had I not had my trusty home button, I would not be able to tell this.

Also, and this is more of a curiousity standpoint, how will we summon Siri? Or get to the app switcher? I know that we have the `hey Siri` feature, but the act of pressing the home button is 99% more reliable in my view at least.

i recognize many of you prefer a positive spin on this, which is good, for being positive is always good. but if we could calm down a bit and really consider the pros and cons of face id.

specifically for visually challenged individuals as well as the general public. sure there will be work around. icons and GUI are designed for the sighted, and we have to re-engineer it so the screen is reversed to text elements so the blind can read it, something the GUId tries to abandon. does it solve the problem for us? yes, mostly; but it’s certainly not the first choice for us. i’m very realistic, the world is certainly not designed for us, so i’m not going to dwell on it. i’m saying this just to put things in context. the fact there is a way to disable the “pay attention” requirement for those who can’t reliably look at the camera is maybe a good work around, but is definitely nothing to celebrate about, because if that’s the only way you can use it, it means you have to sacrifice security, which is increasingly important when you carry your whole life on your phone.

now for the general public, despite apple touts it being more secure the touch id, the whole purpose is to increase screen size, the iphone x is shorter than the iphone 8 plus, and just a bit larger than the iphone 8. security is never a real consideration, no matter how apple and other companies want to spin it. and the fact they mentioned your twin brothers and sisters may be able to unlock your phone tells me the system is not as secure as it sounds. also the fact one can disable the “pay attention” factor tells me the system is not as advanced as i want it to be.

it real life, touch id is much secure, as least under current implementation and underlying technology in my opinion. one can always register an unlikely finger if there is any concern one may be forced to unlock the phone; and it’s not too difficult to force someone to look at something.

This is why it's so good that Apple is giving everyone choices. Don't like or trust Face ID? You don't have to use it, just get an iPhone 8 or 8 plus and it won't be there. For people with reservations about it or people who just plane don't believe they need such a feature, this seems to be the more sensible choice. For the trail blazers out there though, the iPhone x will be what they choose and they can report their findings once they get it. Relax folks, all will be good.

I cary many of the same concerns many others hold, as well as some additional ones I haven't 'herd. But I seriously doubt Apple would introduce a feature with such wide-ranging security implications without riggerous testing. I can't think of a feature Apple has implemented that hasn't worked out for the best. I'm not saying they're enfoulible, but I'll reserve judgement until the devices is actually out,a nd people have gotten a chance to play with it. One thing I am curious about though, with no besils, where the heck are the front camera and speakers?

You hold down the lock button to use Siri.

I wish all of these phones were going to be coming out at the same time in order to compare the features. I don't want to rush off to the Apple Store to get an 8 or 8 plus, only to realize two months later that yeah, this iPhone X was the way to go. Oh well.

Not sure why some are insisting the Home Button is completely getting the ax. It will still be present in the iPhone 8 and SE isn't going away for the present; in fact, I read Apple is releasing a new SE early next year. Just saying for now, there are options.

Hello everyone, I just wanted to put some perspective on a few things...

I am happy that Apple have included the option to disable "Attention Mode". I hear many people talk about the risk of someone pointing the camera to their face while they are sleeping... Firstly, if that is a serious security concern for you, there is always the option to make sure that you require a passcode the first time you unlock after you have gone to bed (I think Apple have included this in a shortcut in iOs 11). Secondly, if you are worried that a friend, family member, or partner will pick up your phone and unlock it while you sleep, then perhaps investing in trust-building activities is a better investment than an iPhone 10?

For those who are worried about that the phone wont be able to be unlocked since the phone is to close to the face, most likely the phone will already been unlocked before you can get the phone close enough for it to be a problem (my guess at least). Otherwise an easy solution is just to move the phone in a wider arc :)

There might be difficulties unlocking the phone if you are running around in an Halloween mask, but come on people! If you are at a party in the real world, hang out and talk with real people (at least that is what I do).

I am not a Face-ID fan myself, I have my reservations, but I also trust Apple to make sure that the Really Important features of a product is accessible. I am looking forward to November when we can play with the iPhone 10 in store, until then, take a breath and enjoy life :)

Here is a good article about Face-ID: https://techcrunch.com/2017/09/15/interview-apples-craig-federighi-answers-some-burning-questions-about-face-id/