Google is introducing a significant accessibility update to its platforms to make navigation and information more accessible for people with disabilities.
Among the six changes, a few are exclusive to smartphones. Google Maps’ Search with Live View will receive “screen reader capabilities” that provide auditory feedback about nearby places. This tool is designed to assist “people who are blind or have low vision” by providing information like the name or category of a location and its proximity to the user’s current position. To activate it, users simply need to tap the camera icon in the Google Maps search bar and point the rear camera at their surroundings.
