Google has done something unprecedented, they’ve broken out some Android accessibility features into a separate app, called Switch Access, and it’s now available on the Play Store.
What does this mean for you? Well, for starters, it allows Google to roll out updates more frequently, instead of having to do so at the OS level. And not just that, it also allows Switch Access features to be available on older devices as well, as long as they’re running Android 8 (Oreo) or later.
Switch Access, in a nutshell, enables users to operate their phone or tablet using means other than the touchscreen, like using face gestures with the front-facing camera or connecting external devices like a keyboard or buttons via USB or Bluetooth. And the best part? You can set up one or more switches through the app and even assign groups of actions to different switches.
Once you select an item, several interaction options will be available, such as select, scroll, copy and paste. And if you’re looking for system-wide settings, notifications, the home screen, or a way to record shortcuts for frequent and more complex actions, you can find them all in a menu at the top of the screen.
To get started with Switch Access, all you need to do is go to the titular menu in the device’s accessibility settings. And if you’re looking to download the app, it’s absolutely free on the Play Store.
