In a recently released short film by Apple, the tech giant highlights its commitment to accessibility with the promotion of two groundbreaking features in iOS 17.
The film, directed by Taika Waititi, showcases “Personal Voice” and “Live Speech,” designed to enhance speech accessibility. “Personal Voice” enables users at risk of speech loss, such as those with conditions like muscular dystrophy, to create a voice that uniquely resembles their own.
Dr. Tristram Ingham, a real-life user of “Personal Voice” and a disability advocate with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy, stars in the film. The feature employs on-device machine learning, preserving the user’s real voice by having them speak a series of text prompts aloud. The second feature, “Live Speech,” speaks aloud typed-out phrases and is applicable in various scenarios, enhancing communication for individuals with diverse speech patterns or disabilities.
These innovations reflect Apple’s dedication to making technology more inclusive, coinciding with International Day of Persons with Disability on December 3.
The film can be found on Apple’s Youtube channel.