Tap Into Accessibility with These Underused Smartphone Features

What if I told you that a handheld device you use daily is over a million times more powerful than the computer that put astronauts on the moon? Five decades later, smartphones have become keys to independence, innovation, and creativity. But are you getting the most out of yours?

Read on to learn about features and apps available on most smartphones that can enhance accessibility in your daily life.

Voice control

Tyler Dukes is a DevOps professional.

While voice assistants have come a long way, Siri, Alexa, and even Google can’t control all of the functions on your phone. Enter voice control. Voice control is available on iPhone and Android (Google, Samsung, Motorola) smartphones as a standard feature to manage your device hands-free.

Voice control uses your device’s microphone to actively listen for a keyword, such as an app name or number, and an action. Commands are generally intuitive, such as “Open Facebook,” “Scroll down,” or “Take a screenshot.” Check your device’s accessibility feature for specific commands and options.

Enable voice control on an iPhone:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Select Accessibility.
3. Choose Voice Control.
4. Tap Set Up Voice Control.

Enable voice control on a Samsung Galaxy* phone:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Select Accessibility, then Interaction
   and dexterity.
3. Choose Voice Access.
4. Tap Use Voice Access.

*Check with your phone maker for instructions for other Android phone models.

Switch control

If voice control doesn’t work for you — whether because your speech is impaired or you’re in a loud environment — controlling your device via switch is the way to go. This accessibility feature on iPhones and Android phones allows you to connect external switches to your device, such as joysticks or game controllers. You can set up the switch to scan your screen (the cursor moves from one item to the next) or perform actions tied to specific movements of the switch.

Enable switch control on an iPhone:

1. Connect your phone to a switch via
   Bluetooth or a cable.
2. Open the Settings app.
3. Select Accessibility.
4. Choose Switch Control, then Switches.
5. Tap Add New Switch to select the switch and choose settings.
6. Go back to Switch Control to turn the
   function on.

Enable switch control on a Samsung Galaxy* phone:

1. Connect your phone to a switch via Bluetooth or a cable.
2. Open the Settings app.
3. Select Accessibility, then Interaction and dexterity.
4. Choose Universal switch.
5. Tap Add switch to select the switch and choose settings.

*Check with your phone maker for instructions for other Android phone models.

Next-level automation

One of my favorite apps is IFTTT: if this, then that. (Free and paid plans are available.) This app allows users to automate tasks between apps and devices.

You can use the app to have the GPS location of your device trigger certain actions. Leaving home? The app can automatically turn off your smart lights and lock your smart front door. Going to work or school? Have your phone automatically go into silent mode when you arrive. Coming home at night? When you approach, your lights automatically turn on, and your front door unlocks. These are just a few of the actions you can program easily with IFTTT’s intuitive interface.

How to use IFTTT to send an automatic notification when you arrive at a location:

1. Download the IFTTT app and create an account.
2. Tap Create an Applet.
3. Select If This.
4. Choose Location.
5. Tap You enter an area.
6. Choose Connect and enable location services if needed.
7. Input the desired address, and select Save.
8. Select Create Trigger.
9. Tap Then That.
10. Search for Notifications.
11. Choose Send a Notification from the IFTTT app.
12. Create your message, and tap Create Action, Continue, then Finish.

Password managers

In today’s digital world, usernames and passwords abound. It is tempting to reuse the same password repeatedly. Who can remember all those symbols and numbers required by high-security standards? Unfortunately, it is a matter of when, not if, your password gets compromised.

Password managers make it easy to create a digital vault for all your unique passwords; you only need to remember the password to your vault. iPhones and Android phones come with password managers that are good within their ecosystems. But, if you want to access your password manager across multiple devices and operating systems, opt for a third-party password manager, such as Bitwarden (free and paid plans available) or OnePassword (requires a paid plan).

How to use a password manager:

1. Download your chosen password manager and create an account.
2. Follow directions to complete the user setup.
3. When you log in to a website, the password manager will capture the password and save it for you. It will warn you if you try to reuse a password.
4. The next time you visit the website, it will prompt you with the option to fill in the password for you.
5. Some password managers can spot fake websites and notify you if your password appears in a known data breach so you can change it.

Artificial intelligence (AI)

The next frontier within the digital space is AI chatbots. Open AI’s ChatGPT and Anthropic’s Claude are the two front runners within the space right now. Both have mobile apps for iPhone and Android and work well with phones’ native accessibility tools.

Here are some ideas for using an AI chatbot to improve accessibility in your life, with prompts to get started. Pro tip: Write your prompt like a message to a friend, not a machine.

Ideas and prompts:

• Learn what an AI chatbot is and how to use it.
  • Prompt: Hello, I’m new to using AI chat models. Can you help me understand what you can do and how I can get started with you?
• Create a personal care attendant (PCA) ad tailored to your needs.
  • Prompt: Help me craft a personalized ad for a personal care attendant (PCA) based on my specific needs, schedule, and preferences. Ask me questions to gather all the necessary details if I don’t provide enough information.
• Develop a PCA task list and caregiving plan.
  • Prompt: Help me create a detailed PCA task list and caregiving plan. Ask me questions to ensure all tasks are covered and highlight any potential issues.
• Write polished social media posts in your voice.
  • Prompt: Help me craft a social media post by asking me about the content, style, and tone I want. Use my responses to create an engaging and tailored message.
• Plan a trip with accessible activities at your destination.
  • Prompt: Help me plan a trip to my destination by suggesting interesting events and venues. Ask me about my preferences and accessibility needs, like wheelchair accessibility, and include tips to navigate accessibility challenges while maximizing enjoyment.

As technology continues to advance, more tools are available. Explore, experiment, and embrace the possibilities of your smartphone to make life simpler, more accessible, and infinitely innovative.

Tyler Dukes is a DevOps Manager at PDI Technologies. He leverages his professional expertise and experience living with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) to explore technology’s potential to enhance accessibility.