Android is an operating system that has many accessibility options that facilitate the use of smartphones by people with hearing, vision or other limitations. Even if you don’t have any of them, accessibility functions can be very useful at certain times, and deserve to be known more thoroughly. I have gathered in this article the 5 best
Accessibility options may vary by device and version of Android. There are some accessibility settings native to Android that can be found on any device: TalkBack, font size, among others, but many others are less known, such as creating a dark theme for your device. Check out the range of options in your smartphone’s settings in particular, and see below the 5 that we find most interesting.
It is always worth exploring the Accessibility area of your Android / © NextPit (screenshot)
1. Magnification gesture
In the same way that maps on Google Maps can be zoomed in or out, the entire Android system potentially has the same possibility of viewing. When activating the zoom gestures, you can click three times on a point on the screen to zoom in or out.
If you click and hold three times, you can temporarily enlarge your screen and move the enlarged area with your finger. It is a very useful function when faced with very small font texts, and great to be activated when you give a device to your parents or elderly.
Perfect for your parents who can no longer see so well / © NextPit (screenshot)
2. Text-to-speech
This is probably the best known of all accessibility features. All you need to do is have the option activated and download the package for the Portuguese language. Then, just look for compatible apps and ask for the reading in voice, which can have tone and speed adjusted. It is very useful for when you cannot hold your smartphone, or even look at it.
Note that it is not in every app that this good feature works. With a news app like Pocket, for example, everything was fine, but in an expected one, like Chrome, he didn’t give the option. The cool thing is that an audio control appears at the bottom of the screen, depending also on the app.
For when you are cleaning the house, taking a shower, etc. / © NextPit (screenshot)
3. Color inversion
If you’re one of those who keeps Android P bringing the dark theme, there is a «gambiarra» to make it happen on Android. Use the Accessibility Color inversion and, as the name says, the system colors will be inverted.
It is worth saying that, in addition to not being the whole system that reverses (the shortcut bar does not do this, for example), the resulting colors can be a little bizarre. The background of the Settings and app drawer is black, in addition to the notifications, but the app icons also change color and look very different.
Is there a bizarre dark theme there? / © NextPit (screenshot)
4. TalkBack
TalkBack is a good option for people who can’t see very well. In addition, you can use it if your screen is experiencing image problems, but still respond well to touch. When activating the option, everything you click will be read aloud first, and only after two clicks will the command be performed.
The additional options of TalkBack are numerous, and it is worth checking out the most useful ones for your need, such as the one that starts reading when you shake the device and reduce other audios when speaking. Another feature, called Select To Listen, works in a similar way.
Sometimes you need more system help / © NextPit (screenshot)
5. Switch access
If you have no problem spending your volume buttons, you can configure them for one of the several actions of this function. You can give new uses not just to volume, but to more specific ones like camera or assistants.
In the settings of this access you choose verification (selection, next and previous) or actions, such as scrolling, pressing and holding, notifications and others. Pushing the physical buttons also leads to a menu that covers the entire screen and offers shortcuts. Good for when the touch of the screen is not there those things.
Learn to work with it and save time / © NextPit (screenshot)
Those were just five of Android’s many accessibility settings. On your device, they may appear under different names, so it’s worth exploring this often overlooked section of our Android smartphone.
Do you use any accessibility options? Tell us your tricks!
