Google Launches Accessibility Features For Maps, Search And Chrome

Google has released new accessibility features and updates to Maps, Search and Chrome to help people complete everyday tasks faster and easier.

The new disabled community identity attribute is now available in Google Maps and Hau. It gives customers more information about the company and merchants can identify themselves as members of the community.

“This update builds on our existing business properties, including Asian-owned, Black-owned, Latino-owned, LGBTQ+-owned, Veteran-owned, and Women-owned,” said Eve Andersson, Google’s senior director of Products for All.

Lens in Maps (formerly Search with Live View) uses artificial intelligence and augmented reality to help people orient themselves in unfamiliar territory and discover new places using their phone’s camera.

To make this more accessible and useful for people who are blind or have low vision, Lens in Maps’ screen reader features are coming to iOS starting Tuesday and Android later this year.

“Having the ability to request wheelchair-accessible walking routes, which are published globally on iOS and Android wherever we have data available, you can get step-free routes when you request walking routes in Maps,” Andersson said.

This feature builds on Maps’ wheelchair-accessible transit navigation option, which shows people step-free transit routes.

Earlier this year, Google made it easier to find all wheelchair-accessible places on Google Maps for Android and iOS.

Now the company is starting to bring that information to business and location pages in Maps for Android Auto and cars with Google built-in.

When you search for a location on Google Maps and click on it, a wheelchair icon will appear if the location has a step-free entrance, accessible toilet, parking or seating.

Earlier this year, Google introduced a new feature to Chrome’s address bar that detects typos and displays suggested websites based on what Chrome thinks they mean.

“This feature extends to Chrome for Android and iOS, so you have the same experience across all your devices,” the company said.

For the low vision community, Magnifier allows you to use your camera to zoom in on something just like you would a physical magnifier.

The app can also improve text readability whether you’re reading a menu or a document, and has the ability to adjust controls like color filters, brightness, and contrast.

Magnifier is available on Google Play for Pixel 5 and later devices, excluding the Pixel Fold.

The Guided Frame feature now recognizes more than just faces, so you can use the front and back cameras to take photos of your pets, dinner, or even documents.

This update is already available for the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro, and will roll out later this year for the Pixel 6+, the company said.