Apple Watch and accessibility

Steven Aquino, writing for iMore:

Ever since Apple unveiled the Watch last September, I’ve heard from many in the accessibility community who have expressed trepidation in their enthusiasm for the watch. The common refrain is that the usability story of it for, say, a blind person is unknown. As I said, we with special needs need reasonable assurance that Apple Watch will be usable, particularly in light of the introduction of the digital crown and Taptic Engine.

I met with Apple for a hands-on briefing of the watch and its accessibility features. My aim with this article is to run down what’s available on Apple Watch, accessibility-wise, as well as share a few observations I have on their potential impact on watch wearers.

This is a first look at a brand new product. I suspect the accessibility aspects of Apple Watch will evolve over time and, certainly, the app community will help supplement Apple’s built-in offerings.