Alexa App

Multinational tech giant Amazon has updated its Alexa app with light and dark modes and text scaling for improved accessibility for blind and partially sighted users.

Alexa is artificial intelligence (AI) technology, created by Amazon, that enables people to carry out a range of tasks through Alexa-enabled devices, such as creating shopping lists, playing music, getting medication reminders and asking for the weather forecast.

The Alexa app allows people to set up their Alexa-enabled devices and talk to Alexa when the app is open.

Advertisement | Continue story below

Users can choose between light and dark modes using their mobile device settings, according to Amazon, bringing benefits like increased readability and colour contrast.

The dark mode features offers benefits such as screen viewing comfort in low-light environments and improved device battery life, while the light mode will offer better readability and colour contrast that stands out in high-light environments. The Alexa app will default to light or dark mode depending on the customers mobile settings.

Text scaling offers improved accessibility for visually impaired users who can set their device’s font size to be larger than the standard size, enabling them to see larger text on most screens of the Alexa app proportional to their preferred accessibility setting.

Dennis Stansbury, Amazon’s UK Head of Alexa told THIIS: “The new Alexa app update with text scaling and light and dark modes builds on Alexa’s current accessibility features to help everyone feel more connected, more entertained and more independent.

“Following the launch of Alexa Show and Tell and the Alexa Accessibility Hub, we hope that these Alexa App updates will make life easier for our blind and partially sighted customers.”

The new app features are available on iOS devices worldwide and will be coming out soon on Android. Both features default to the customer’s mobile settings. Amazon has stated that it expects all existing Alexa app customers to have access to the update by the end of the month.

The accessibility of tech such as the Alexa App is changing the lives of blind and partially sighted people. Last August, Amazon unveiled Text Banner for Fire TV, a new assistive technology designed for customers with a narrow field of vision or vision impairments to make onscreen text easier to read.

THIIS ROUND-UP
Join the 3,750+ mobility professionals who stay informed with THIIS' twice-weekly industry updates.
We respect your privacy
https://thiis.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Alexa-App.pnghttps://thiis.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Alexa-App-150x150.pngLiane McIvorNewsroomSupplier NewsTrade NewsAccessibility,Alexa,Amazon,app,blind,dark,light,partially sighted,text scalingMultinational tech giant Amazon has updated its Alexa app with light and dark modes and text scaling for improved accessibility for blind and partially sighted users. Alexa is artificial intelligence (AI) technology, created by Amazon, that enables people to carry out a range of tasks through Alexa-enabled devices, such as creating...News, views & products for mobility, access and independent living professionals