Many people assume that Face ID on apple devices is not accessible and have trouble getting started using it. The good news is it can be a quick and easy way to unlock your phone or iPad regardless of vision impairment. Face ID can also be used for Apple Pay allowing for you to be able to pay for things with your phone and in the App store to authorise downloads.
Positioning the phone/tablet
Getting the position of the phone just right can be a bit alien to master, particularly for low-vision users who may hold their phone slightly closer.
Tips
- Hold the phone almost at arm’s length.
- Try to hold the phone horizontal to your face. If this is difficult to judge, gently place the phone on your forehead, then slowly move it away until it unlocks — muscle memory will soon help you find the right angle and distance.
- Try to avoid looking down or up at the phone.
For low-vision users when setting up Face ID, it may be helpful to enable VoiceOver so you can hear prompts clearly and adjust the phone to the required distance.
Recommended accessibility settings
- Go to Settings and tap Accessibility.
- Scroll to the Physical and Motor section.
- Tap Face ID & Attention (opens a new screen).
- Turn off Require Attention for Face ID.
- Turn off Attention-Aware Features.
- Turn on Haptic on Successful Authentication.
This stops your device checking for eye contact with the front-facing camera, prevents automatic screen dimming based on gaze, and enables a small vibration when unlocking or approving payments with Face ID (e.g., Apple Pay).
For more information, please contact OpenSight:
Tel: 023 80 641 244
Email: [email protected]
