An iPhone user with Multiple Sclerosis reached out to a friend for assistance in setting up her device to answer calls without having to physically pick it up. The friend searched online and found that connecting AirPods or an Apple Watch was the only way to achieve this, as it would allow Siri to announce incoming calls and listen for voice commands.
However, the friend wanted a solution that didn’t require additional hardware. So, he contacted Apple Support for help. Apple responded by providing instructions on how to use Voice Control on the iPhone.
What is Voice Control?
Voice Control allows users with mobility impairments or other disabilities to interact with their devices using voice commands. To enable Voice Control on an iPhone running iOS 13 or later, follow these steps:
- Open the Settings app.
- Navigate to Accessibility > Voice Control.
- Turn on Voice Control by tapping or sliding the toggle next to it and waiting for any necessary downloads.
Features of Voice Control
Once enabled, users can access various features such as:
- Swiping gestures
- Text-to-speech functionality
Accepting or Declining Calls
For example, when receiving a call (not FaceTime), users can:
- Say "five" to accept the call.
- Say "six" to decline the call.
Limitations of Voice Control
There are some caveats when using Voice Control:
- Numerical labels may not consistently appear in all apps.
- Occasionally, words attached aren’t clear choices.
- Learning all available actions takes time.
Additionally, there is no built-in way within iOS settings alone to simply say something like "answer" when you receive a call. However, there is a workaround:
Enabling Siri for Verbal Responses
- Enable Siri’s ability to listen for verbal responses during phone calls via Siri settings under Talk & Type > Siri > Hang Up Calls.
- This feature requires allowing your device to listen continuously while making or receiving phone/FaceTime/video calls.
Note: This method may not work with third-party video conferencing apps like Zoom or Webex, and it won’t function if you are already engaged in a conversation.
Conclusion
Apple has made efforts towards improving accessibility features in recent years, including advancements in AI-powered speech recognition models. However, many consumers still struggle to find effective ways to utilize these features, especially those dealing with physical disabilities related to aging, injury, illness, mental health conditions, cognitive impairments, neurological disorders, and vision or hearing loss.
Key Takeaways
- Enable Voice Control through Settings > Accessibility > [toggle].
- Use specific voice commands such as "read" followed by numbers 5-9.
- Note limitations of numerical labels appearing consistently across apps.
- Consider enabling Siri’s ability to listen for verbal responses during phone calls.
I’m Mark W. Lamplugh Jr., a visionary Chief Executive Officer, Board Member, and best-selling Author with over 25 years of experience driving significant revenue growth and optimizing ROI across the healthcare, wellness, and media industries. Throughout my career, I’ve consistently transformed underperforming operations into thriving ventures by building top-tier marketing organizations, implementing data-driven strategies, and leading transformational change. My empathetic, collaborative, and adaptable leadership style has allowed me to cultivate inclusive cultures of innovation, develop and retain top talent, and forge strong partnerships that fuel organizational success.
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Mark (https://marklamplugh.com) is one of the top marketing executives in the United States and has revolutionized how companies reach potential clients thru influence, SEO, social, PR, and traditional marketing. His expertise in Marketing, Social Media, Digital Marketing, and Public Relations has generated millions of dollars in revenue for several national companies. Mark documents many of his techniques in his book “Beginners Guide to Social & Digital Media.” and “Marketing Playbook for Social Media,” which was named the top 100 social media marketing books of all time by Book Authority. He’s also a professional advocate for the behavioral and mental health of firefighters and other first responders. Marks articles have been published in Better Marketing, Startup Magazine, Social Media Today, Kivo Daily, Biz Catalyst 360, Fire Engineering, Firehouse Magazine, and several others.
One of his companies, niches, are marketing products and services to the public safety industry and their employees, specifically mental & behavioral health services. He can be reached for comment at ceo@influencemediasolutions.com
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