A new feature in the Android 12 beta allows you to control your phone with your face.
XDA Developers spotted Android 12 beta on Sunday, which makes use of the company’s Accessibility API and facial recognition technology in a new feature called Camera Switches. Camera Switches is now available in the latest update to the Android Accessibility Suite app.
The most recent feature allows users to interact with their Android devices. Instead of using the touchscreen, users can use their faces. According to XDA, the app recognizes gestures such as opening your mouth, smiling, and raising your brows to perform whatever action you assign to the gesture, such as returning to your phone’s home screen, scrolling forward or backward, opening the notifications panel, and more.
Previously, you are only allowed to choose an external device by the Switch Access setting within the app, such as a keyboard, and connect the two devices via USB or Bluetooth. The latest feature allows anyone to use facial gestures as “switches” to control certain aspects of their phone.
XDA noted that the feature was released in the Android 12 beta version of the app, but it was also discovered to be compatible on Android 11 devices by sideloading the APK. In any case, it appears that the feature will be available to everyone when Android 12 is released this fall.
Android isn’t the only operating system that has added more accessibility features aimed at making it easier for people with disabilities to use their devices. Apple introduced impressive new accessibility features in May, including AssistiveTouch for the Apple Watch, bi-directional hearing aid support, and eye-tracking support for the iPad.
According to experts, the more companies prioritize accessibility, the more it will become the norm, particularly in terms of cognitive accessibility.
