Navigating the iOS interface without having to use your fingers will soon be possible in iOS 18. This is an accessibility feature that seems to be inspired by visionOS. As a reminder, the Apple Vision Pro offers a powerful eye tracking system, which allows you to navigate the interface smoothly and quickly. To achieve this, the helmet uses numerous sensors which are positioned in strategic locations.
© Apple x iPhon.fr
On the iPhone, however, the front camera is enough to offer effective eye trackingbut the result is of course not comparable to the Apple Vision Pro and sometimes lacking accuracy. In order to compensate for the lack of precision in eye tracking via the camera alone, Google offers a mouse that can be controlled with the entire face on Android.
Apple, for its part, is trying to integrate only eye tracking into iOS by using the Eye Tracking functionality of the Vision Pro. The goal is to expand the accessibility of the iPhone to more people. Thanks to that, People who live with physical disabilities will be able to navigate iOS much more easily.
Setting up and working with Eye Tracking
Setting up the functionality only takes a minute. To do this, it will be enough to go to the accessibility settings, then choose Eye Tracking. The user must then carry out calibration by following a point with your gaze. When the setup is complete, users will see a black dot on screenwhich serves as pointer to select items.
Additionally, when a user uses eye tracking in iOS 18, the feature Dwell Control activates. It helps avoid selecting unwanted elements on the screen, by providing a pause before the final click, in case the gaze has been mistakenly directed to a particular element. AppleInsider explains that:
Dwell Control selects items on the screen for the user, holding their gaze and not moving it for a few seconds. Dwell control can be completely disabled or customized using Assistive Touch settings.
Finally, iPhone owners who use this tool will be able to adjust several settings regarding tracking sensitivity, like for a mouse. For those who have already installed the iOS 18 beta and want to try the feature, it is good to take into account that it is still in its early stages. The accuracy is not perfect, but there is no doubt that it will improve over time.
By: Keleops AG
