Mobile phones have undergone an amazing transformation, providing a wide range of functions and features beyond simple voice and text communication. These are some of the most powerful features of your smartphone that you may not have known about.
Currently, we all have a mobile, whether Android or iOS, devices that have become essential in our day to day. But despite using them constantly, it is possible that we are unaware of many of their functions.
Some of them are hidden, while others we just don’t get the most out of. These smart devices have evolved considerably in recent years, ceasing to be just devices for calls and text messages to become multifunctional tools that offer us endless possibilities.
There is much more that your mobile can do, some of these functions are in the accessibility settings. Although originally designed to support people with special needs, the features are useful to virtually any user.
Modern mobiles are practically like a Swiss army knife, they have functions that expand their capabilities with the aim of offering a better experience to users. It is for this reason that in this article we share 5 incredible functions that you did not know that your mobile can do.
Activate subtitles in video calls
Both iPhone devices and Android devices offer features to add subtitles to video calls, podcasts, or phone calls.
The features are especially useful for the hearing impaired, but any user can take advantage of them.
For example, on a mobile with iOS 15 or later versions offers Live Text feature during video calls from FaceTime. This allows spoken text to be displayed in real time on the screen, making communication easier.
On the other hand, Android phones with recent versions of the operating system offer the real-time subtitles function. By turning it on in the accessibility settings, subtitles will be displayed on the screen during video calls, allowing you to visually follow the conversation.
Translate languages in real time
There are real-time translation apps that can help translate a conversation easily. These are apps that use voice recognition and machine translation technology to transcribe and translate the conversation while it is taking place..
On Android and iOS there is Google Translate, which offers the Interpreter Mode function. By selecting the source and target languages, the app will capture speech and display the translations in real time on the screen. It is worth mentioning that the feature can be used both in face-to-face conversations and in phone calls.
recognize sounds
Current mobiles are capable of recognizing sounds through audio recognition technology that identifies and classifies different types of sounds.
The function can alert if the dog is barking, a child is crying or if a window in the house has just broken.
On the iPhone you can activate the function by accessing the Setting and in Accessibilitywithin this section you simply have to enable sound recognition. The next step is to select sounds and activate the ones you want the mobile to recognize.
In Android there is a similar function, which can be activated by following the path Setting, Accessibility and sound notifications. Click on Open sound notifications and then in Activate.
Using headphones as sound amplifier headphones
It is important to mention that on both iPhones and Android devices, it is possible to use headphones as sound amplifier headphones. Features like Live Listen were specifically designed for the hard of hearingand you can set it up if you have a pair of AirPods or Powerbeats Pro wireless headphones synced to your iPhone or iPad.
It is possible to hear conversations, even through walls at close distances, although the sound quality may deteriorate depending on the thickness and material of the wall.
The feature also amplifies sound to even hear conversations, but it is not recommended to do so as you would be violating the privacy of others.
You can activate Live Listen on iPhone from the Setting, Control center, Hearing and select on the green sign +. To use it, open the Control center and touch the icon ear and then in listen live. In Android there is a similar feature that is enabled in Setting, Accessibility and Sound amplifier.
Read or describe aloud what you are touching on the screen
There are accessibility features on mobile phones that allow visually impaired users to access a description of what is happening on the screen. These functions are known as screen reading either screen description.
VoiceOver is an accessibility feature built into iPhone that provides a spoken description of what’s on the screen. When activated, you can touch items on the screen and the device will read them aloud. Similarly, you can use specific gestures to navigate the screen and get detailed information about some elements.
As for Android devices, there is the TalkBack function, which provides voice and tactile feedback to help users with visual disabilities to interact with the mobile. When activated, the device will describe items on the screen aloud as you touch or hover over them.
Mobile phones have become incredibly versatile devices, capable of much more than just making calls and sending text messages.. From the hidden functions that allow us greater customization and agility in the use of the device, to the communication and accessibility tools that facilitate our interaction with the digital world.
Source: Gear Rice