Apple will add live captions to its iPhone, iPad and Mac

While the Cupertino company released the iOS 15.5, iPadOS 15.5 and WatchOS 8.6 update on Monday; the apple brand continues to work on the features of tomorrow, and on one in particular which was presented yesterday, Tuesday. Apple has indeed explained that live captions will be coming to iPhones, iPads and Macs in an update later this year.

If this feature should mainly be used for people who are deaf or hard of hearing, where the advantages are undeniable, this option could also be used for other people; who do not suffer from any hearing impairment. According to Apple, the feature should be used mainly during a call on Facetime, whether from its iPhone, iPad or Mac.

Apple opens its functionality to others

But more surprisingly for Apple, this feature is not reserved for Apple’s home application. The firm has indeed announced that the subtitles should also be available on other videoconferencing or social media applications, without giving the list today.

In the detail of the functionality, Apple explains that users will also be able to adjust the size of the font to facilitate the reading of subtitles. A little extra that adds to a feature already very well thought out by Apple. Last point addressed by the Apple brand in its presentation, the latter explains that it will be possible to use this feature on Mac, but that this will allow you to type a response on the keyboard, which will then be read aloud by the computer within the call. Always with the aim of helping and including deaf and hard of hearing people.

A new option, but still with privacy

Apple specifies that this new feature should be respectful of privacy and data confidentiality, a very strong line of work on the part of the Apple brand which has placed a lot of emphasis on this point in recent months. According to Apple, the subtitles will be automated locally and the discussion information between two people will therefore remain between these two people, neither Apple nor a third party will have a right of access to this data.

Regarding enabling this feature. Apple explains that there will be two different possibilities for users. The first is to add this function by default, directly in the device settings. The second, more useful on a case-by-case basis, will be to click on a small “subtitle” icon in the video call so that they start automatically.