Google separates some Android accessibility features from OS updates

broke some accessibility features into a separate app. Switch Access has transitioned from Android Accessibility Kit and is now available through the Play Store. Offering Switch Access features through a separate app could allow Google to roll out updates more frequently than having to do it at the operating system level.

The move could also allow Google to offer Switch Access features on older devices. This app is available on Android 8 of 2017 (aka Android Oreo) And after that.

Switch access allows users to operate their phone or tablet by means other than touchscreens, such as Note. They can use the front-facing camera to or external devices such as keyboards or buttons connected via USB or Bluetooth. The onboard volume buttons can also be used to control other aspects of the phone.

Users can set up one or more switches (i.e. front camera and/or other devices) through the app. They will be able to determine how the app scans their screen for actions they can take. The application can move between all items at once, scan row by row, or select a location on the screen using the scrolling lines.

Switch access can also assign action groups to different switches. Hit the corresponding switch for the color around the action you want to access, then keep narrowing things down until you get to the right element. Like indicates that, after you select an item, several interactive options are available, such as select, scroll, copy, and paste. A menu at the top of the screen provides access to system-wide settings, notifications, home screens, and a way to record shortcuts for more frequent and complex actions.

To get started with Switch Access, go to the main menu in your device’s interface accessibility Setting. The Switch Access app is available for free .