Google has a service that provides different accessibility functions so that everyone can use an Android mobile comfortably. The call Accessibility Suite Android has recently been updated with a new feature that allows people to control the terminal through facial expressions captured with the help of the front camera, as revealed XDA.
The function, available in Android 12 and baptized as “Camera Switches”, is capable of detecting the different facial gestures to associate them with a specific action. Until now, people with motor difficulties could use a Switch connected via USB or via Bluetooth connection. “Camera Switches” are already three alternatives to control the navigation of the screen without touching it.
Everything indicates that it will not be necessary for the front camera to have a depth sensor – commonly used for facial unlocking on a mobile phone – although this lens could improve the recognition of gestures with Android 12 or future versions.
This is how Camera Switches works on Android
The initial setup steps consist of register the different expressions to later be able to assign them to one of the available actions. For example, smile to open an application, look to the right to play the next track, etc.
The facial gestures that are supported are the following: open mouth, smile, raise eyebrows, look left, look right and look up. The list of actions, on the other hand, is broader. Users can customize the duration or intensity of gestures so that they can be synchronized with another action. These are the controls that can be performed in Android 12.
- Select (click on a button, for example).
- Hold down.
- Next.
- Previous.
- Start.
- Behind.
- Scrolling forward.
- Scrolling back.
- Access to notifications.
- Access to Android quick settings.
- General view.
- Disable “Camera Switches”.
- Toggle auto scan.
- Invert auto scan.
When “Camera Switches” is activated on an Android mobile, a badge will appear in the upper area of the screen. The icon also confirms that the camera is in use at all times.
This novelty will arrive with Android 12, the new version of Google’s operating system that will begin to be deployed in the coming months. Users who have a mobile with Android 11 and want to try this novelty, can do so by downloading the latest APK from APKMIrror.