It’s pretty amazing what you can do with a smartphone camera and we’re not talking about taking pictures or video.
No, today we’re talking about accessibility options that the cameras on these devices bring, namely allowing users to access features and functions through the use of facial expressions.
Android 12 hopes to bring all of this to the next level with facial expressions that are assignable to core smartphone functions the home button, scanning through media, stopping and starting it, and reviewing notifications, among many others.
The option to do this is located in the Accessibility app’s Switch Access sub-menu where you will find six facial expressions ( Open Mouth, Smile, Raise Eyebrows, Look Left, Look Right and Look Up) that can be mapped to one of many functions, DP Review reports from an article originally published on XDA Developers.
The functions that can be mapped include Pause Camera Switch, Toggle auto-scan (disabled), Reverse auto-scan, Select, Next, Previous, Touch & hold, Scroll forward, Scroll backward, Home, Back, Notifications, Quick Settings, and Overview.
You can also adjust other parameters such as how long a certain expression should be held by your face to activate the assigned option.
Interestingly, the report indicates that these accessibility features could make their way to Android 11-compatible devices as well.
Just one among many ways that cameras are changing the way we interact with the world around us.
If you missed our augmented reality article from not too long ago, you should check that out here at this link.
What do you think of the concept of using facial expressions as a way to navigate your smartphone’s interface? Let us know what you think of Android 12 and what is promises in the comments below.
Check out our other photography news on Light Stalking at this link right here.
