At Samsung, we design meaningful, human-centric innovations that offer people greater control and more enriching experiences in their daily lives. Through a variety of Galaxy features — from simple, easy devices gestures to auditory assistants and vision enhancements — we strive to open access to technology that works for people of all abilities.

To celebrate this year’s Global Accessibility Awareness Day, let’s take a look at some of these features and how we continue to bridge barriers.

Making the Galaxy Experience More Accessible

Adding Clarity With Relumino Mode

Born out of Samsung’s in-house incubator, Relumino Mode was designed to improve the lives of those with low vision by increasing the visibility of on-screen text and images. This feature enhances the screen’s contrast and brightness and sharpens image outlines and shapes, enabling users to easily discern content on their devices.

To understand our users’ perspectives and needs, we collaborated with advisors with low vision, researchers, engineers, programmers and testers to develop a solution for inclusive visual displays. Relumino Mode is the product of years of research and development to advance Samsung’s goal of providing “Screens for All” and improving the viewing experience for those with limited vision. This new feature is available in the Samsung Galaxy S24 series and beyond.

From following a ball during a sports match to reading smaller text on a news broadcast, Relumino Mode¹ helps users with low vision to connect with the world and enjoy content that matters most to them.

Enabling Relumino:

Providing Audio Descriptions With TalkBack

The TalkBack² feature, also known as Voice Assistant, is designed to help users with low or no vision to get the most out of their device experience without looking at their screens. This feature transforms Galaxy smartphones and tablets into an intuitive audio interface. As users navigate their devices, Talkback can provide speech feedback for anything they touch, highlight or select, such as menus, emails and notifications. TalkBack shortcuts can also be enabled for more seamless navigation.

Navigating the screen is simple. With easy-to-use gestures, such as Swipe Left, Double Tap or Use Two Fingers To Scroll, TalkBack provides users the freedom to control their devices conveniently.

Turning on TalkBack:

1) Launch the Settings app, and then select Accessibility

2) Tap TalkBack

3) Tap the switch to activate TalkBack

Bringing Media to Life With Live Captions

Live Captions³ helps those who are hard of hearing to follow their favorite media and audio content effortlessly. The feature transcribes audio as it plays through the device in real-time. With Live Captions, users can better enjoy videos, podcasts, phone and video calls, audio messages and voicemails.

Live Captions are available in English, French, German, Hindi, Italian, Japanese and Spanish.⁴

Activating Live Captions:

1) Open Device Settings

2) Tap on Accessibility

3) Tap on Hearing Enhancements

4) Turn on Live Caption

Fostering Inclusivity Through Accessories and Wearables

Amplifying the World With Ambient Sound

The Galaxy Buds2 Pro features an Ambient Sound setting that adapts background noise at five levels of amplification,⁵ designed to cater to a diverse range of needs and situations. This feature gives users the ability to customize how they want to hear and experience sound. From making a conversation more audible to increasing the noise of traffic at a crosswalk, the Ambient Sound feature allows users to participate in social interactions while being aware of their surroundings.

Setting up Ambient Sound:

1) Insert both Buds into your ears

2) Open the Galaxy Wearable app

3) Tap on Earbud settings

4) Tap on Accessibility

5) Tap the Ambient Sound button

Reimagining Your Galaxy Watch With Universal Gestures⁶

Universal Gestures offers an innovative way to use your Galaxy Watch touch-free. With four intuitive gestures, Make Fist, Make Fist Twice, Pinch and Double Pinch, users can navigate their Galaxy interface, open apps, scroll messages and more, without needing to push down or touch the screen with force.

Prompting Universal Gestures:

1) Open Device Settings

2) Tap on Accessibility

3) Scroll to the Interaction and Dexterity Section

4) Turn Universal Gestures on

A Better World for Everyone

Samsung is on a journey to advance a more inclusive and sustainable future through our innovations and open collaborations, and will continue to take steps in delivering accessibility features to our devices, so more people can enjoy what our Galaxy products have to offer. The work does not end here.

For more information, visit our Galaxy Mobile Accessibility page.

¹ Relumino Mode is available on Galaxy S24 series operating on One UI 6.1 or above.
² Talkback is available on all Galaxy smartphones.
³ Live Caption is available on Galaxy smartphones with 4GB memory or higher.
⁴ Additional languages will be available in coming updates.
⁵ Additional two levels can be activated in the Laboratory — Ambient Sound menu under Earbuds settings in the Galaxy Wearable app.
⁶ Universal Gestures is available on Galaxy Watch6, Watch5 and Watch4 series with One UI 5 Watch.

In honor of Global Accessibility Awareness Day on May 16, Samsung Newsroom has outlined the accessibility features of Bespoke AI appliances that allow easy and convenient use for all.

Designed With Mobility in Mind

Both Samsung’s Bespoke 4-Door Flex Refrigerator with AI Family Hub and Bespoke AI Laundry Combo feature Auto Open Door — a function that helps users open the doors of these appliances. Refrigerator doors will open with a light touch, and laundry machine doors will open when turned on or when a cycle is complete. This function makes appliance use much easier for people who may struggle with opening doors such as the elderly or those in wheelchairs.

▲ Bespoke AI Laundry Combo with Auto Open Door

Full Control Through Audio and Voice

Bixby’s¹ voice command feature allows users to control devices around the home using only their voice, relieving the burden of device operation for people with low vision. Through voice commands, Bespoke WindFree Air Conditioner stand models can control other home appliances — such as refrigerators and washing machines — once connected to SmartThings.

Devices that offer Voice assistant audibly read user commands and the status of each appliance. Included on select Samsung air conditioners and robot vacuum cleaners, this feature will be expanded via a software update to the Bespoke AI Laundry Combo and other products equipped with AI Home — a 7-inch LCD touchscreen panel that helps control home appliances.

Accessible sounds — available on select refrigerator models for people with low vision — provide audio feedback in a series of distinct sounds with varying scales and syllable breaks, allowing users to better navigate operation controls. Samsung is now expanding this feature to Bespoke AI refrigerators and other products, so users can easily adjust the temperature of the refrigerator and freezer compartments.

▲ A usage example of Samsung Bixby’s voice command feature

Created for All Ages

Samsung is expanding its Senior Care feature to more appliances via AI Home to enhance readability through larger fonts.

Additionally, select induction cooktops feature Child Lock — a function that disables cooktop control to prevent accidental operation by children or pets. The lock can be controlled remotely on the SmartThings app.

Samsung plans to accelerate its development of accessibility technology under the slogan “AI for All” so that convenience in daily life can be enjoyed by everyone.

※ Availability of the features and functions mentioned above may vary by country and region, for applicable models only.

※ When connecting to the SmartThings is required: Users must download the SmartThings app available on Android and iOS devices. A Wi-Fi connection and a Samsung account are required.

¹ Bixby recognizes select languages and certain accents/dialects. The user interface may change and differ by device. The availability of Bixby features and content providers may vary depending on the country/carrier/language/device model/OS version. A Samsung account log-in and an internet connection (Wi-Fi or data network) are required.

“When Samsung launched Bixby nearly five years ago, we committed to continue improving this intelligent platform with new technologies and key partners that enable more experiences,” said Young Jip Kim, EVP and Head of the Artificial Intelligence Team at the Mobile eXperience Business, Samsung Electronics. “We are proud to bring Bixby to the millions of people who speak Latin American Spanish, joining the more than 200 million¹ people already using Bixby from nearly 400 million² devices worldwide.”

Benefits of Bixby, Now Available in Latin American Spanish

Bixby is a powerful, intelligent voice assistant that helps Samsung Galaxy users navigate their devices and organize their lives, just like a real-world personal assistant. It can help launch apps and settings, remember appointments and tasks and generally reduce everyday hassles. Bixby can even communicate with others by answering calls, composing messages and more.

Intelligence depends on the ability to understand and engage with commands, regardless of phrasing. Until now, South and Latin American users had to use European Spanish with Bixby. The new support for Latin American Spanish will let them use local dialects, accents and nuances for more natural interactions with their device.

Latin American Spanish support means even more Samsung Galaxy users can now rely on Bixby’s intelligence and convenience, particularly in the United States, the second largest Spanish-speaking country and the region with the most Bixby users.

What Is Next for Bixby

Bixby has grown immensely in the past few years, as registered users more than doubled, surpassing 200 million in 2022.

At the recent Samsung Developer Conference 2022 in San Francisco, Samsung outlined other recent developments, including new Smart Home features. As users expand their connected ecosystems, Bixby’s voice control and seamless integration with devices will play an important role in monitoring and managing every room of the home.

Latin American Spanish for Bixby is available today for select Samsung Galaxy models including the Galaxy S22, Galaxy S21, Galaxy Z Flip4 and Galaxy Z Fold4 after going through a software update. Support for additional devices will roll out soon, including Galaxy S20 and Z Flip3 in December, with further expansion planned for early 2023.

¹ Based on our number of Bixby-enabled users during October 2022.
² Based on our number of Bixby-enabled Samsung devices across mobile, TV and home appliances.

Samsung Electronics creates technology that is accessible and easy-to-use for customers, regardless of their age, race, gender, or ability. Following Global Accessibility Awareness Day on May 16, Samsung has released a visual story that details how the company designs products for everyone.