Colin Hughes

Wed 28 Aug 2024 // 10:35 UTC

OPINION Apple is gearing up for its annual fall event, where new iPhone and Apple Watch models traditionally make their debut. This year marks a significant milestone: It's been 10 years since the launch of the original Apple Watch. To commemorate this anniversary, the tech giant is expected to unveil a special edition, unofficially named the Apple Watch X.

Much like the iPhone X, which debuted in 2017 with a radical design shift, the Apple Watch X could sport a sleeker look and introduce a new magnetic band attachment system. Rumors suggest it might also come packed with enhanced health features, including blood pressure monitoring, according to reports.

While the Apple Watch is often celebrated as a beacon of modern technology, promising to bring the future to our wrists, this vision remains out of reach for many with severe upper limb disabilities. The primary culprit? Siri's persistent inaccessibility.

Waking Siri: A gesture too far

Despite Apple's strides in enhancing Siri's capabilities, for users with limited mobility, activating the voice assistant on the Apple Watch remains a frustrating challenge. The requirement to raise and move the wrist to wake the screen before issuing a voice command creates an unintended barrier, leaving those with severe physical disabilities unable to access Siri's full potential.

As someone who has used an Apple Watch since the Series 3 in 2017, I can attest to this shortcoming. Without effective voice control, the device is little more than an expensive ornament for some in the disabled community. This accessibility gap was the key reason I chose not to upgrade to the Apple Watch Ultra 2 last year.

Double Tap: Double trouble?

While features like AssistiveTouch have been introduced, they fall short of providing a comprehensive solution for users who cannot perform even subtle hand movements.

Last autumn, Apple introduced the Double Tap feature in watchOS 10, allowing users to perform common actions by tapping their index finger and thumb together. While it seemed promising for Siri activation, it turned out to be disappointing. Double Tap doesn't support Siri activation, and it also requires raising the wrist – another barrier for those with extremely limited mobility.

While some heralded Double Tap as an accessibility win, it remains inaccessible for individuals with severe muscle weakness or paralysis. The need for an alternative method to trigger Siri without relying on wrist movement is glaringly obvious.

The silent issue

The problem isn't just Siri's inaccessibility; it's the lack of conversation about it. Coverage of the Apple Watch often overlooks its significant accessibility challenges. With the recent Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2, which brought on-device Siri requests, the need for a more accessible Siri has never been more urgent.

A Siri that responds to accessible prompts

In an ideal world, Siri activation on the Apple Watch would transcend physical limitations. One possible solution could be modifying Double Tap to function without requiring wrist movement. However, the ultimate goal would be an always-listening Siri on the Apple Watch, similar to what we see on the iPhone and Mac.

Alternatively, Apple could introduce an accessibility setting allowing users with limited mobility to train the built-in motion sensor to recognize even the most subtle movements, bypassing the need for exaggerated wrist gestures.

Balancing act: Efficiency vs accessibility

Why hasn't Apple implemented an always-listening Siri on the Apple Watch? It likely boils down to battery life and resource management. The watch's smaller battery simply may not support the constant power demands of an always-on Siri detector. Yet, as technology advances, particularly with the integration of AI, more efficient solutions could emerge.

AI: The catalyst for change

AI could be the game-changer that finally brings always-listening Siri to the Apple Watch without compromising battery life. Advanced algorithms could optimize wake word detection, making it more resource-efficient. Additionally, on-device machine learning could personalize Siri's responses, reducing the need for constant server communication and preserving battery life.

Access to Siri: A potential lifesaver

Beyond the convenience factor, Siri's accessibility on the Apple Watch has profound implications for personal safety and health monitoring. For users with limited mobility, the ability to access emergency services, caregivers, and health data via Siri could be life-saving. With watchOS 10.2, Siri can now log and access health data, but without a reliable way to activate Siri, these features are effectively useless.

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We've all heard stories of the Apple Watch saving lives – whether it's rescuing someone lost at sea, alerting authorities when someone is trapped on a mountain, or detecting a dangerous fall. But for many disabled users like myself, the likelihood of the watch coming to the rescue is far slimmer. The reality is, without accessible features like a truly responsive Siri, the watch is just as unlikely to help me in my living room as it is in the middle of the Sahara Desert.

As someone living with a severe physical disability that would benefit from regular health monitoring, the inability to trigger these functions via Siri is more than an inconvenience – it's a critical flaw.

In fairness to Apple, it's not the only company whose smartwatches require significant wrist movement to operate. Google and Samsung watches have similar limitations. However, Google has just launched its Pixel Watch 3, featuring a technology called "Loss of Pulse," which uses AI to continuously monitor your pulse without compromising battery life. If the Pixel Watch 3 is using its battery for more features, it suggests the technology exists for an always-listening voice assistant on smartwatches. The question is, will Apple rise to the challenge?

I've written this piece to amplify the voices of those grappling with Siri's accessibility challenges on the Apple Watch and smartwatches generally. By shedding light on this ongoing issue, I hope to spark conversations, drive awareness, and advocate for a more inclusive future in wearable technology.

Smarter wake word detection and on-device voice recognition could pave the way for a future where technology truly knows no bounds – and no wrists need to be twisted. The pursuit of a Siri trigger that doesn't rely on wrist acrobatics isn't just a nice to have – it's an absolute necessity. ®