Apple Unveils New iOS 18 CarPlay Features Ahead of WWDC

Apple has released a sneak preview of three new features for CarPlay, set to debut with iOS 18 at the upcoming Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) on 10 June. This announcement comes amidst anticipation for Google's reveal of updates to Android Auto and Android Automotive at Google I/O.

The upcoming CarPlay features include voice control, colour filters, and sound recognition, all aimed at enhancing accessibility for users with various needs. Voice control will allow users to navigate CarPlay and control apps using only their voice, while colour filters will make the interface more visually accessible for individuals with colour blindness. For deaf or hard of hearing drivers and passengers, sound recognition will provide notifications for driving-related sounds such as car horns and sirens.

These features have already been available on iPhone and iPad, and their introduction to CarPlay comes as part of Apple's recent launch of accessibility-related features ahead of Global Accessibility Awareness Day. Other new features for iPhone and iPad include eye tracking, music haptics, vocal shortcuts, and vehicle motion cues. Mac users will also benefit from the ability to customise voiceover keyboard shortcuts and Mandarin support for personal voice, while the Apple Vision Pro will receive system-wide live captions, reduced transparency, smart invert, and dimmed flashing lights.

Regarding the eye tracking feature, Apple stated, "Powered by artificial intelligence, Eye Tracking gives users a built-in option for navigating iPad and iPhone with O just their eyes. Designed for users with physical disabilities, Eye Tracking uses the front-facing camera to set up and calibrate in seconds, and with on-device machine learning, all data used to set up and control this feature is kept securely on device, and isn't shared with Apple."

Music haptics, another new feature, leverages the Taptic Engine to play taps, textures, and refined vibrations that correspond to the audio from the music. Vehicle motion cues, on the other hand, animate dots on the edges of the screen to represent changes in the vehicle's motion, helping to reduce sensory conflict without interfering with the main content. This feature utilises sensors on the iPhone and iPad to recognise when a user is in a moving vehicle and respond accordingly.