Google highlights Android 1.6 accessibility features

Android 1.6 includes a text-to-speech engine which works in five languages

Google has unveiled new accessibility features that form part of the Android 1.6 update for mobile phones.

Android 1.6, also known as 'Donut', was released last month and follows Android 1.5, known as 'Cupcake', which was released in April.

The announcement was made by Google research scientist T.V. Raman, who is blind and well known for building and tailoring technology to help visually impaired people. Raman has already built a version of Google's search service tailored to blind users.

Raman said in a blog post that Android 1.6 now includes a text-to-speech engine which works in English, French, Italian, Spanish and German.

Android 1.6 also includes a set of easy-to-use accessibility application programming interfaces that allow the creation of aids such as screen readers for the blind.

Raman added that the platform will provide applications that use sound and vibration feedback, along with several user interface enhancements for using touch-screen input.

The accessibility features can be turned on by going to the Accessibility menu in Settings and checking the box.