Microsoft’s Latest Hardware Is More Accessible and Customizable

Microsoft is adding accessibility hardware. The company showed attendees some new PC hardware it has developed for users with limited mobility. The wireless system will have an adaptive mouse, a button, and a hub to handle the connection to a Windows PC. Users set up the devices to do certain things. These new input devices can be used with existing accessories and can be further customized with 3D-printed add-ons. There is no price information yet.

Homegrown adaptive accessories are not new for Microsoft. The company launched an adaptive controller. The game controller has a layout of buttons and ports that can be used by the disabled. The packaging was designed to make it easier to unbox. The Surface adaptive kit, a sticker pack with 16 buttons, high-contrast keycap labels, lanyard tab with a loop for opening Surface laptops more easily, and port labels that can be used on cables and their respective ports were released by Microsoft last year.

Traditional keyboards and mice often limit how quickly and accurately disabled people can work, so the new device lineup is meant to replace them. The button can be used to program up to eight digital switches. Users can do things like open a new tab, copy and paste text, or send an email with a few simple physical movements. The 2-inch-square button has a variety of hardware options, including a D-pad, a joystick, and an accessory that turns it into a dual button, but you can 3D-print your own accessories to further extend its utility.

The mouse can be rearranged as well. The buttons and scroll wheel can be snapped into a more traditional mouse body. If you are right- or left-handed, you can swap the thumb controls on the mouse. The mouse and button can be connected to the hub, which will connect to your PC or phone. The accessories have internal batteries.

Cool aides.

Microsoft showcased a few previously announced software accessibility features at the Summit. The new features in Windows 11 include a feature called Focus to help those with attention deficit disorder avoid distraction, a live caption feature that can automatically caption audio content on the device, and a voice access feature that makes it easier for people with hearing impairments to communicate.

The company launched additional accessibility enhancements in the Microsoft Edge browser. People with low vision can now read auto-generated descriptions for missing alt text. The Editor feature is now available on Edge, giving you access to spell-check, text predictor, and other compositional aids.