Google has announced that lock screen widgets will be coming to Android smartphones later this year.
This feature will allow users to personalise their lock screens with interactive tools such as weather updates, news, and smart home controls.
The new feature has the potential to improve digital accessibility for people with disability.
For example:
– Users who are blind or with low vision can access important information without having to unlock their device.
– Users who have physical disability can control smart home devices directly from the lock screen.
Google has built in security measures to prevent unauthorized access. Actions that launch an app from a widget will require user authentication via fingerprint, PIN, or facial recognition. The feature is expected to roll out with the release of Android 16 later this year. Device manufacturers and app developers will need to implement the feature for it to work on specific devices.
For more information, please read business-standard’s article about the upcoming rollout of Android’s lock-screen widgets.