At HTC, we continually strive to improve the accessibility of our devices for individuals with disabilities, including individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, or visually impaired.
We designed this accessibility webpage as a resource for information about accessibility and hearing aid compatibility. If you have any additional suggestions or questions, please contact HTC Customer Support at http://www.htc.com/us/support/. You can also reach Customer Support by email or our TTY phone number 855-580-2302 9:00AM -10:00PM ET for hearing impaired only. HTC’s website is designed to be compatible with screen readers and to comply with accessibility standards. Please contact Customer Support if you encounter any difficulties accessing this website.
The sections below provide more detailed information on the accessibility features found on HTC devices. Note that not all features may be included on every device – please refer to the user guide or support page for your device to identify the features it supports:
Vision
TalkBack
HTC’s mobile devices can be navigated using TalkBack, a screen reader that provides spoken feedback that enables users to operate the device without looking at the screen. TalkBack provides gestures to aid in navigating the device and can also read out content. Refer the user guide or support page for your device instructions on how to activate and use TalkBack (see the HTC One M9 support page, for example). Additional information on TalkBack can be found on the Android Accessibility Help site.
Font Sizes
In the Accessibility menu, users can modify the size of fonts, which applies to home screens, system menus, and some native apps on the device. Some apps (e.g., the Chrome browser) feature their own font settings.
Magnification Gestures
Magnification gestures enable users to zoom in and pan across the screen, no matter what app they are using. Once enabled, users can triple-tap the screen to activate the magnification gesture zoom, then pinch to adjust the zoom level. For more information on magnification gestures, see the Android Accessibility Help page.
Color Inversion
Color inversion reverses the colors shown on the screen (for example, white text on a black background would become black text on a white background). To feature easy to toggle on and off, most HTC devices enable it to be added to the quick settings menu, which can be accessed from any screen by a two-fingered swipe down from the status bar (see the HTC One M9 support page, for example).
Color Correction
Color correction can modify the way that colors are displayed on the device to account for color blindness, and includes options for deuteranomaly (red-green color blindness), protanomaly (red-green color blindness), and tritanomaly (blue-yellow color blindness). Color correction can be enabled in the Accessibility menu.
Switch Access
HTC devices can be configured to enable interaction using switches, which could be external keyboards or switches or the buttons on the device itself. Refer to the Android Accessibility Help page for more information on switch access. Additionally, devices can be configured to use the power button to end calls. This feature can be enabled in the Accessibility menu.
Voice Input
HTC devices feature the ability to use voice input for a variety of tasks. Voice commands can be used to place a call (see the HTC One M9 support page, for example) or to enter text (see the HTC One M9 support page). HTC’s Android devices also include Google Now, which supports a broad range of voice comments, including the ability set alarms, create calendar events, send texts and emails, adjust device settings, and get directions. Refer to the Google help page for more information on Google Now voice commands.
Braille Support
HTC’s Android devices offer support for braille displays via Google’s BrailleBack app. This downloadable app combines with TalkBack to provide a braille and speech interface. BrailleBack supports a variety of braille devices. See the Android Accessibility Help page for more information on Brailleback.
Notification Reminders
Users with visual impairments may not be able to see notification reminders on the screen, so HTC’s devices provide an option to set audio or vibration notification reminders to play for pending notifications at configurable intervals until the notification has been read. This feature can be enabled in the Accessibility menu.
Hearing
Hearing Aid Compatibility
HTC’s mobile phones provide a hearing aid compatibility (HAC) mode to enhance performance and reduce interference when used with hearing aids. Each device will be rated for performance for both acoustic coupling hearing aids and inductive coupling hearing aids. Refer to the FCC’s HAC page for more information on these ratings. HAC mode can be enabled in the Call settings menu. A full listing of HTC’s hearing aid compatible phones is available on HTC’s HAC page.
Sidetone
Sidetone is the immediate, low-level audio feedback of your own voice during a phone call. While sidetone is a standard feature for landline phones, most mobile phones do not provide sidetone. Since some users with hearing impairments prefer to have sidetone, HTC has added sidetone as an option when HAC mode is enabled. Sidetone can be activated in the Call settings menu.
Closed Captions
HTC’s devices provide support for closed captions in preloaded video players, with options for the appearance and presentation of the captions. The captions can be enabled in the video players themselves or at a global level in the Accessibility menu.
Notification Options
To assist users who cannot hear audio notifications, most HTC devices include a notification LED that will flash when there are pending notifications. Vibration can also be used for notifications. Settings for notifications can be modified in the Sound & Notification menu.
Mono/Stereo Sound
HTC devices provide options to toggle sound output between stereo and mono, as well as to adjust the balance between right and left ears. These settings can be changed in the Accessibility menu.
Dexterity
Voice Input
HTC devices feature the ability to use voice input for a variety of tasks. Voice commands can be used to place a call (see the HTC One M9 support page, for example) or to enter text (see the HTC One M9 support page). HTC’s Android devices also include Google Now, which supports a broad range of voice comments, including the ability set alarms, create calendar events, send texts and emails, adjust device settings, and get directions. Refer to the Google help page for more information on Google Now voice commands.
Switch Access
HTC devices can be configured to enable interaction using switches, which could be external keyboards or switches or the buttons on the device itself. Refer to the Android Accessibility Help page for more information on switch access. Additionally, devices can be configured to use the power button to end calls. This feature can be enabled in the Accessibility menu.
Motion Gestures
Some HTC phones support motion gestures, which enable the user to answer a call by simply putting the phone up to their ear and to mute an incoming call by flipping the phone over. (see the HTC One M9 support page, for example)
HTC Sense Home
Many HTC devices offer the HTC Sense Home widget, which can provide a context-sensitive menu of apps based on the user’s location. This video provides more explanation. By presenting users with the apps they need, when they need them, this widget can reduce the need for users to search through multiple screens to find an app.
Touch and hold delay
User can adjust the amount of time before a touch on the screen becomes a “touch and hold” gesture. This can help users to avoid accidentally triggering “touch and hold” when they only intended to tap. The touch and hold delay can be adjusted in the Accessibility menu.
