Accessibility in Surface Copilot+ PCs: Innovation meets inclusivity

[Guest Claudia-Quian]

Surface products are built to empower everyone on the planet to achieve more. When we develop inclusive products, we also create a more comfortable and empowering computing experience for everyone. Our journey involves continuous learning from the disability community, placing them at the heart of our design process to develop solutions that empower and support their potential.

 

 

 

Our accessible offerings are comprehensive, ranging from an ecosystem of adaptive accessories to adaptive features built into our hardware and software. With the new Copilot+ PCs from Surface, we have built adaptability into the fabric of our hardware and software, resulting in products that are inclusive by design. We developed products and services that seamlessly integrate the power of Surface devices, Copilot and Windows 11 into a complete Microsoft Accessibility solution. Learn more about how of Copilot + PCs are thoughtfully designed to help everyone work, learn, play, and communicate in the way that is most natural to them.

 

 

 

[HEADING=1]Surface – Inclusive from concept to creation[/HEADING]

 

Surface devices focus on empowering employees to be their most productive selves with features that allow them to adapt their device to their needs, and our latest devices are no exception. The Surface Laptop and Surface Pro are examples of how our inclusive design is creating better experiences for everyone.

 

 

 

Surface Laptop features the adaptive touch mode in the Surface Precision Haptic touchpad, the most inclusive touchpad on the market. We first launched the adaptive touch mode in the Surface Laptop Studio 2, and now we are extending it to other products in the portfolio such as Laptop and Surface Pro Flex .

 

 

 

The Surface Precision Haptic touchpad empowers users with limited mobility and a wide range of dexterity capabilities to easily adjust the touchpad to their preference. Touchpads are difficult or impossible for people with limb differences, Cerebral l Palsy, or disabilities like arthritis given the touchpad in standard mode does not respond to limb different input.

 

 

 

With the precision haptic touchpad employees can now use the touchpad with different parts of their limbs, such as palms, feet, or even residual limbs. The software and haptic motors create realistic feedback when tapped or clicked, providing precise mouse control with imprecise contact. Haptic technology is revolutionizing the way we interact with our devices, and the Surface Precision Haptic touchpad is a top example of this innovation. By employing haptic motors, the touchpad delivers tactile feedback that simulates the sensation of physical clicks or taps, despite the touchpad itself remaining stationary.

 

 

 

This advanced technology creates viations that can be finely tuned to replicate a variety of textures and responses, providing users with a more intuitive and immersive experience. Users can easily turn on haptic settings in the Surface app with a simple toggle switch and customize the settings of the haptic touchpad to work for their specific needs. They can head to the Surface App, click on touchpad settings at the bottom of the list, and toggle Adaptive Touch on. With Adaptive Touch active, the touchpad responds to limb different input. Here, individuals can customize the touchpad settings to adjust the resize of the right click region, adjust the force required to register a click, and time between clicks to register a double click.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additionally, Surface Pro, paired with the Surface Pro Flex Keyboard,1 transforms into the most inclusive 2-in-1 Surface device. The Surface Pro is lightweight and versatile. The kickstand allows for easy adjustment of the device’s angle and position for maximum comfort and convenience. This is a great benefit for users who need to accommodate the device to fit in different workspaces, for example, mounted to a wheelchair.2 Surface Pro’s adaptability enables users to use the device as a tablet with touch or pen input, which can be easier for some people than using a keyboard or a mouse. Surface Pro also features high-quality microphones for dictation and multi-touch screens with digital ink for more natural and tactile interactions that enhance the accessibility experiences available in Windows 11.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[HEADING=2]Surface Pro Flex Keyboard: The most inclusive 2-in-1 keyboard[/HEADING]

 

The Surface Pro Flex keyboard is another step forward into user-device interaction and inclusive design. The most inclusive 2-in-1 keyboard on the market today features the innovative precision haptic touchpad, attach and detach capabilities that give employees the flexibility to use their device and keyboard where it is most natural for them. Plus, options are available with bold keysets to make the keys more visible and easier to type. The Surface Pro Flex Keyboard3 with the optional bold keyset makes the keys easier to read, improving the readability of the keys and reducing eye strain.

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Inclusive keyboard design: The optional bold keyset version of the Surface Pro Flex Keyboard 1,3 is a thoughtful addition that transforms the Surface Pro into a more inclusive 2-in-1 keyboard. The Surface Pro Flex Keyboard with bold keyset has subtle accessibility features such as larger and bold font, high contrast, and Surface Pro brighter backlighting illuminating the keys to improve visibility, especially in low-light environments that make the keys more visible and easier to type. The optional bold keyset is also available on the Surface Pro Keyboard with pen storage.
  
• Flexibility that is most natural to you: The Surface Pro Flex Keyboard gives you the flexibility to use your keyboard separately from your device. 3 Empowering you to work more comfortably by having the freedom to place your device and keyboard where it is most natural for you.
  
• Compatibility: Surface Pro Flex Keyboard is backwards compatible and works on your Surface Pro X/8/9/101 running Windows 11.
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

[HEADING=2]Elevate your productivity and creativity with Surface devices and Microsoft adaptive accessories[/HEADING]

 

We’re also mindful of how we integrate our Surface devices with accessible accessories, Microsoft Copilot4 and Windows 11 accessibility features to create a complete Microsoft Accessibility solution.

 

 

 

The new Copilot+ PCs devices are inclusive of different work and input styles, empowering you to use your device in the most intuitive way to keep you in your flow. We all have different experiences, and preferences to interact with our devices. Some of us prefer to use touch gestures, typing and some of us like to use voice commands. Whatever your preference, Surface and Windows have you covered. You can ink with the Slim Pen, use touch or voice commands to create content, navigate apps, and control settings in the way that’s most natural for you.

 

 

 

The new dedicated Copilot Key5 on your Surface Pro Flex and Surface Pro keyboard provides instant access to a suite of unique experiences in Windows 11. Employees can reduce the number of clicks or keystrokes needed to complete a task, a major benefit to users with limited mobility. A single key press can invoke Copilot’s features. When combined with voice input, this significantly reduces the physical effort and energy required to navigate menus, use shortcuts, or perform multiple clicks.

 

 

 

The Microsoft adaptive accessories are another way to interact with your device if you want to increase your productivity by replacing or augmenting a traditional mouse and keyboard. You can create customizable keyboard inputs via the Microsoft Adaptive Hub and Microsoft Adaptive Buttons, to interact with apps more easily in your device.

 

 

 

Statistics show that more than 2 billion people may require the use of assistive products by 2030.6 Microsoft’s adaptive accessories are among the products that are empowering users today to use their computers more easily and efficiently.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Microsoft adaptive accessories have been available through Microsoft Online Stores for consumers since Fall 2022. We have heard positive feedback and excitement about these products from commercial customers. And this Spring, we made the Microsoft adaptive accessories available for our commercial customers through their preferred resellers.

 

 

 

The Microsoft adaptive accessories are a highly adaptable, easy-to-use accessories that lets you customize your own mouse, and augment your keyboard with button inputs, and shortcuts—empowering you to create your ideal setup, increase productivity, and use your favorite apps more effectively. Plus, you can have extra customization with additional 3D print designs through Shapeways.7

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of the biggest benefits of adaptive accessories is that they are wireless, setting them apart from other assistive tech on the market today. The wireless option and the lightweight and slim design of the adaptive accessories make them very portable.

 

Microsoft adaptive accessories work with any Windows device that has Bluetooth, giving you more options and flexibility. The Adaptive Mouse and Adaptive Hub are easy to pair up to three devices. as your device, giving employees the flexibility to take them wherever they work.

 

 

 

The Microsoft Adaptive Mouse empowers you to customize your mouse by attaching the first-party Microsoft Adaptive Mouse Tail and Thumb Support for a traditional mouse experience, which can be switched for left-handed users. Alternatively, you can further customize the Adaptive mouse with 3D printed tails, available through Shapeways,7 and personalized it to your changing needs. The Adaptive Mouse is light and small, making it a perfect compact travel mouse.

 

 

 

 

 

 

To learn more, see How to use Microsoft Adaptive Mouse.

 

 

 

Next, we have the Microsoft Adaptive Hub and Adaptive Buttons, designed to replace or augment traditional keyboards. Employees can program the adaptive hub and buttons and use shortcuts and sequence macros to more easily interact or open apps. The Adaptive Buttons have eight button clicks underneath that can each be configured to perform an action allowing you to interact with the apps and settings more easily in your device. For example, sending emails, writing documents, gaming, or editing pictures in Photoshop can be done more easily with the press of a single button.

 

 

 

The Adaptive Buttons come in three different options that are sold separately: the Microsoft Adaptive D-pad button offers a button topper with an eight-button layout. The Microsoft Adaptive Joystick button is a digital joystick that uses a joystick steam to interact with the button options. Finally, the Microsoft Adaptive Dual button offers a button topper with a scroll up and down layout. In addition to our Microsoft adaptive buttons, the Adaptive Hub has five 3.5mm audio jack ports that allow you to connect to up to five external buttons or standard assistive tech switches, giving you the flexibility to expand your PC set up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

To learn more about the Microsoft Adaptive Hub and the Microsoft Adaptive Buttons, see Adaptive accessories help & learning (microsoft.com).

 

 

 

Microsoft's commitment to inclusivity and accessibility is evident in the design and development of our latest products. The introduction of Surface Laptop and Surface Pro, along with the Surface Pro Flex keyboard, showcases a dedication to creating solutions that cater to the needs of all users. The Surface Pro Flex keyboard with bold keyset, and the adaptive touch mode in the precision haptic touchpad reflect our inclusive design based in the diversity of our users, enabling individuals to interact with their devices in a most natural and comfortable way.

 

 

 

The integration of Copilot4 with Surface devices and Windows 11 further enhances the user experience, offering users one full Microsoft Accessibility solution. Microsoft's journey of learning from people with disabilities and putting them at the center of the design process is a testament to the belief that technology should empower everyone.

 

 

 

As we look forward to the Spring release of these accessible solutions, it is clear that Microsoft is not only creating innovative technology but is thoughtfully considering how each feature can contribute to a more inclusive world providing users with the tools they need to work, learn, play, and communicate in the way that suits them best.

 

 

 

[HEADING=1]References[/HEADING]

 

1. Surface Pro Flex keyboard and Surface Pro are sold separately.

 

2. Device mount required, sold separately.

 

3. Surface Pro Flex keyboard with bold keyset available only in US English layout.

 

4. Commercial: Copilot in Windows is rolling out gradually in preview within the latest update to Windows 11 in select global markets. To use Copilot with commercial data protection, see Your AI-powered chat for the Web with commercial data protection | Microsoft Copilot.

 

5. Use with supported devices; functionality varies by device and market, see aka.ms/WindowsAIFeatures.

 

6. Acumen Research and Consulting. Elderly and Disabled Assistive Devices Market Size Valued at $22,439 Million in 2021.

 

7. 3D print services provided and warrantied exclusively by Shapeways, Inc. subject to Shapeways Sales Terms and Conditions and Warranty. at: aka.ms/ShapewaysTermsConditions. Microsoft is not responsible for their performance or compliance with applicable regulatory, compliance, safety or any other requirements.

 

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