This cover image has two visuals. The left visual is a screenshot of an Apple Wallet featuring several different financial cards. The right visual reads the slogan "Wallet: Carry one thing. Everything," with two small logos of Apple Pay and Contactless Payment underneath, along with the logo of Apple Wallet below that.

Assistive Technology: Apple Wallet

By / / Design Critiques

Apple Wallet is a digital wallet compatible with the iOS and watchOS systems. It is designed to allow users to store various passes and use them via contactless technology, with an emphasis on the user’s right to convenience, security, and privacy. Passes could include loyalty cards, ID cards, event tickets, digital keys, boarding passes, and, with Apple Pay, credit and debit cards.

While not explicitly created or marketed as an assistive technology, the Apple Wallet features many elements of inclusive design that make it helpful and accessible to disabled people. The features discussed below show how Apple Wallet aims for improved usability, accessibility, compatibility, and desirability, making it an accessible product.

Contactless Technology

Apple Wallet uses contactless technology such as NFC readers or barcode scanners to increase ease of use for its services. Therefore, instead of having to fumble for printed tickets or swipe a card, users can easily present the relevant documents. This makes Apple Wallet accessible to those with permanent disabilities (vision impairment, poor fine motor skills), temporary disabilities (broken bone, recent injuries), or situational disabilities (carrying a baby or a bag). Therefore, under the Social and Functional Solutions Models of Disability, contactless payment makes Apple Wallet an accessible technology by providing technological solutions to overcome limitations presented in different societal settings.

Visual of a hand holding a gold iPhone with a credit card open in Apple Wallet near a NFC contactless credit card machine to make a payment on the right. The slogan "Pay anywhere you see Apple Pay or contactless payment" written on the left. There are two small logos of Apple Pay and Contactless Payment on the bottom right of the visual.
Image courtesy of Apple Inc.

Interoperability of Use

Apple Wallet is designed to be a feature that is compatible with iOS, watchOS, web payments via Apple Pay, as well as NFC technology. It is well integrated not only between different Apple hardware, but also seamlessly integrates with Apple’s system-level accessibility features like VoiceOver, Zoom, gestures, and more. Under the Social and Functional Solutions Models of Disability, increasing compatibility across available technology provides specific solutions to problems faced by disabled people in different settings.

Image shows the uses of Apple Wallet and Apple Pay on three different devices, the Apple Watch, the Apple iPhone, and the Apple Macbook Laptop.
Image courtesy of Apple Inc.

Customizability of Preferences and Accessibility

It is important to acknowledge that Apple Wallet’s attractive default design is highly accessible by itself. It does not need special modes to make the design accessible. However, if wanted or needed, the Apple Wallet offers customization to adapt the design for personal preference and increased accessibility. Users have full control over what is stored in the Wallet, as well as their default payment, for increased ease of use. Due to its interoperability between hardware, users can decide which platform is best adapted for their needs.

Additionally, there are several pathways to access the application – through the home page, search options, control panel, haptics, and voice control. This allows Apple Wallet to be an accessible product under the Functional Solutions Model of Disability, as it not only helps disabled users to overcome limitations, but also caters to their preferences by providing a wide range of customizable and usable solutions. These features help reduce cognitive and physical distress for many disabled people, make Apple Wallet’s services accessible to a larger group of users, and even allow the interface to be desirable based on personal preferences.

This image features three different screenshots of an iPhone screen. The first one on the left shows an Apple Wallet screen with the title "Add to Wallet" and options to add credit cards, loyalty cards, transit cards, and more. The second screenshot in the middle shows a list of expired passes in Apple Wallet. The third screenshot on the right shows a pop-up options for the Apple Wallet application, with the option to click on either Default Card or Last Transaction.

Conclusion

Analysis of the above features indicate that under the Social and Functional Solutions Models of Disability, Apple Wallet is an assistive technology that can help increase accessibility for disabled people, while also emphasizing a user’s right to convenience, security, and privacy.

However, Apple Wallet is not infallible in terms of accessibility. This technology is only compatible with Apple products, which are expensive and inaccessible to those unable to afford it. While similar services are available on different operating systems, access to Apple Wallet’s specific features are available only to those who can afford Apple’s high-end prices. 

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