There's plenty new in iPadOS 15, but it also features an under-sung accessibility upgrade: support for third-party eye-tracking devices. That'll allow people with disabilities to use iPad apps and speech generation software simply through eye movements -- no touchscreen interaction required. Tobii Dynavox, the assistive tech division of the eye-tracking company Tobii, worked with Apple for years to help make that happen. And now, the firm is ready to announce TD Pilot, a device that aims to bring the iPad experience to the estimated 50 million people globally who need communication assistance. The TD Pilot is basically a super-powered frame for Apple's tablets: It can fit in something as big as the iPad Pro 12.9-inch, and it also packs in large speakers, an extended battery and a wheelchair mount.

One thing that makes voice-activated helpers like Google Assistant so powerful is that you don't need to interact with a visual software interface to get the most out of its functionality. For those who have trouble seeing or don't have fine motor control, the fact they can use their voice to communicate with Assistant means they can get just as much out of the software as anyone else. But not everyone can speak easily. So to make Assistant even more accessible, Google is partnering with Tobii Dynavox. The company makes software and devices designed to help those with speech and language disabilities.

When 13-year-old Nathalia Lawlor was born, she seemed perfectly healthy, moving and babbling like any other baby. But at around six or seven months, she started to lose her coordination and ability to move. Once able to grasp small objects, she could no longer pick up pieces of food from her plate. Nathalia was diagnosed with Rett syndrome, a rare neurological disorder that affects girls almost exclusively. Doctors said she would never be able to speak or walk again.