Discover the Galaxy Watch’s Global Gestures feature that improves accessibility – Samsung Newsroom Egypt

On the occasion of International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD), it’s time to think about how technology can play a role in building a more inclusive world.

Samsung has always been committed to providing a consistent experience for all Samsung Galaxy users. In line with these efforts, Samsung highlights Universal gestures[1], an innovative accessibility feature for the Galaxy Watch. Universal Gestures are designed to give people a touchless experience through simple, intuitive gestures, as part of the One UI 5 Watch update.

Universal Gestures provide users with an alternative to the interactions required to operate a device, all without lifting a finger or pressing a button. With four different gestures – make a fist, make a double fist, pinch and pinch – users can navigate their Galaxy Watch in the way that works best for them.

How to activate global gestures

To activate global gestures on the Galaxy Watch[2]Follow these simple steps:

Once you enable the Global Gestures feature, the Galaxy Watch will indicate this with a customizable color scheme, allowing you to use this intuitive mode for a personalized and accessible experience.

Show your fist to open the action and selection menu

Under General Gestures, the Make Fist gesture simplifies the process of selecting and opening items on the Galaxy Watch.

The Show Fist Twice gesture reveals the Actions menu, a variety of convenient options you can access right from your wrist. Imagine this menu as a box full of basic tools, such as opening the app list, going to the previous screen, and viewing recent apps, available whenever you need them. The action menu is also dynamic and adjusts its content based on the currently open screen when the user activates the action menu. When you’re ready to select the item, simply show your fist.

Pinch to move back and forth

Tap and double-tap gestures on Galaxy Watch provide new contactless ways for users to interact with Galaxy Watch, which is especially useful for people with mobility limitations. Using these two gestures, you can move from one item to another or return to the previous item.

Scroll through your messages, browse items in your calendar, or browse your photo album—it’s all possible with a pinch gesture.

Accessibility is about removing barriers and providing seamless experiences for everyone. Therefore, Universal Gestures provide users with intuitive control of their Galaxy Watch. For example, Samsung Galaxy users can easily change any of these four gesture actions, further customizing their device to best suit their needs.

Another notable feature is the control of the Galaxy Watch

the Gestures From Galaxy Watch[3]found under Advanced Features, is another notable feature that provides a convenient shortcut to actions (answer calls, dismiss alerts, or quickly launch apps), done through simple hand and arm movements.

[1]Available on Galaxy Watch6, Watch5 and Watch4 series with One UI 5 Watch interface.

[2]The activation gesture used to activate global gestures may vary depending on Galaxy Watch model, software version, region, and carrier.

[3]To enable gestures, go to Settings > Find Advanced features and scroll down to Gestures > Turn on each gesture.