Apple to introduce iOS12 to prevent smartphone addiction

Apple to introduce iOS12 to prevent smartphone addiction. June. 06, 2018 07:39. by Ji-Hyun Kim jhk85@donga.com.
Apple unveiled iOS12, a next-generation operating system for its iPhones and iPads, at the annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) that started Monday at the McEnery Convention Center in San Jose, California.

The tech giant has added new functions to iOS12 that help address children’s phone addiction as its investors earlier pointed out a growing phone addiction among children. The case in point is “App Limits” that enable users to impose limits on how long an app can be used.

For example, if users set a one-hour limit on social networking sites, such as Instagram or Facebook, the app will not be operate an hour later. If users must use the app after an hour, they can extend time by pushing the “Extend” button. Parents will be able to create time allowances for their children and control access to certain apps.

In addition, Apple’s new “Memoji” lets users create their own personalized Animoji, which debuted last year with iPhone X, using augmented reality (AR) technology. Users can choose from a number of face colors, hairstyles, glasses and facial features to create their personalized Animoji and the system tracks facial features of the user, such as wrinkles using face tracking technology.

Apple also introduced “Shortcuts” app that serves as a shortcut key to its digital assistant Siri. Shortcuts allow third-party apps to connect to Siri by just one command. For example, if a user asks, “Hey Siri, I’m going home,” Siri will automatically start the GPS and activate radio app.