Google's finally bringing this desktop Meet accessibility tool to mobile

Whether you got into them keeping up with your work team over pandemic, or just like to check in face-to-face with extended family, most of us have had plenty of chances to participate in video conferences by now. As such, you probably know just how dynamic the bigger ones can be, with participants sliding around and grabbing focus when they turn on their cameras, lead the chat, or share their screens. But sometimes it makes sense to put some limits on some of those changes, and today Google’s sharing an important Meet upgrade along those lines when it comes to accessibility.

Three years ago, Google introduced a new Meet feature for desktops: tile pairing. The idea is that if one participant needs another’s help, like if they’re acting as an interpreter — and sign language is probably the obvious use-case here — Meet can lock their tiles together to act as a set. You’ll always see the two nest up against each other, and both will show up with a blue outline when one of them is speaking.

Well, it’s taken a while to go mobile, but today Google shares that’s finally happening. Google actually took its time in announcing this new support, because Android compatibility started arriving last week. That’s spreading to iOS in the very near future, beginning first thing next month.

Technically, you don’t have to use this for accessibility purposes, and if you and your BFF just insist upon sharing the spotlight on video calls, tile pairing sounds right up your alley.

This is just the latest among the many upgrades Google’s been delivering for users who need a little help with hearing issues. Beyond that fantastic Pixel 11 sign-to-text tool, we’ve seen recent upgrades like Fast Pair support for hearing aids, and improvements to how notification sounds work.