[Interview] Building a World Without Barriers: Enhancing Hearing Accessibility in One UI 8 With Samsung Supporters

No matter how advanced a feature may be, its value is limited if it isn’t accessible to everyone. That’s why accessibility lies at the heart of true technological innovation. Guided by its vision of “Creating Better Pathways for All,” Samsung Electronics has consistently worked to deliver more inclusive products and services.

This philosophy is reflected even more strongly in One UI 8, launched alongside the latest Galaxy Z series. The update enhances hearing accessibility features, enabling smoother communication even in challenging listening environments.

To learn more about how these improvements came to life, Samsung Newsroom spoke with Soohyun Lee from Experience Planning Group1 of Samsung Electronics’ Mobile eXperience (MX) Business, along with Samsung Supporters Hajung Kim and Wansu Kim, who collaborated with Lee to bring more accessibility features to One UI 8.
 

▲ (From left) Wansu Kim and Hajung Kim with Soohyun Lee

 

Real Voices, Real Change: Samsung Supporters Inspire Inclusive Features

The hearing accessibility features in One UI 8 draw on the real-life experiences and feedback of Samsung Supporters. Currently active in Korea and the United Kingdom, the Samsung Supporters program invites users with diverse accessibility needs — including vision, hearing and mobility — to propose accessibility-related ideas directly to Samsung. It played a key role in developing the new hearing accessibility features in One UI 8, with Samsung Supporters Hajung Kim and Wansu Kim, both of whom are hard of hearing, contributing their experiences and ideas.

“We listen closely to the valuable feedback from our Supporters about inconveniences and other challenges that traditional desk research might overlook,” explained Lee, who manages the Samsung Supporters program. “We then incorporate those insights to improve our products and services.”

“We communicate with the Supporters in real time on a daily basis, while also conducting online surveys and in-depth offline interviews to carefully analyze issues and review solutions,” she continued. “Samsung Supporters are part of the entire process — from planning to testing and refinement.”
 

▲ Soohyun Lee from Experience Planning Group1 of the MX Business

Features directly proposed by Samsung Supporters — such as Interpreter using keyboard and Real-Time Text calls — were brought to life in One UI 8. “After experiencing Galaxy products firsthand as a hard-of-hearing user, I suggested specific improvements regarding certain features,” said Wansu Kim, an international sign language educator. “Knowing that even a small change can make someone’s daily life much more convenient, I focused on ideas that people would truly need and be able to use with ease.”

Content creator and writer Hajung Kim collaborated with Wansu Kim to produce a video introducing One UI 8’s hearing accessibility features. “We wanted the changes we suggested to seamlessly blend into the everyday lives of more people, so I planned the video from the perspective of a real user,” said Hajung Kim with pride.
 

▲ (From left) Samsung Supporters Hajung Kim and Wansu Kim use the new accessibility features applied to One UI 8.

‘Breaking Language Barriers With a Keyboard’ — Samsung Supporters’ Pick ①: Interpreter Using Keyboard

Starting with the Galaxy S24 series, Galaxy AI’s translation capabilities have already proven to be a reliable companion for overcoming language barriers. However, its voice-based format had limitations in certain situations — for example, when the speaker’s pronunciation was unclear or when the surrounding environment was noisy.

With One UI 8, Samsung enhanced Interpreter¹ in a way that helps users communicate more naturally across languages through text typed on the keyboard. When a user types a sentence in their own language, the device instantly generates a real-time translation² in both text and speech. The screen then displays two sections — one showing the user’s original text and the other the translation for their conversation partner — enabling smooth two-way communication.
 

▲ Soohyun Lee introduces the Interpreter using keyboard feature.

“Our focus was on creating a seamless, uninterrupted conversation experience,” said Lee. “To reflect real usage patterns and refine the feature, we made typed sentences remain visible even after translation for easy editing and added an option to quickly delete the entire sentence with just one tap when users want to start a new one.”
 

▲ Wansu Kim demonstrates the Interpreter using keyboard feature.

“I love traveling with my family, but since both my parents and I are hard of hearing, communication has always been a big challenge — especially when traveling abroad,” said Wansu Kim. “On a recent trip, Interpreter using keyboard allowed me to converse freely with people using different languages, making everything so much easier. Now, I can solely focus on the excitement of traveling without concerns about language barriers.”

“Elevators were originally designed for wheelchair users, but today everyone benefits from them,” he added. “In the same way, Interpreter using keyboard can be used by anyone in situations where it’s difficult to talk. Accessibility isn’t only for people with physical limitations — it’s an opportunity for everyone.”

‘Don’t Miss a Word During a Call’ — Samsung Supporters’ Pick ②: Real-Time Call Captions

For users with hearing aids or cochlear implants, phone calls can still cause anxiety. It’s easy to miss parts of the conversation and difficult to jot down important details while talking. To ease this burden, One UI 8 introduces Real-Time Call Captions³.

By tapping the speech bubble icon on the right side of the call screen, the speech of both the caller and receiver are transcribed and displayed in real time. “I used to feel nervous whenever I needed to make a hospital appointment or talk with a bank representative on the phone because it was so important to understand every detail,” said Hajung Kim. “Now, with captions, I can instantly catch any words or sentences I might have missed, which makes me feel much more at ease. It’s not just a tool that converts voice into text — it’s a safety net that helps me follow the conversation and communicate more freely.”
 

▲ Hajung Kim uses the Real-Time Call Captions feature during a phone call.

The feature assists users during everyday phone calls with friends and family as well. “Before, I often had to ask my grandparents to repeat themselves because I couldn’t clearly understand their pronunciation,” Hajung Kim said. “I often worried that going through this process again and again would tire them out, especially during longer calls. But with Real-Time Call Captions, I can now read my grandmother’s words on the screen instantly, allowing the conversation to flow without interruption.”

“A short phone call can brighten an entire day, making this feature truly invaluable to my family,” she added.
 

‘Instant Conversations, No Waiting Required’ — Samsung Supporters’ Pick ③: Real-Time Text Calls

The accessibility feature Wansu Kim uses most frequently is Real-Time Text calls⁴, which allows users to communicate in text during a call, as though they’re exchanging messages. In earlier versions, the text of the other person’s speech appeared only after they finished speaking. This was particularly inconvenient during automated response system (ARS) calls with banks, telecommunications providers or credit card companies, when the input time often expired before users could read the instructions on their screens.

Now with One UI 8, however, Real-Time Text calls display text the moment the other person begins speaking, allowing users to follow along and prepare responses without delay. “Even during personal calls, being able to see what the other person is saying in real time makes me feel much closer to them,” said Wansu Kim.
 

▲ Wansu Kim uses the Real-Time Text calls feature during a phone call.

“In the past, there were always slight pauses during text calls with the Supporters — it sometimes felt like playing a game of guessing each other’s timing,” Lee said. “Those experiences showed us that timing is the most crucial part of a phone call. By making text appear in real time — without waiting for the other person to finish speaking — we introduced a key improvement. Even a few seconds can make a big difference, and seamless timing helps bring people closer together.”
 

Making Accessibility a Given for Everyone

What does the future of accessibility envisioned by Samsung Electronics and Samsung Supporters look like?

“Accessibility isn’t a matter of special consideration — it’s something that everyone deserves and should enjoy,” Lee said. “Our goal is to create experiences that more people, across various environments, can access and benefit from without inconvenience at any time.” She added that the journey toward greater accessibility has been a joyful one, made possible thanks to those who understand the need for change and continue to offer their encouragement and support.

For Wansu Kim, accessibility means freedom. “To me, hearing accessibility is freedom,” he said. “Through my work with Samsung Supporters, I want to help ensure the voices of people like me are heard more clearly and contribute to a world where everyone can communicate freely.”

“Accessibility is a bridge that not only connects people physically but also links their hearts,” Hajung Kim added. “Beyond simply reducing inconvenience, I want to help build a world where technology becomes a source of confidence and empowerment for all ease.”

The accessibility features in One UI 8 — co-created and presented by Samsung Supporters — can be explored in detail in the video below.