Apple, in a bid to make their iPod and iTunes more accessible to more people, is making steps to open up their technology so that it’s accessible to the blind. Apple will be using the VoiceOver technology that was developed as part of the Mac OS X and using with their newest version of iTunes, iTunes 8, and also their iPod range so that the two can be used by the blind.

Apple has already tried hard to make its products usable by the blind with their VoiceOver and Braille applications on the Mac OS X. They also have closed captioning on the iPod and on Apple TV.

Not satisfied however, Apple are going even further with it.

In the new 4GB iPod nano, there is a spoken interface option that features audio navigation. Also, if you wondering what the shake to shuffle feature was all about, it’s been created as another aid for the blind!

Also Apple have created a new mic-integrated headphones set that receives vocal commands, so that you can control the iPod with your voice.

Finally Apple has stated that they’ll iTunes 8 and iTunes U accessible for the blind by 2009.