Mobile Automation

Mobile automation refers to the use of scripting tools and platform features on smartphones to automatically perform sequences of actions — such as launching apps, capturing screenshots, invoking APIs, or switching contexts — in response to user-defined triggers. On iOS, Apple Shortcuts is the primary mobile automation tool, enabling users to chain actions across apps using voice commands, gestures, or timed triggers. In accessibility contexts, mobile automation has been applied to bridge gaps in AI assistive technology, enabling features like automated AI result cross-checking and camera aiming guidance to be added to existing apps as add-ons without requiring those apps to be modified. Mobile automation tools are particularly powerful for expert users and accessibility researchers, but their setup complexity remains a barrier for novice users.