[blindkid] Ipad vs iphone

Wed Jun 15 15:23:11 UTC 2016

I agree with the comments about what your daughter wants to do with her technology.  I’d like to share my thoughts from a teacher/educational perspective.

What kind of technology does your daughter use in school to accomplish school work?  Our classrooms are transitioning to digital classrooms with on-line textbooks, on-line assessments and digital homework.  Universities and professional jobs all require technology and a high level of "tech savviness".  All students should have access to mainstream apps to accomplish educational tasks, especially as more consideration is being given to making all things accessible.  In the classroom, iPads are an accepted tool (depending on the school, either a school provided iPad or a BYOD (Bring Your Own Device).  Phones are typically not allowed in the classroom.

I do want to mention that one of the biggest advantages of touch screen device is the ability to touch and learn the spatial layout.  Even though right swiping through the screen (or using a right arrow with a Bluetooth keyboard) works, the student is not taking advantage of the spatial layout.  There are commands that will efficiently navigate to various sections of the screen; such as the command to jump the VoiceOver focus to the first/last item on the screen.  (Typically the Back Button is the first item on the screen.)  To be truly efficient in the classroom with technology, students should also pair the iOS device with a braille display or with a Bluetooth keyboard.  There are so many more navigational commands available with the braille display or Bluetooth keyboard - this is especially important when writing and editing documents!

Technology is about “tools in the toolbox”.  When talking to successful college students and professionals who are blind and ask what technology they use, the very first response is “for what task?”  To read a book on a plane trip? iPhone and VoiceDream Reader/Read2Go.  To travel a new route? iPhone and BlindSquare app. To do an Internet search?  iPad.  To write a term paper? PC and screen reader.

In the classroom, the current best practice is to introduce both the iPad (Voiceover gestures and braille display) to a preschooler/emerging braille reader along with the Perkins Braille Writer/paper braille.  Then, add in simple Bluetooth keyboard commands and keyboarding skills using an iPad and Bluetooth keyboard. Students should be totally independent in the classroom with their technology and be able to do appropriate educational assignments with their technology.  Students should be introduced to a computer and screen reader and be proficient with these in middle school.

To get a better idea of the power of using an iPad in the classroom check out the Getting Started<http://www.perkinselearning.org/technology/getting-started> with an iPad with VoiceOver, iPad with Refreshable Braille Display and iPad with Bluetooth Keyboard posts on Paths on the Paths to Technology website.

Diane

On Jun 15, 2016, at 10:24 AM, Dan Burke via blindkid <blindkid at nfbnet.org<mailto:blindkid at nfbnet.org>> wrote:

The one advantage I cant hink of, if it is one, is more room to do touch typing with onscreen keyboards, like one of the Braille apps or Flexi (sp?).

Dan Burke
Public Relations Specialist

Colorado Center for the Blind
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-----Original Message-----
From: blindkid [mailto:blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of ipd4life2006 via blindkid
Sent: Tuesday, June 14, 2016 7:50 PM
To: blindkid at nfbnet.org
Cc: ipd4life2006 <ipd4life2006 at yahoo.com>
Subject: [blindkid] Ipad vs iphone

My daughter is wanting an ipad. She has zero vision. She currently has an iphone and is very good at navigating with it. I am in the cell phone business but cannot think of any advantage to the ipad vs just having the iphone for the visually impaired. Am I wrong in this? Is there a need for both? Obviously, a larger screen is of no importance to her. She relies on the screen reader and voice over regardless of the device. Thanks.Steve

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