[Electronics-talk] I Devices

[Sarah Clark]

Hi Chris,

I don't have any iPod devices so I can't comment fully on those, but I do have an iPhone. I would highly recommend getting an iPod Touch. It will allow you to connect to the internet using wifi. I would also recommend buying it from an Apple Store. They will help you set it up with your email, etc and will download any apps you want, and you can also purchase a year of 1 on 1 lessons for $99, where you can go to an Apple store and someone will teach you how to use it. (Note that you have to purchase the 1 on 1 at the same time that you purchase the device, you can't go back and get it later. This was available for computer and iPhone purchases anyway, so I'm assuming it'd also be available if you bought an iPod Touch.)
I have to say though, once I bought the iPhone and got home with it (they set it up for me at the store), it was a Friday afternoon and I wasn't going to be able to have any lesson with it until the following week. But I took it out and started playing around with it and within an hour or so I had pretty much figured out how to use it.  I found using it pretty intuitive. You just touch the screen and it talks, and as you move your finger around, it tells you what you're touching. You just need to know a couple basic gestures and you're good to go.
The primary gestures to get you started:
swipe left or right with one finger to move to the previous or next item (you can do this as an alternative to just moving your finger around the screen to see what is there.)
activate an app or item in 1 of 2 ways: either double tap once you hear voiceover say it, or you can split tap--which means that when you are moving a finger around and land on the item you want, leave that finger where it is on the screen and just touch another finger to the screen. (I use my index finger to move around the screen and when I hear what I want, I just tap my middle finger to the screen to activate the selection.) Split tapping allows you to be a little faster with the device.

Also, Siri is very helpful, and I believe it is also available on the iPod Touch. You can use Siri to launch apps, and turn settings on and off, including voiceover (the speech). It will also allow you to dictate texts and emails.

Another good feature of the iPod Touch is Facetime, the video chat app. I find this app hugely beneficial as a blind person, because if I'm ever stuck with needing something looked at around the house and there is no one sighted around, I can Facetime with someone and get the info I need. It has really saved me a few times.

I hope this helps,

Sarah