[nabs-l] New iPhone Model Now Accessible to the Blind
T. Joseph Carter
carter.tjoseph at gmail.com
Tue Jun 9 18:26:00 UTC 2009
Brice,
So, I think I'm hearing you say that you've been an anti-apple-snob
and they finally came out with a device that even you think sounds
really cool? *grin*
Honestly, Apple and the hardcore Apple fan base really kind of ask
for it sometimes, I freely admit. But what has me excited about the
iPhone 3GS is not that it has a screen reader, but that it has the
screen reader built-in to a device that sells for $199 with contract.
Of course, AT&T will make you pay for their data plan with the phone
and I'm not even remotely sure how useful the data plan would be to a
blind user since I don't see how the iPhone 3GS handles text entry
without a tactile keyboard. But if Apple's got that figured out,
it's a $200 smart phone, accessible out of the box.
That's something to get excited about. Now put a real camera in the
thing Apple, so we can have iKNFB Reader. *grin*
Joseph
On Tue, Jun 09, 2009 at 12:56:46AM -0400, Brice Smith wrote:
>
>I'm happy with my N82.
>
>
>
>I've always resisted Apple; I think it's a bit over rated.
>
>
>I've always looked down on macs and the masses that buy them; IMO, the only people who really need them are those who do lots of film or digital editing or other high-level processes -- PCs are perfectly fine for basic computing, which is all most people do anyway. Macs are just a popular craze.
>
>
>
>I've always thought iPods were nothing special, inferior to other, less popular but more feature-filled products.
>
>
>
>But this ...
>
>
>
>For what it's worth, I don't think I've been more interested by a press release concerning accessible technology since the KNFB Reader.
>
>Brice
>> Date: Mon, 8 Jun 2009 20:58:09 -0500
>> To: david.andrews at nfbnet.org
>> From: dandrews at visi.com
>> Subject: [nabs-l] New iPhone Model Now Accessible to the Blind
>>
>>
>>
>> Vision
>>
>> The revolutionary iPhone also includes an equally
>> revolutionary screen reader, and other innovative
>> accessibility features that make it easier to use
>> for those with impaired vision.
>>
>>
>> VoiceOver
>>
>> iPhone 3G S displaying VoiceOver settings. The VoiceOver and Sp
>>
>>
>>
>> The same VoiceOver screen reader made popular on
>> the Mac is now a standard feature on the iPhone
>> 3G S. It’s the world’s first gesture-based screen
>> reader, enabling you to enjoy the fun and
>> simplicity of the iPhone even if you can't see the screen.
>>
>> What makes VoiceOver on iPhone truly remarkable
>> is that you control it using simple gestures that
>> let you physically interact with items on screen.
>> It’s easy to learn and fun to use. Instead of
>> memorizing hundreds of keyboard commands, or
>> endlessly pressing tiny arrow keys to find what
>> you’re looking for, with VoiceOver, you simply
>> touch the screen to hear a description of the
>> item under your finger, then gesture with a
>> double-tap, drag, or flick to control the phone.
>>
>> VoiceOver delivers an experience unlike any
>> screen reader you've ever used before.
>> Traditional screen readers describe individual
>> elements on the screen, but struggle to
>> communicate where each element is located or
>> provide information about adjoining objects. This
>> contextual information is very important but
>> typically filtered out by other screen readers.
>> For example, “off-screen” models used by
>> traditional screen readers to represent
>> applications and web pages intentionally strip
>> away contextual information and describe web
>> pages as a list or menu of items. But with
>> VoiceOver on iPhone 3G S, you'll experience something entirely new.
>>
>> Because VoiceOver works with iPhone’s
>> touchscreen, you interact directly with objects
>> on the screen and can naturally understand their
>> location and context. So, when you touch the
>> upper-left corner of the screen, you'll hear
>> what’s in the upper left corner of a web page,
>> and as you drag your finger around the screen,
>> you'll learn what’s nearby, providing an amazing
>> new sense of context and relationship between the
>> items you hear. For many, VoiceOver on iPhone
>> will provide, perhaps for the first time, a true
>> sense of how things appear on screen, not just descriptions of what they are.
>>
>> You'll hear descriptions of every item on the
>> screen, including status information such as
>> battery level, Wi-Fi and cellular network signal
>> levels, the cellular network provider, and time
>> of day. It even lets you know when the display
>> changes to landscape or portrait orientation, and
>> when the screen is locked or unlocked.
>>
>> The speaking rate is adjustable so you can set it
>> to a speed that best suits your listening
>> ability. VoiceOver uses distinctive sound effects
>> to alert you when an application opens, when the
>> screen is updated, when a message dialog appears,
>> and more. And, when Voiceover is talking, the
>> volume of background sounds and music are
>> automatically lowered, “ducking” under the voice,
>> so you can clearly hear what VoiceOver is telling you.
>>
>>
>> It speaks your language
>>
>> VoiceOver includes built-in voices that speak 21
>> languages including Chinese (Cantonese), Chinese
>> (China), Chinese (Taiwan), Dutch, English (US),
>> English (UK), Finnish, French (Canada), French
>> (France), German, Italian, Japanese, Korean,
>> Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese (Brazil),
>> Portuguese (Portugal), Russian, Spanish (Mexico), Spanish (Spain), and Swedish.
>>
>>
>> Getting started
>>
>> VoiceOver is built right into the iPhone 3G S.
>> There’s nothing extra to purchase or install. All
>> you need is the iPhone 3G S, iTunes 8.2 or later,
>> and a Mac or PC. You can activate your iPhone and
>> enable VoiceOver without sighted assistance using
>> iTunes with a compatible screen reader like
>> VoiceOver included in Mac OS X and GW-Micro
>> Window-Eyes® for Windows XP and Windows Vista
>> (sold separately). When you activate iPhone using
>> iTunes, you can enable VoiceOver on the iPhone to
>> start using it right away. Sighted users can also
>> enable VoiceOver for you directly on iPhone using
>> the Accessibility menu in the Settings application.
>>
>>
>> How it works
>>
>> With VoiceOver enabled, you'll use a different,
>> but simple set of gestures to control the iPhone.
>> For example, instead of tapping to click a button
>> or select an item, you tap to hear a description
>> of the item you touch and double-tap to click or select it.
>>
>> When an item on the screen is selected, a black
>> rectangle called the VoiceOver cursor appears
>> around it. The VoiceOver cursor is displayed for
>> the benefit of sighted users with whom you may be
>> sharing your phone. When you prefer privacy,
>> VoiceOver includes a screen curtain that turns
>> off the display so no one can read it without your knowledge.
>>
>> In addition to touching and dragging around the
>> screen, you can also flick left and right to move
>> the VoiceOver cursor precisely to the next or
>> previous item on the screenno matter how big or
>> small it is. By flicking, you have precise
>> control of what you hear even when it might
>> otherwise be difficult to place your finger on it.
>> Two iPhones. The iPhone in the background shows the home screen
>>
>>
>> Entering Text
>>
>> When you’re typing text, such as an email message
>> or a note, VoiceOver echoes each character on the
>> keyboard as you touch it, and again to confirm
>> when you enter it. You can also have VoiceOver
>> speak each completed word instead of and in
>> addition to individual characters as you type
>> them. A flick up or down while typing moves the
>> insertion point cursor left and right within the
>> text so you can edit a word just as easily and precisely as typing a new word.
>> Two images side by side. The first shows a text-suggestion bubb
>>
>>
>> To help you type more quickly and accurately,
>> iPhone features word prediction and suggests the
>> correct spelling when you type a word
>> incorrectly. With Speak Auto-text enabled, you'll
>> hear a sound effect and the suggested word spoken
>> automatically. You can just keep typing to ignore
>> it, or press the space key to have iPhone type it for you.
>>
>>
>> The Rotor
>>
>> Two fingers touching a iPhone display and a counter-clockwise a
>>
>>
>>
>> VoiceOver features an innovate new virtual
>> control called a “rotor.” Turning the rotor by
>> rotating two fingers on the screen as if you were
>> turning an actual dial changes the way
>> VoiceOver moves through a document based on a
>> setting you choose. For example, a flick up or
>> down might move through text word by word. But
>> when you choose the “character” setting, each
>> time you flick up or down VoiceOver will move
>> through the text character by character perfect
>> when you’re proofreading or editing text.
>>
>> You can also use the rotor to navigate web pages.
>> When you’re on a web page, the rotor contains the
>> names of common items, such as headers, links,
>> tables, images, and more. You select a setting,
>> then flick up and down to move to the previous or
>> next occurrence of that item on the page, skipping over items in between.
>>
>>
>> Applications
>>
>> VoiceOver works with all of the built-in
>> applications that come with iPhone 3G S, such as
>> Phone, iPod, iTunes, Mail, Safari, and Maps. So,
>> you can place and receive calls, surf the web,
>> text and email your friends, check your stocks
>> and the weather, and much, much more. Apple is
>> also working with iPhone software developers so
>> they can make their applications VoiceOver
>> compatible.
>> <http://www.apple.com/accessibility/iphone//iphone/iphone-3g-s/>Learn more
>> Two iPhones. The iPhone in the foreground is displaying the Voi
>>
>>
>> Voice Control
>>
>> In addition to gestures, you can use your voice
>> to play music and make a phone call. Just press
>> and hold the home button, listen for the audio
>> prompt, and speak the name of the artist, album,
>> or playlist you want to hear. You can pause,
>> play, change tracks, even shuffle your music.
>>
>> When you want to make a call, speak the name or
>> telephone number of the person you want to call.
>> iPhone 3G S understands 21 different languages.
>> <http://www.apple.com/accessibility/iphone//iphone/iphone-3g-s/voice-control.html>Learn
>> more
>>
>>
>> Zoom
>>
>> Two iPhones. The iPhone in the background is displaying the wea
>>
>>
>>
>> While many iPhone applications let you zoom in
>> and out specific elements such as images in Mail,
>> or webpage columns in Safari, Zoom lets you
>> magnify the entire screen of any application
>> you’re using to help you see what’s on the
>> display. Zoom can be enabled on iPhone 3G S using
>> iTunes when you’re setting up the iPhone, for
>> yourself or someone else, or later, using the
>> Accessibility menu in the Settings application on the iPhone.
>>
>> Zoom works everywhere, including the Home,
>> Unlock, and Spotlight screenseven with
>> applications you purchase from the App store.
>> Two iPhones. The iPhone in the background is displaying the Acc
>>
>>
>> A simple double-tap with three fingers instantly
>> zooms in and out 200% and you can double-tap and
>> drag three fingers to dynamically adjust the
>> magnification between 100% and 500%. Even when
>> zoomed, you can continue using all of the
>> familiar flick, pinch, tap and other iPhone
>> gestures to run your favorite applications. Zoom
>> can also be used with white-on-black (reverse video) and speak auto-text.
>>
>>
>> White On Black
>>
>> For those who need or prefer higher contrast,
>> iPhone 3G S provides an option to change the
>> display to White On Black. This reverse video
>> affect works in all applications including the
>> Home, Unlock, and Spotlight screens and can be used with Zoom and VoiceOver.
>>
>>
>> Speak Auto-text
>>
>> When typing, iPhone suggests a word before you
>> finish typing it or a correction when a word is
>> misspelled. Speak Auto-text speaks these
>> suggestions so you can hear them when they’re
>> presented. When zoomed, for example, the
>> suggestion might not be visible on screen, but
>> you can hear and accept it without seeing it. If
>> you’re using VoiceOver, you won't have to
>> interrupt your typing and touch the suggestion to
>> hear it. Speak Auto-text can be enabled even when
>> you’re not using VoiceOver or Zoom.
>> Callouts indicate the name and location of the physical buttons
>>
>>
>> Tactile Buttons
>>
>> iPhone includes a few, easily discernible
>> physical buttons used to control the phone: the
>> Sleep/Wake button, located on the top edge; the
>> Ring/Silent switch and volume-control buttons,
>> located on the upper-left edge; and the Home
>> button, centered below the display.
>>
>>
>> Giant Fonts For Mail Messages
>>
>> For improved email readability, you can increase
>> the default font size of email text from Medium
>> (the default) to Large, Extra-large, or Giant.
>> iPhone earbuds with clickable microphone built into the cable
>>
>>
>> iPhone Stereo Headset
>>
>> iPhone comes with a stereo headset with a
>> high-performance microphone built into the cable.
>> Plug it into the standard 3.5 mm stereo headphone
>> jack and the headset lets you control music
>> playback and answer and end calls by clicking the
>> built-in remote control button.
>>
>> Several add-on products are also available to
>> work with iPhone that can help those with hearing
>> disabilities, including a hearing aid-compatible
>> induction ear loop from
>> <http://www.tecear.com/Music_Link.htm>TecEar,
>> wireless remote headset from <http://oticon.com/>Oticon, and others.
>>
>>
>> Hands-Free Speakerphone
>>
>> Enjoy hands-free communication using the built-in
>> speakerphone, which you can also use to listen to
>> Visual Voicemail, music, podcasts, and video.
>>
>>
>> Audible, Visible, And Vibrating Alerts
>>
>> Turn the ringer on, and iPhone delivers both
>> audible and visual alerts. You can activate
>> alerts for phone calls, text messages, incoming
>> and sent mail, and calendar events. iPhone also
>> offers an audio option confirming keyboard
>> clicks. You can even set incoming calls to
>> display a full-screen image or photo of the caller.
>>
>> In silent mode, iPhone vibrates instead of
>> playing a tone. To ensure that you never miss a
>> notification, you can also have iPhone vibrate and play an audio alert.
>>
>>
>> Downloadable, Assignable Ringtones
>>
>> You can assign distinctive ringtones to
>> individuals in your contacts list, using the
>> ringtone as an audible caller ID. Visit the
>> iTunes Store to create, purchase, and download
>> additional ringtones of your favorite songs (sold separately).
>> A visual representation of a ringtone sound wave as it might ap
>>
>>
>> User Guide In Accessible HTML
>>
>> The iPhone User Guide is provided online in HTML
>> format designed with accessibility in mind. You
>> can read the guide using your favorite screen
>> reader and web browser on your Mac and PC, and
>> using Safari on the iPhone with VoiceOver.
>> <http://www.apple.com/accessibility/iphone//accessibility/iphone/hearing.html>Hearing
>>
>>
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>
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