[nabs-l] New iPhone Model Now Accessible to the Blind

Tue Jun 9 21:45:53 UTC 2009

And it doesn't have the reader software in it, either. Can it support 
accessible GPS software?

Respectfully Submitted

Original message:
> Unfortunately, for people who are not with AT&T, the new iPhone will not
> work on other networks.  You won't even be able to unlock it.

> Dezman
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "alena roberts" <alena.roberts2282 at gmail.com>
> To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, June 09, 2009 9:39 AM
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] New iPhone Model Now Accessible to the Blind

> I think that this technology is going to be awesome for the blind
> community, especially young people like us. The IPhone will be the
> least expensive accessible cell phone on the market. I am sure that
> learning to use the phone might be a bit of a challenge, but if it
> works, than we'll have a phone, a real web browser, and an mp3 player
> all in one device that we can utilize. All I have to say is Woot.

> On 6/9/09, Brice Smith <brsmith24 at hotmail.com> wrote:

>> I agree with you. that's why I said:

>> "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."

>> Just saying.

>> Brice
>>> From: loneblindjedi at samobile.net
>>> To: nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>> Date: Tue, 9 Jun 2009 04:37:28 -0400
>>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] New iPhone Model Now Accessible to the Blind

>>> Well, regardless of what you think about Apple and its products, it
>>> sounds like they may have brought us that much closer to solving the
>>> touch screen problem once and for all. Can you imagine how this
>>> software could be adapted so it's available for all touch-screen
>>> products at low or no cost to the user? We could then occupy jobs that
>>> require the use of touch-screens for data entry, we could process our
>>> own credit information at stores, and we could interface with consumer
>>> electronics that don't have buttons. How cool is that? We can't hate on
>>> those who innovate, can we?

>>> Respectfully Submitted

>>> Original message:

>>>> 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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>>>> _________________________________________________________________
>>>> Insert movie times and more without leaving Hotmail®.
>>>> http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/QuickAdd?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_QuickAdd_062009
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>> _________________________________________________________________
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> --
> Alena Roberts
> Blog: http://www.blindgal.com/

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