[nabs-l] New iPhone Model Now Accessible to the Blind
T. Joseph Carter
carter.tjoseph at gmail.com
Wed Jun 10 17:13:02 UTC 2009
Haben, I read that, and I know how they describe text entry on the
current iPhone. It's better than detractors claim, but nowhere near
as easy nor as accurate as Apple indicates. Apple is promising to
give developers a little bit more access to the iPhone without the
jailbreak process so it is at least possible that someone could write
a Bluetooth keyboard input method if the iPhone does not include one.
If not, I'm sure it'll be a jailbreak option. I doubt you'll see
support for the Esys 12, BrailleConnect 12 or similar device
integrated via any jailbreak-requiring software unless it was written
by a blind Mac user who has and uses the device. If that kind of
thing is going to be supported, it almost certainly would have to
come from Apple to be done right.
Joseph
On Tue, Jun 09, 2009 at 02:37:35PM -0700, Haben Girma wrote:
>
> Here's what Apple says about typing on the iPhone 3GS:
>
> 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.
>
>
> 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.
>
>
> It sounds like there would be a huge learning curve for blind users, but
> the end result could be fast typing on a fast and feature-packed phone.
>
> Haben
>
> T. Joseph Carter wrote:
>> 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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>>>
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>>
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