[Trainer-Talk] Android/Talkback Questions

[J.J. Meddaugh]

Answers below.
 > 1. I was actually pleased that I was able to set up the tablet by 
getting it on our Wifi network as well as logging on with my Google 
account using Talkback, with very little Android experience. I have 
downloaded Marshmallow 6.0.1. However, in the Google Play store, is it 
necessary/required that I supply credit card info in my settings in 
order to download free app updates? I skipped this step during setup but 
wonder now if it's necessary to add this info.

I don't believe you need a credit card, just a Google account linked. 
Updates will download automatically unless you turn this off under Play 
Store settings. Try downloading a free app to see if it lets you without 
a CC, it should be fine.


 > 2. When I first activated Talkback, it offered to start its 
interactive tutorial but I got sidetracked with another project and now 
I can't figure out how to reactivate it.

Go to settings, Accessibility, Talkback and it's there. TalkBack 
settings are also on this page.


 > 3. I really liked the fact that the keyboard defaulted to what iOS 
calls touch typing mode, where you slide around the keyboard and, when 
you get to the correct letter, lifting your finger enters that 
character; that was wonderful. However, while the network password 
provided me with the word "dot" when entering a letter, the field for 
the Google password provided no spoken feedback at all, initially 
causing me to wonder whether I was typing anything or not. Why did this 
happen? Incidentally, I really like that the "symbols" button displays a 
row of numbers, along with commonly used symbols.

Go to Settings, Accessibility, and turn on speak passwords. Or plug in a 
headset.

 > 4. When the touch keyboard appears, it is on the opposite side of the 
tablet, making it necessary for me to reorient the tablet in order to 
type. Is this a bug or by design and what are the reasons for this? Can 
this behavior be changed?

Not sure about this one, maybe you're orienting it opposite of what most 
people would expect? Which tablet do you have?

 > 5. While typing, what's the quickest way to review, by characters and 
words, what you've entered?

What I do personally is to go into Talkback's settings, Manage Shortcut 
gestures, and resassign swipe up to previous navigation level and swipe 
down to next navigation level. Then I can swipe up or down to switch 
between default, characters, words, lines, etc. Swipe right or left to 
navigate by the desired level. Also, you can press the up or down volume 
key in many editbox situations to navigate by character.


 > 6. What is the easiest way to determine which version of Talkback I'm 
using?
It's listed at the top of the settings screen for Talkback.

 > 7. I know that Ana has commented on this before but why on earth is 
double-tapping such a hit and miss affair? It seems like I sometimes 
have to perform a pretty heavy double-tap in order for the tablet to 
register my input.
I haven't had problems here. Some phones have a touch sensitivity option 
that can adjust this behavior.

 > 9. Is there an equivalent of VoiceOver practice mode, where I can 
perform gestures and have them identified without performing any actions?
Not to my knowledge currently.
 >

-- 
Best regards,
J.J.