[Nfbf-l] Braille Moves Forward in iOS 8 NFB Blog

[Jorge Paez]

Interesting, just wish I had a display so I could take advantage of
most of those features.

On 9/19/14, Lenora J. Marten via Nfbf-l <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>
> Hi everyone,
>
> Below is the link and copy/paste of NFB blog post concerning Braille and the
> new Apple iOS 8 update.
>
> https://nfb.org/blog/atblog/braille-moves-forward-ios-8
>
>
>
>
> Braille Moves Forward in iOS 8
> Submitted by amason on Wed, 09/17/2014 - 14:18
> Blog Date:
> Wednesday, September 17, 2014
> By Jennifer Dunnam
>
> In the latest version of Apple's iOS, four Braille-relateddevelopments not
> only greatly improve the experience of using Braille withmobile devices, but
> also serve as a model for how the use of Braille can beintegrated into
> today's digital technology. Three of these improvements relateto the
> interaction of iDevices with external refreshable Braille devices. Thefourth
> does not require a Braille device at all--we'll start our review there.
>
> Braille Screen Input
> The ability to type in Braille for text entry on an iOStouchscreen has been
> available for some time via third party applications. Now,this feature is
> integrated into the operating system and, for those who knowhow to type
> Braille, can provide the most efficient on-screen method of textentry
> currently available. Not only can Braille be typed directly to createtext
> messages, social media posts, web searches, notes, email, and more, but itis
> even possible to enter the device's unlock passcode using Braille
> input--amuch more secure, silent option than having the speech report the
> passcodewhile the user finds and executes the numbers.
>
> The Braille screen input feature is enabled by adding it tothe rotor, under
> the VoiceOver settings. To invoke Braille screen input, simplyswitch to it
> via the rotor; to exit, turn the rotor to a different value.
>
> Braille entry is done in landscape mode. By tilting thedevice, the screen
> can be used either in table top mode, or facing away fromthe user so that
> the fingers can be positioned naturally in front of it. Thereis an explore
> mode to help the user ensure that the fingers are orientedcorrectly. This
> user has found the "screen away" mode on an iPhonethe easiest to achieve
> quick and accurate results, but likely a bit morepractice with the table top
> mode would yield better results.
>
> With the screen facing away, the index, middle and ringfingers are placed
> evenly along the left and right edges of the screen. Theindex fingers invoke
> dots 1 (left hand) and 4 (right hand); the middle fingersdots 2 and 5, and
> the ring fingers dots 3 and 6. In tabletop mode, the sixfingers are
> basically lined up horizontally to activate dots 3, 2, 1, 4, 5, 6.In either
> mode, one finger swiped to the right invokes a space, and two fingersswiped
> to the right starts a new line. One finger swiped to the left makes
> adelete/backspace.
>
> The Braille can be typed in any available language on theiOS. Obviously,
> without a Braille display, the nonvisual output of the Brailleentry is
> speech only.
>
> Continuous Reading
> Previously, when reading in Braille on an iOS device with arefreshable
> Braille display, multiple keystrokes were necessary in order tomove to the
> next page of a document. Now, when a panning key is pressed at thebottom of
> a page, it simply scrolls to the next page. This makes for a muchsmoother
> reading experience in apps like iBooks, Kindle, and particularly inVoice
> Dream where turning pages was especially cumbersome. The feature can
> beturned on or off in VoiceOver's Braille settings.
>
> Number Issue Fixed
> In previous iOS versions, often, when a phone number orother string of
> numbers was encountered during reading, the Braille output wasbasically
> gibberish, requiring the user to listen to the speech to determinewhat it
> said. Now these numbers display clearly, increasing the reliability
> ofBraille as the primary output method.
>
> Automatic Translation
> In previous blog posts, we have mentioned problems withsix-key Braille input
> and Apple's prior attempt to address the problems. Inshort, the automatic
> translation from Braille to print required the user totype quickly to avoid
> unwanted translation results, and editing in Braille wasalso very cumbersome
> for this reason. Apple's first attempt to address thisissue made it possible
> to toggle off automatic translation and type more slowlywithout generating
> unintended results, but this attempt introduced a newproblem--no Braille
> showed on the display until the user spaced away from theword being typed.
>
> A fix is incorporated into iOS 8, and although it is notperfect, it is
> better. Now, when "automatic translation" is turnedoff in VoiceOver Braille
> settings under "Braille display input", theuser can type in contracted
> Braille at whatever pace and view the word on thedisplay while it is being
> typed. The word in progress is shown on a line byitself and is preceded by a
> full Braille cell. The word is not actuallyincorporated into the text field
> until the space, tab, or space with dots 45 ispressed (note that "enter"
> does not activate the word). If you knowduring the typing of the word that
> you have made an error, you can backspaceand correct the error without
> risking the introduction of unwanted junk. Forexample, if, during the
> process of typing the word "lake," youdiscover that you've accidentally
> typed an l where you meant to type a k, youcan simply backspace over the l
> and type dots 13 for the k, and go on.
>
> Things become less ideal, however, if you wish to edit wordsthat were
> already incorporated into the main text that you are typing. If youtype the
> rest of a sentence and then discover your error in the word"lake" a few
> moments back, you can use a cursor routing button toplace your cursor after
> the l to backspace over it. However, if you simply typethe k at this point,
> you'll get the contracted meaning of dots 13, which is"knowledge." To get
> just a plain k, type a Braille grade 1 indicator(dots 56) before typing the
> k. Also, when editing previously typed words, it isbest not to type
> contractions.
>
> Although there are still items on the wish list forimprovements to Braille
> in iOS, this new release represents significantprogress toward the seamless
> use of Braille in digital communications.
>
>
>
> Lenora J. Marten, President
> Florida Organization of Parents of Blind Children
> Secretary, NFB-FL
> Florida Rehabilitation Council for the Blind
> bluegolfshoes at aol.com
> 904-229-9554
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Nfbf-l mailing list
> Nfbf-l at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbf-l_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> Nfbf-l:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbf-l_nfbnet.org/jorgeapaez1994%40gmail.com
>


-- 
Yours in Christ,


Jorge

God blesses those people
    who depend only on him.
They belong to the kingdom
    of heaven! (Mathew 5:3, CEV)

You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is focused on You,
Because he trusts in You. (Isaiah 26:3 NKJV)