VoiceOver for iOS Basics

What is VoiceOver?

VoiceOver is the built-in screen reader that comes on every Apple computer and iOS device like the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch. VoiceOver is also included in Apple’s smaller products like the Apple TV.

The purpose of VoiceOver is to allow a person who is low vision or blind to use an iOS device without needing to see the screen. This is done having the device read what is on the screen out loud and having the user navigate and control their device through gestures. Gestures like flicking across the screen with a single finger allow the user to explore the contents of the screen like it is list, removing the requirement of seeing exactly where things like buttons are on the screen and activating them.

You can read a lot more about VoiceOver for iOS here:

www.apple.com/accessibility/ios/voiceover/

Turning on VoiceOver

Since VoiceOver is built into every iPhone and iPad you do not need to download anything to get started. You can also activate it on any iPhone or iPad that you encounter whether it a brand new unit out of the box, a friends device, or even a demo unit on a store shelf. I am going to give you three different ways you can turn VoiceOver on or off.

  • If you or a friend can see the screen you go to the Settings app and navigate to General – Accessibility – VoiceOver and press the “On” button
  • If you cannot see the the screen try activating Siri by holding down the home button then say, “Turn on VoiceOver”
  • You can also activate VoiceOver by pressing the home button three times quickly, but his feature must be turned on first by going to Settings – General – Accessibility – Accessibility Shortcut. Note this shortcut is also available when you turn on an iPhone or iPad for the very first time, brand new out of the box when you are presented with the welcome screen.

Basic Navigation Gestures

Two ways to Explore what is on the screen

  • Drag one finger along the surface of the screen. VoiceOver will read any buttons or text your finger comes in contact with.
  • Quickly swipe from left to right across the screen. VoiceOver will list off each item on the screen one by one. Quickly swipe from right to left to move backwards through the list.

Two ways to active a button or element

  • Quickly tap the screen twice in a row. You can tap anywhere on the screen. This is called a double tap.
  • While exploring the screen with one finger if you come to a button or element you would like to interact with keep your first finger on the screen then tap once with a different finger. This is called a split tap.

List of Standard Gestures

  • Touch – Press a single finger on the screen
    • When you touch the screen VoiceOver will select the item under where your finger touched and read it out loud.
  • Double Tap – Touch the screen twice in quickly
    • Activates the selected item. If you selected a button it will push that button. If you selected a link it will take you to that links destination.
  • Split Tap – Perform a touch gesture and hold your finger down on the screen, without removing that finger touch the screen with another finger or your thumb.
    • Performs the same action as Double Tap: Activates the selected item. If you selected a button it will push that button. If you selected a link it will take you to that links destination.
  • Flick/Swipe Right – Quickly move a single finger across the screen from left to right. Speed is important and you don’t need to move your finger more than inch across the screen.
    • Moves the VoiceOver selection to the next item on the screen and reads it out loud.
  • Flick/Swipe Left – Same as flick right except move from the right side of the screen to the left.
    • Move the VoiceOver selection the preview item on the screen and reads it out loud.
  • Two Finger Single Tap – Quickly touch the screen with two fingers at the exact same time.
    • Pauses VoiceOver’s speech. Perform a second time to continue speech again.
  • Two Finger Double Tap
    • Starts or stops the current action. For example: Answers or ends the current phone call, starts and stops music, stops and starts video playback.
  • Two Finger Flick/Swipe Down – Perform a swiping motion from the top of the screen towards the bottom with two fingers.
    • Begins reading everything on the screen starting at the current VoiceOver Selection.
  • Two Finger Flick/Swipe Up – Perform a swiping motion from the bottom of the screen towards the top with two fingers.
    • Begins reading everything on the page starting from the very top.
  • Three Finger Swipe
    • Scrolls the screen in the direction of the swipe.
  • Three Finger Single Tap – Quickly touch the screen with three fingers at the exact same time.
    • VoiceOver will describe the location of the the current VoiceOver selection. This may include the number location you are in a list (i.e. “Row 4, Column 3”, general location on the screen (i.e. “bottom right corner”), and the size of the selected element (i.e. “Thumb nail width”).

Advanced Gestures

  • VoiceOver Help – Tap the screen twice with four fingers to activate and deactivate VoiceOver Help.
    • With VoiceOver Help on you an practice taps and gestures on the screen. Simply perform a gesture and VoiceOver will tell you what gesture you performed and what that gesture does.
  • Item Chooser – Tap three three times with two fingers
    • The Item Chooser brings up a list of all the buttons, links, and other intractable content on the screen in alphabetical order. You can them search for a specific item. For example if you were on a web page in the Safari app you could search for a contact link on the page by using the Item Chooser.
  • Spotlight Search – Three finger flick down while in the home menu.
    • Spotlight can search your device for apps, contacts, email messages, and much more. Type in what you would like to search for and a list of results will be created. Swipe through the list and double tap on a result and you will be brought to the app with the result. Press the Home button to cancel a search.
  • App Switcher – Press home button twice in a quick succession
    • Swipe left or right to navigate through a list of recently opened apps. Double Tap or Split tap to open the selected app. Swipe up with three fingers to close the selected app. Press the Home button to close the App Switcher.

Braille Connectivity

Both Mac and iOS devices are already set up for several braille displays and note takers. No need to download drivers!

For a full list of supported Braille devices visit:

Mac OS: www.apple.com/accessibility/osx/braille-display.html(http://www.apple.com/accessibility/osx/braille-display.html)

iOS: www.apple.com/accessibility/ios/braille-display.html(http://www.apple.com/accessibility/ios/braille-display.html)