Skip to main content

New in iOS 8: Built-in Braille Keyboard for Six-Dot Input


iOS 8 includes enhancements to VoiceOver, the built-in gesture based screen reader for people with visual impairments. One of the improvements is a new built-in Braille Keyboard for Six-Dot input. The new feature is similar to the BrailleTouch app released a few years ago with one major difference; the built-in option can be used to enter text into any app directly. The option can be enabled in the VoiceOver rotor. The Braille keyboard will offer VoiceOver users who are familiar with Braille an alternative, and possibly much faster text entry method. iOS 8 will also offers third-party keyboards such as Fleksy which could also offer significantly faster text input for VoiceOver users.

Once you turn the Braille keyboard on six positions will appear on screen representing the six Braille dots. When the device is held with the screen perpendicular to the floor it automatically enters screen away mode. When using this mode the user faces the screen away allowing three fingers from each hand to contact the screen. As the user begins to type the six virtual dots automatically reposition themselves to compensate for changes in your grip. The dots can also be recalibrated by holding down the three right hand fingers and then the three left hand fingers immediately after. This positions the dots directly under your fingers.

When the device is set on the table or another flat surface the Braille keyboard enters tabletop mode. This mode would seem to be ideal for an iPad can can also be used on smaller devices. It does take some care to ensure that the keyboard does not switch between tabletop and screen away mode accidentally. In both modes typing did seem difficult on the small screen, but some practice seemed to improve typing speed. This new option allows typing with contracted or uncontracted Braille. When typing a swipe right adds a space and a swipe left deletes the last character typed. This new method of typing is very sensitive a will likely require practice before mastering. If you use this feature frequently, it maybe helpful to purchase a case that boarders the screen to avoid trying to type on the bezel.

To enable the Braille keyboard go to Settings > General > Accessibility > VoiceOver > Rotor > Braille Screen Input. Then, when VoiceOver is enabled, rotate the rotor until Braille screen input is selected. It exciting to see all the new third-party keyboard options for iOS 8, but for VoiceOver users, Apple's own Braille keyboard maybe the most exciting of all.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Reveiw: Celluon Epic Laser Keyboard

The Celluon Epic is a Bluetooth laser keyboard. The compact device projects a QWERTY keyboard onto most flat surfaces. (Glass tabletops being the exception) You can connect the Epic to vertically any device that supports Bluetooth keyboards including devices running iOS , Android , Windows Phone, and Blackberry 10. On the back of the device there is a charging port and pairing button. Once you have the Epic paired with your device it acts the same as any other keyboard. For any keyboard the most important consideration is the typing experience that it provides. The virtual keyboard brightness is adjustable and is easy to see in most lighting conditions. Unfortunately the brightness does not automatically adjust based on ambient light. With each keystroke a beeping sound is played which can be turned down. The typing experience on the Epic is mediocre at best. Inadvertently activating the wrong key can make typing frustrating and tiring. Even if you are a touch typist you'll still ...

15 YEARS OLD GIRL IMPREGNATED AND MAN RESPONSIBLE FOR IT TOOK FOR AN ABORTION THAT FAILED

BBI FACILITATE ARREST OF 35 YEARS OLD FOR DEFILEMENT, IMPREGNATING 15 YEARS OLD GIRL AND ABORTING FIVE MONTHS PREGNANCY IN ANAMBRA STATE. Today, at 1:26pm, We received a complaint from a concerned citizen who informed us of a 15yrs old girl brought into a hospital for medical treatment. Our intelligence team led by Director General Gwamnishu Emefiena Harrison Kenneth Nwaobi Ezika Kene and others left Asaba and arrived Ogidi Anambra state for investigation. 35yrs Chris Azuoma took the victim to hospital where she was injected and given abortion pills. She bled heavily and had complications and so decided to take her to a specialist hospital to evacuate the foetus. Getting to the hospital, we met the management and identified ourselves as Human rights group and they granted us permission to interview the victim. She confirmed the story and the perpetrator confessed forcefully having unprotected sexual intercourse with the victim. 2015 Administration of Criminal Justice permit private per...

Google Now Possibly Coming to iOS

Google's popular Google Now feature may be coming to Apple devices if a leaked video is to be believed. Google Now is currently an Android exclusive feature but Google has brought flagship Android features to Apple devices in the past. One example is Google's advanced voice search that came to iOS last year. Google Now has predictive cards that provide information to users automatically. The cards gather information about a users search history and provide useful information automatically. Engadget.com was sent the video which was later taken off YouTube . The leaked video is visually similar to other Google promotional videos with lends credence to its authenticity. If the video is legitimate Google Now would be a great addition to Apple's mobile devices. Click read more to view another video about Google Now.