Entering Text Using VoiceOver

Entering Text Using VoiceOver

The Basics

Using the iOS device’s touch screen, text can be entered in three different ways:

• Typed using the on-screen QWERTY keyboard.
• Typed as braille characters which will be translated into print symbols
• Handwriting characters with one finger which will be translated into print symbols

To ensure that the iOS device is configured to permit all three writing options:

1. Go to Settings > General > Accessibility > VoiceOver > Rotor.

2. Ensure that both Handwriting and Braille Screen Input are selected.

Open a new, blank note to try out and practice each input option. The on-screen keyboard should appear.

Using the On-Screen Keyboard to Enter Text

• Standard Typing Mode: This is Apple’s default Typing Mode and may be a good option for initial instruction and practice for students are not yet confident touch typists. In this mode, the user slides one finger over the keyboard to locate the desired character, then either Double-Taps or performs a Split-Tap anywhere on the screen. When the character is inserted into the text field, it is spoken in a higher-pitched voice.
• Touch Typing Mode: This is typically the preferred typing mode for most VoiceOver users who have no usable vision. To enter text, the user touches the keyboard with one finger and slides around until the desired character is located. Lifting the finger slightly off of the screen causes it to be inserted into the text field. The character typed is spoken in a higher-pitched voice. It is still necessary to use a Double-Tap to activate the ENTER, BACKSPACE, and other non-character keys.
• Direct Touch Typing Mode: This is typically the preferred option for a person who is relying mostly on vision to enter text but who would like VoiceOver to confirm the characters being typed. The enter text, simply touch the desired character.

Using Braille Screen Input to Enter Text

While in an open note or other text field, turn the Rotor to Braille Screen Input.

If using an iPad, place it on the table in either portrait or landscape orientation (Table Top Mode). If using an iPhone, some users prefer to hold the phone with the screen facing away from the body with the three middle fingers of each hand in a position where they can simultaneously touch the screen, using the thumb and little finger to securely hold the iPhone. (Screen Away Mode)

The “calibrate” the dot positions on the screen, briefly touch the screen with the index, middle, and ring fingers on the right hand, then lift these fingers and touch the screen with the same three fingers on the left hand. Be sure to do this with hands in a comfortable position for writing. You may need to do this a time or two until all six dots register correctly.

To enter text, simply begin tapping the screen with the appropriate finger combinations to write braille characters in the selected Braille Screen Input mode (contracted or uncontracted six-dot braille)

• To enter a SPACE, swipe right with one finger.
• To BACKSPACE, swipe left with one finger.
• To move to a new line, swipe right with two fingers.
• To lock screen orientation, Flick UP with three fingers.

Click here for: A Guide to Braille Screen Input

Using Handwriting to Enter Text

Turn the Rotor to Handwriting. By default, VoiceOver expects to interpret handwritten characters as lowercase letters.

Use one finger to draw the characters on the screen. VoiceOver will echo the character it believes was drawn.

• To BACKSPACE, swipe left with two fingers.
• To enter a SPACE, swipe right with two fingers.
• To move to a new line, swipe right with three fingers
• To alert VoiceOver that you intend to enter uppercase letters, numbers, or punctuation, swipe up/down with three fingers until you locate the desired option.
• Note: Handwriting Mode is particularly useful when entering numbers into the password field on the Lock screen with VoiceOver enabled. However, it is important to practice entering the appropriate numbers prior to trying this to be sure that the student is able to correctly enter each digit. Turn on the Rotor to Handwriting before beginning to handwrite the password.

Click here for: Handwriting Mode on iOS

Selecting Text

To move the Insertion Point to the beginning or end of a text field, Double-Tap while focus is in the text field. Each Double-Tap moves the cursor to the opposite end of the field.

To move the Insertion Point by text units within the text field:

• Turn the Rotor to the desired text unit (characters, words, lines, etc. Different options are available in different types of text fields)
• Flick Down to move forward through the text, Flick Up to move backward. Note that while moving forward the Insertion Point moves to the end of the text unit, and while moving backward the Insertion Point moves to the beginning of the text unit. This is different from cursor movement on a Windows-based PC and should be expressly described to the student.

To select and manipulate all text in a text field:

1. Turn the Rotor to Edit.
2. Flick Up or Down to locate the Select All option and Double-Tap.
3. To erase all text, simply Double-Tap the DELETE key. Or, Flick Up or Down through the Rotor options and choose Cut, Copy, or Share and Double-Tap to perform the action.

To select a single character, word, line, etc:

1. Move the Insertion Point to the beginning of the text to be selected.
2. Turn the Rotor to Edit.
3. Flick Up or Down to locate the text unit to be selected and Double-Tap. If a single word is selected, the Edit Rotor will now contain options to check the spelling of the word or to lookup the word in a dictionary.

To select multiple characters, words, lines, etc:

1. Move the Insertion Point to the beginning of the text to be selected.
2. Turn the rotor to Text Selection.
3. Flick Up or Down to choose the unit by which to select. The choices are: Character, Word, Line, Page, or Select All.
4. Flick Right and text will be selected by the specified text unit. For example, if Word was selected, each Flick Right gesture will select the next word.
5. If too much text is selected, Flick Left to deselect by the same text unit.
6. If necessary, Flick Up or Down to choose a different text unit to select by larger or smaller increments.
7. Once the Rotor is set to Text Selection, Pinch Open will quickly expand the selection, and a Pinch Close gesture will decrease the amount of text selected. Some students become very adept at text selection using Pinch and Unpinch, and these gestures may be particularly useful for starting a large selection lock before switching to Rotor functions to fine tune the selection.

Once text is selected:

1. Turn the Rotor to Edit.
2. Flick Up or Down to choose an action such as Cut or Copy and Double-Tap to perform that action.

To paste text on the clipboard into the text field:

1. Move the Insertion Point to the position where the text should be inserted.
2. Turn the Rotor to Edit.
3. Flick Up or Down to locate the Paste option and Double-Tap to insert the text from the clipboard.

Click here for: Editing Text Using Voiceover
Tutorial geared toward blind and visually impaired users of iPhones and iPads with Siri capability, and who use Apple Corporation's accessibility technology called Voiceover to read the screen of their device.




This Blog post has been adapted from the following resources:
1. VoiceOver Commands for iOS 9- Low Incidence Institute 2016
2. Apple VoiceOver Information Guide