Set up Apple Watch using VoiceOver

Set up Apple Watch using VoiceOver

1. IfApple Watch isn’t on, turn it on by holding down the side button (below the Digital Crown).
2. On Apple Watch, turn on VoiceOver by triple-clicking the Digital Crown.
3. Swipe right or left on the display to choose a language, then double-tap to select it.
4. Swipe right to highlight the Start Pairing button, then double-tap.
5. On iPhone, turn on VoiceOver by going to Settings > General > Accessibility > VoiceOver.
6. To open the Apple Watch app, go to the iPhone Home screen, swipe right to select the Apple Watch app, then double-tap. 
7. To get iPhone ready to pair, swipe right to select the Start Pairing button, then double-tap.
   The “Hold Apple Watch up to the Camera” screen appears.
8. To try automatic pairing, point the iPhone camera at the watch from about 6 inches away.
   When you hear the pairing confirmation, you can skip to step 14. If you have difficulty, you can try manual pairing, steps 9 through 13.
9. Swipe right to select the Pair Apple Watch Manually button, then double-tap.
10. On Apple Watch, find your Apple Watch ID: swipe right to the Info About Pairing Apple Watch Manually button, then double-tap. Swipe right once to hear the unique identifier for your Apple Watch—it’ll be something like “Apple Watch 52345”.
11. On iPhone, select your Apple Watch: swipe right until you hear the same Apple Watch identifier that you just heard on Apple Watch, then double-tap.
12. To get your pairing code, on Apple Watch, swipe right until you hear the six-digit pairing code.
13. Enter the pairing code from Apple Watch on iPhone using the keyboard.
    When pairing succeeds, you hear “Your Apple Watch is paired.” If pairing fails, tap to respond to the alerts, then Apple Watch and the Apple Watch app on iPhone reset so you can try again.
14. When pairing is complete, on iPhone, swipe right to the Set Up Apple Watch button, then double-tap.
15. To choose your wrist preference, swipe right on the Wrist Preference screen to select Left or Right, then double-tap.
16. Review the terms and conditions, swipe right on the Terms and Conditions screen to select Agree, then double-tap. Select and double-tap Agree in the alert that appears.
17. To enter the password for your Apple ID, swipe right to the Enter Password button, double-tap, then enter the password for the Apple ID you use on your iPhone. Then double-tap the Return key in the lower-right corner of the keyboard.
18. To choose a Location Services option, swipe to your choice, then double-tap.
19. To choose a Siri option, swipe to your choice, then double-tap.
20. To create an Apple Watch passcode, swipe right on the Passcode screen to select Create a Passcode, then double-tap. On Apple Watch, enter a four-digit passcode of your choice, then reenter to confirm. Swipe, tap, or drag your finger around the display to select a number, then double-tap.
21. On Apple Watch, choose whether to unlock Apple Watch when you unlock iPhone.
22. To choose whether to install additional apps on Apple Watch, swipe to highlight Install All or Choose Later on iPhone, then double-tap.
    Apple Watch syncs with iPhone. This takes a few moments—swipe to Sync Progress on iPhone to hear progress. When you hear “sync complete” Apple Watch is ready to use, displaying the watch face. Swipe left or right to explore watch face features. For information about using VoiceOver with Apple Watch, see VoiceOver.

Here is my review of my new BumpKase by NutKase.com

Hello my name is Chelsea and I want to tell you about my New iPad case called BumpKase

 by NutKase.com

Being a visually impaired person I have had a few issues with judging exactly if I have placed an item on a bed, counter or dresser. I have had a few times where I have missed the mark. And was extremely concerned if I have damaged what I have dropped. 

  I have been looking for a durable case for my iPad and  I have found the one that will give me that protection I want.

I have been using his case for about one week and it is the best drop proof case ever to protect my iPad! It's excellent quality with sleek design & it's made of rugged TPU and has double protected corners so if it drops it is safe! Plus it has a unique hand strap which allows me to hold it in one hand, & it comes in great colours! You will love it! Connecting headphones & plugging it in to charge is super easy, the ports are clearly delineated and very easy to use. It has a magnetic cover for sleep wake mode, and folds nicely into standing position & landscape mode. 

Another nice feature is that there is a clear pocket for a card with your name/phone number/address and email address. This will be beneficial for people knowing who the device belongs to.

 I know at times that money is extremely tight. And when you purchase an item you don't always plan on purchasing accessories and a mediately. But when you purchase a expensive I am such as an iPad it is extremely important to consider purchasing a case to protect your investment.  

So if you have an iPad or considering getting one I would extremely recommend checking out this company. They also have a case for laptops.

Labeling your Photos or Videos on an iOS Device using Voice Over

Labeling your Photos or Videos on an iOS Device using Voice Over In this tutorial, I show you how to label your photos on your iOS device. This is a hidden feature that is very 

handy. Feel free to comment below for any questions you may have.

Microsoft Seeing AI app Helps Blind People ‘See’ The World With AI

Microsoft Seeing AI app  Helps Blind People ‘See’ The World With AI 

 A new app for iPhone users describes objects and reads text in the world using the phone's cameraGet More Ideas https://youtu.be/R2mC-NUAmMk

Be My Eyes - helping blind see app

Be My Eyes is an app that connects blind and visually impaired with sighted helpers from around the world via live video 

Why should blind or visually impaired people choose Apple's Products?

This post will contain some testimonials and segment on why they chose apple products.

Matthew

They are stable, their operating systems are reliable. All the Apple stuff I have owned seems to be built tough. Also right now, Apple is at the top of excess ability. Most stuff ends up being accessible. Gestures for navigation are easy to learn and teach  to other people.

Trish

For me, it's about the fact they're fully built to be usable to people with any disability. You don't need to pay extra, nor argue with a system that just doesn't work quite right.

I personally feel that Apple has always been making it possible for the blind, deaf, visually impaired and the hearing impaired to function in the world of smart technology.  Just look at their latest release.  

Sure there are some bugs, but they totally have the market on accessibility.  People should always do research and do what is best for them.  

No need to fly flags about it, just do what is best for you.

For me, it's about the fact they're fully built to be usable to people with any disability. You don't need to pay extra, nor argue with a system that just doesn't work quite right. Every app that can be is accessible, and they're truly focused on making everything usable, rather than just losing money because they're hard to use. 

Apple products are designed with accessibility included. There is minimal setup required. In my experience, Apple products have more accessibility features built in than Windows or Android.

Carlene  

Apple has more apps for blind or impaired vision. I have had both Android and now a Apple and love apples iOS system. Android does not offer a lot of the apps that iOS does. 

 And at this time I feel that Apple  is the  best and will stay with apples iPhone.

 

Dick

 I am visually impaired myself and  have a Generation 1 apple watch and i think it's great. On the apple watch there is a watch face with extra large digits, secondly you can make the watch speak the time and with SIRI and Voice Over enabled it is a great watch for visually impaired people.

Taylor  

For me, it's about the fact they're fully built to be usable to people with any disability. You don't need to pay extra, nor argue with a system that just doesn't work quite right. Every app that can be is accessible, and they're truly focused on making everything usable, rather than just losing money because they're hard to use.

Sandra

The iPhone might be a status symbol I think with some sighted people. As for me as a blind person, I saw my nieces Samsung galaxy. It was definitely more confusing than the iPhone. Now I have learned the iPhone so instead of trying to find something else I need to try to learn, I've basically stuck with that. I do think that lots of blind folks in the beginning purchased the iPhone because of the excess ability, not because of the status symbol.  

Permenter  

In my case I like iPhone zoom function I can zoom anything and I don't use VO very often. But I do have to invert the colors  and its way easier with my iPhone than it was with android. I could care less about being a "status symbol"

Alex  

Because it is the easiest and best smartphone for the visually impaired.

Ann

For me, it's about the fact they're fully built to be usable to people with any disability. You don't need to pay extra, nor argue with a system that just doesn't work quite right.

I personally feel that Apple has always been making it possible for the blind, deaf, visually impaired and the hearing impaired to function in the world of smart technology.  Just look at their latest release.  

Sure there are some bugs, but they totally have the market on accessibility.  People should always do research and do what is best for them.  

No need to fly flags about it, just do what is best for you.

For me, it's about the fact they're fully built to be usable to people with any disability. You don't need to pay extra, nor argue with a system that just doesn't work quite right. Every app that can be is accessible, and they're truly focused on making everything usable, rather than just losing money because they're hard to use. 

Apple products are designed with accessibility included. There is minimal setup required. In my experience, Apple products have more accessibility features built in than Windows or Android.

Teresa

Apple products are designed with accessibility included. There is minimal setup required. In my experience, Apple products have more accessibility features built in than Windows or Android.

------------------

Gerry

I have been using Apple products for about 6 years. I have an iPhone 6 and an iPad mini. I am able to use a smartphone now, where before I couldn't. Voice Over is a built in screen reader that works quite well. I listen to Bard Moblie, Audible.com and music all from my iphone with the help of a bluetooth speaker. I also check my emails and send and recieve text messages. Oh btw I am almost totally blind.

Diane

Basically, Apple products can be used right out of the box. Might cost a bit more but if you include screen readers for other products you're still paying around the same.

Bridget  

In my case I like iPhone because I can zoom anything and I don't use VO very often but I do have to invert the colors  and its way easier with my iPhone than it was with android. I could care less about being a "status symbol"

Alex  

Because it is the easiest and best smartphone for the visually impaired.

Victoria  

Well, I can tell you that I use an iPhone because it is extremely user-friendly for me. I don't have to struggle to figure out how to do things. Voiceover is reliable and many many apps are accessible with it. I can rest a short that every app made by Apple will be accessible.

Barry 

After listening to lots of reviews by visually impaired people , it seemed that the iPhone was the simplest to use for those of us who cannot actually see what's on the screen at all. That is why I bought mine, and I am very, very pleased that I did. …And people hardly ever see my phone so it most certainly is not a status symbol in my case…

Ann 

I have lost all of my high partial vision to retinitis pigmentosa several years ago. When I got  my iPhone, I felt like I've been given my vision back in someways. Not everyone can get a computer from blind services and similar organizations.

To me, and I phone is just perfect for what I wanted to do for me. For many years, I had net by phone and Internet speech. I wish someone had told me back then, that an iPhone had speech on it I could've save myself a lot of $$.

Change your Apple ID

Follow these steps to change the email address that you use as your Apple ID.

1. Sign out of every Apple service and devicethat uses your Apple ID.
2. Sign in to your Apple ID account page.
3. In the Account section, click Edit. Under your Apple ID, click Change Email Address.
4. Enter the email address you want to use as your Apple ID. A verification code will be sent to your new email address.
5. Enter the verification code from the email into the fields provided and start using your updated Apple ID. Didn't get the email?
6. Sign back in to all Apple services with your new Apple ID.

You can change your Apple ID to any other email address you control, as long as it's not already in use as an Apple ID. If your email address ends with @icloud.com, @me.com, or @mac.com, you might not be able to change your Apple ID. You also won't see Change Email Address on your account page.

Learn more

After you change your Apple ID, you need to use your new sign-in information with all Apple services that you use.

If you want to change the Apple ID that you use on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch—and not change the email address that you use as your Apple ID—follow these steps to sign out, then back in with a different Apple ID.

FaceTime isn't available in all countries or regions.

Last Modified: Apr 13, 2016

iPad & iOS9 Accessibility Features Part3

VoiceOver

VoiceOver is the built in screenreader that comes with all Apple products. VoiceOver was updated for iOS9 with multiple voices and dialects, as well as more options, like configuring how you want VoiceOver to handle describing images on your screen. Customizable gestures are possible so you can control VoiceOver through the touch screen. You can also access a Speak Screen that lets you toggle VoiceOver on by a simple two-finger swipe from the top of the screen (to set this up you need to go intoSettings > General > Accessibility > Speech > Speak Screen). iOS9 updates also allow you to speed up the rate of speech for VoiceOver more than before. Even though you may not be able to understand the speech at a very quick speed, your child may and this can be a huge advantage for an auditory learner!

So this is all great for text, but what about video? You can still turn on Audio Descriptions for accessible videos in iOS9, too, with increased accessibility in iTunes Movies and TV. Just go to Settings > General > Accessibility > Audio Descriptions and now the accessible audio descriptions on videos will play automatically whenever available.

If you're not familiar with the built-in braille keyboard that was presented in the VoiceOver update of iOS8, be sure to check it out since it is still an active feature in iOS9! Yes, a built-in braille keyboard! That's right! If you're using VoiceOver, you have the option to turn on Braille Screen Input in the Rotor menu. You can enter text through an on-screen six-dot braille input. Just turn the iPad so that the screen is perpendicular to the floor and 6 dots appear on the screen which you can use to input text using a braille interface into any app! Check out the Assistive Technology Blog for more info on the Built-in Braille Keyboard for Six-Dot Input.

Learn more about VoiceOver for iOS.

Speak Selection

If VoiceOver is too much for you and you just want the iPad to read a word or phrase here and there, you can activate Speak Selection. Go to Settings > General > Accessibility > Speech > Speak Selection and turn Speak Selection on. Now you can highlight any text in any app and you'll be given the option to hear it spoken (as seen to the right). Just tap on the "Speak" button to hear your selection.

Camera

The camera on iOS9 devices comes with VoiceOver compatibility, which means when you hold up your camera it will let you know how many faces are in frame and whether or not they are centered. Very cool!

The zoom feature in the camera can also be used as a magnifier. For example, you could place the camera over a menu, "pinch" the screen in order to zoom in, and voilà! The words appear in large text on your screen!

Hearing Impairments

For children with hearing impairments, iOS9 offers some handy features. For example, you have complete control over how the audio is played back through speakers or headphones on your iPad. Many songs or videos split their audio so that the left and right ear jacks hear different sounds. But if you go to Settings > General > Accessibility > Hearing you can turn Mono Audio on so that both ear jacks receive the same sounds. You can also play with the left and right audio volumes separately, allowing you to leave one louder than the other if you wish.

Previously, in the iOS7 update they also added customization features to subtitles and captioning. Go to Settings > General > Accessibility > Subtitles & Captioning. Here you can choose to turn captioning on or off and also change the style of captions. You can choose large print captions (as seen to the right) or even completely customize them by changing the font, size, color etc.

The iPhone also allows you to set different (and fully customizable) vibration patterns for different alerts and phone calls. This way you can tell who's calling you just by the feel of your phone!

Braille Displays and Other Equipment

All iOS9 devices support Bluetooth wireless braille displays so you can read in braille everything that appears on your screen. Along with VoiceOver, this turns the iPad into a fully accessible piece of equipment. For a list of all the braille displays supported by Apple, click here.

Below is a video explaining how to use a refreshable braille display with an iPad:

You can also look at getting a stylus for your iPad if holding a pen or pencil is easier for you child than using their fingers. ThePogo Stylus is a nice choice.

And on a practical note, the iPad really does seem able to take quite a bit of abuse. Ours has survived slapping and even dropping (at least on our carpeted floor). But you still might want to invest in a nice sturdy case to protect it. We like the Gumdrop Tech Series Case both for it's durability and the nice red border it places around the screen which is great for kids with CVI.

There are many updates to iOS9 that were system wide and not just for users with visual impairments but are still very useful for many users, regardless of their unique needs. For independent travelers, iDevice users can now get public transit support via the Apple Maps app. This is a huge step for giving much needed access and information to independent blind travelers. Other advances include Siri's functions including activating her without having to have your iPad or iPhone plugged into a power source and increased speech recognition tailored to your voice. Siri can be a great motivator for kids working on speech goals, as well as just her overall usefulness in finding information and accessing apps using verbal prompts. You may also be interested in the 3D Touchfeatures introduced in the iPhone 6S and Plus with increased accessibility.

I hope these tips and reviews will help you create an iPad that works perfectly for your child. If you have any questions on how to adapt your iPad or if you have other tips that you'd like to share with others, please leave a comment below or contact me.

Facebook programs computers to describe photos for the blind

ap.orghttp://www.ap.org

April 5, 2016

FILE - This Feb. 19, 2014, file photo shows the Facebook app icon on an iPhone in New York. A feature rolling out Tuesday, April 5, 2016, on Facebook's iPhone app interprets what's in a photo using a form of artificial intelligence to recognize faces and objects for blind and visually impaired people as they scroll through the pictures posted on the world's largest online social network (AP Photo/Karly Domb Sadof, File)

MENLO PARK, Calif. (AP) — Facebook is training its computers to become seeing-eye guides for blind and visually impaired people as they scroll through the pictures posted on the world's largest online social network.

The feature rolling out Tuesday on Facebook's iPhone and iPad apps interprets what's in a picture using a form of artificial intelligence that recognizes faces and objects. VoiceOver, a screen reader built into the software powering the iPhone and iPad, must be turned on for Facebook's photo descriptions to be read. For now, the feature will only be available in English.

Until now, people relying on screen readers on Facebook would only hear that a person had shared a photo without any elaboration.

The photo descriptions initially will be confined to a vocabulary of 100 words in a restriction that will prevent the computer from providing a lot of details. For instance, the automated voice may only tell a user that a photo features three people smiling outdoors without adding that the trio also has drinks in their hands. Or it may say the photo is of pizza without adding that there's pepperoni and olives on top of it.

Facebook is being careful with the technology, called "automatic alternative text," in an attempt to avoid making a mistake that offends its audience. Google learned the risks of automation last year when an image recognition feature in its Photos app labeled a black couple as gorillas, prompting the company to issue an apology.

Eventually, though, Facebook hopes to refine the technology so it provides more precise descriptions and even answers questions that a user might pose about a picture.

The vocabulary of Facebook's photo-recognition program includes "car," ''sky," ''dessert," ''baby," ''shoes," and, of course, "selfie."

Facebook also plans to turn on the technology for its Android app and make it available through Web browsers visiting its site.

The Menlo Park, California, company is trying to ensure the world's nearly 300 million blind and visually impaired people remain interested in its social network as a steadily increasing number of photos appear on its service. On an average day, Facebook says more than 2 billion photos are posted on its social network and other apps that it owns, a list that includes Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp.

In a Tuesday post, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg hailed the photo description tool as "an important step towards making sure everyone has equal access to information and is included in the conversation."

___

Online:

Facebook's post: https://newsroom.fb.com/news/2016/04/using-artificial-intelligence-to-help-blind-people-see-facebook/

iPad & iOS9 Accessibility Features Part2

Guided Access

Guided Access is a way to set certain parts of your screen off limits. Are you using a free app with ads and your child keeps clicking the ads? Just draw a square around those ads and suddenly they aren't clickable anymore! Guided Access has not changed since the iOS8 updates, but is definitely a feature worth mentioning for kids with motor challenges or just learning to use the iPad!

Here's how it works: Go to Settings > General > Accessibility and turn Guided Access on. You can set a passcode at this point if you want to (make it something easy, like 1-2-3-4) or you can do it later when you use the feature. You'll need the passcode to turn Guided Access off.

Now when you're in your app (I'm going to use Talking Tom as my example), triple click the home button to open up your Guided Access options. Draw a box around the areas you don't want your child to access (for Talking Tom, I drew a box around the ad at the top of the screen and the buttons that ask you to buy things on the right of the screen). Click start and you're back in the app, but now those areas are not accessible. Those areas are also grayed out a bit so they are less likely to draw your child's attention, too. Another hint is to make sure that you do not draw a box in the middle of the screen where you will need to enter your passcode to turn Guided Access off later!

You can also use Guided Access to set a time limit on apps. Are you using iPad play as a reward, but want your child to get back to another task in 10 minutes? Set Guided Access to 10 minutes and when the time is up, the session will end and you'll have to use a passcode to get the iPad up and running again.

When you're done using Guided Access, triple click the home button again and enter your passcode or place your finger on the Touch ID. Easy!

Switch Control

Switch access for the iPad allows users to interact with one or two large buttons rather than have to maneuver through the complexities of the touch screen. The iPad has always been switch accessible, particularly with apps designed specifically for switches, but starting in iOS7 the iPad now allows for complete system-wide switch control.

Go to Settings > General > Accessibility > Switch Control to turn Switch Control on. You can then tell the iPad how many switches you wish to use and you can fully customize how the switches interact with the iPad, from changing the cursor speed, size and color to adding sound effects and speech options (which is perfect for children who are visually impaired). A feature new to iOS9 is Recipes. A Recipe is a set of specialized actions you can temporarily assign to switches in place of their normal actions. Need to record a series of gestures to perform a complex action in an app? You can make it happen with a Recipe. You can also create a customized Launch Recipe that will be applied automatically whenever Switch Control starts.

For more information on Switch Control, check out this post from Assistive Technology Blog or this very in-depth piece (which includes screenshots and videos) from Jane Farrall's Blog. To learn more about the specific iOS9 updates, read this guide from AbleNet, "iOS9 Accessibility Switch Control - The Missing User Guide."

If you're looking to purchase switches, AbleNet sells a Bluetooth iPad switch that allows you to use either one or two built-in switches or even attach your own favorite switch. There is also the Bluetooth Switch Interface from RJ Cooper. Also, Inclusive Technology creates a series of fun and educational iPad apps that are designed specifically to work with a switch.

Head Gestures & Other Switch Options

Another really interesting feature of the iPad is the ability to do everything a switch allows you to do... but without a switch! Go toSettings > General > Accessibility > Switch Control > Switches > Add New Switch. You have three options here: "External" allows you to hook up a traditional external switch with your iPad; "Screen" lets you use the whole iPad screen as your switch; and "Camera" lets you use head gestures (a move of the head to the left or the right) as your switch. Isn't that neat?

So with "Screen" you can use your iPad just like you would when using a switch, but the touch screen itself acts as a large interactive switch.

And with "Camera" you control the cursor on the screen with a move of your head from left to right. You get to choose which movements control which features in the settings. For more information and a walk through on using head gestures to control the iPad, watch this video below:

Low Vision Options

Go to Settings > General > Accessibility and you have a few options to change the way your screen looks. You can Zoom to magnify the entire screen. It takes a somewhat complicated move (once turned on in your settings, you need to double-tap with three fingers in order to zoom in), but if you can help you child learn to control the zoom it can be a really powerful tool (unfortunately AssistiveTouch doesn't seem to be able to pull off the three-fingered double tap for you).

In iBooks it's a terrific way of showing a child with low vision what the illustrations are and because of how sweetly it functions, you or your child can move through the pictures smoothly, enlarged as required, to find out things like how sad Eyore's face looks or how big Pooh's tummy is.

The Zoom feature underwent a pretty major upgrade in iOS8. Once turned on, you can choose to magnify the entire screen (which is the default setting) or create a Window Zoom. Go to Settings > General > Accessibility > Zoom > Zoom Region and choose Window Zoom. Now, instead of enlarging the entire screen with your three-fingered double tap, you'll just see a zoom lens (sort of like using a magnifying glass on your iPad) so you can zoom in on specific areas of the screen. If you also turn on the Zoom controller (Settings > General > Accessibility > Zoom > Show Controller), you can control the power of the zoom, resize your lens or even add filters. So now, you could create a lens that zooms and gives you a higher contrast! Wow!

In the same area in your settings, you can also Invert Colors (for more contrast) or turn on Larger Text (to increase just the text font size). You can also turn on Bold Text under Accessibility options. This creates bold text in apps, the keyboard and the calculator (not just in eBooks). There's also an option to turn on Button Shapes, which highlights buttons and links throughout the iPad or iPhone making them much easier to see, or you can choose the Grayscale option, giving you another way to make the screen clearer for users with low vision.