New in iOS 8: Start Text-To-Speech Easily with Speak Screen

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTTKeXLOZWQTIDAu5x83NJU-Mn5ORXBHTsdSuvnOL-K3k3AG_XV7w9JP96V9MBsSmrJxCW2LWCuwK7C3kaLTI1D9H_JfMgBo_y5dPrAM95DbQeY9FrYIbq5XrgaOLRi9rzlWdzIPNYf8o/s1600/photo+(5).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTTKeXLOZWQTIDAu5x83NJU-Mn5ORXBHTsdSuvnOL-K3k3AG_XV7w9JP96V9MBsSmrJxCW2LWCuwK7C3kaLTI1D9H_JfMgBo_y5dPrAM95DbQeY9FrYIbq5XrgaOLRi9rzlWdzIPNYf8o/s1600/photo+(5).JPG" title="Speak Screen menu over a Safari webpage" width="180" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8wdsL6mipgOncnTujJF9x894A5dvCTou_IA_lD6xjk0HUXw7tcEo51-HwCdnok4iEuR9_RWU_s5BQJs_sM2cKh_3XDZVhImmsD2zZOXAnwYZdRNa9SYLMWRJtISrvBjXzML9A6QmiF8c/s1600/IMG_2520.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8wdsL6mipgOncnTujJF9x894A5dvCTou_IA_lD6xjk0HUXw7tcEo51-HwCdnok4iEuR9_RWU_s5BQJs_sM2cKh_3XDZVhImmsD2zZOXAnwYZdRNa9SYLMWRJtISrvBjXzML9A6QmiF8c/s1600/IMG_2520.PNG" title="Speak Screen options in settings" width="180" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2014/06/ios-8-more-accessible-than-ever.html">iOS 8</a> includes some new accessibility features and many improvements to existing features. One of the new features is called Speak Screen which allows users to quickly have text on the screen spoken aloud using <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2013/11/claropdf-app-pdf-text-to-speech-and.html">text-to-speech</a>. Speak Screen is included in addition to <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2012/10/how-to-use-ios-6-speak-selection-with.html">Speak Selection</a> which allows users to highlight text and press speak to have content read aloud.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Unlike Speak Selection, which requires text to be highlighted first, before reading the text aloud,  Speak Screen does not require users to highlight the text they wish to have spoken. Especially for longer articles or emails, this highlighting process could be time consuming and frustrating. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Speak Screen solves the problem by speaking all text on the screen with a simple two-finger swipe down from the top of the screen. After swiping down with two fingers, text starts to be read aloud with <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2013/11/claropdf-app-pdf-text-to-speech-and.html">text-to-speech</a>, and the Speak Screen menu appears on top of your current app. This menu allows you to stop and start speech, adjust the text-to-speech speaking rate, and navigate through the text being spoken.  Instead of having to re-highlight text if you want to hear a paragraph again, Speak Screen offers simple navigation buttons. The menu can also be hidden to allow full view of the screen and accessed again through a small floating button. Just like Speak Selection, Speak Screen has the option to highlight text as it is spoken, making it easier for sighted readers to follow the text as it is being spoken.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Just like all of the accessibility features in iOS 8, Speak Screen can use the Alex text-to-speech voice which many users prefer. While Alex is a very high quality text-to-speech voice beware, it takes up almost one gigabyte of storage. Speak Screen can also be activated through Siri by saying "speak the screen." To enable Speak Screen on a device with iOS 8 go to Settings > General > <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2014/05/apple-begins-hosting-free-accessibility.html">Accessibility</a> > Speech and then toggle on Speak Screen. Speak Screen is only available for devices running iOS 8 or higher.</span></div>

Diposting oleh Abdullah Syafii

How Apple Could Improve the App Store for VoiceOver Users

<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaBlCs8aCnmIgaBHRoognSXBR4CVcEvzlOQnDV7ECHmhefnD0zgwVEJ3wy_Ra3J5DyuU56fSGanBCOtTTkMu8PTq2vx_j78gewUvsUnilPetBnp_5r3ihGjHDuOGjum9r5DWqKNKAL4DU/s1600/App+VoiceOver.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaBlCs8aCnmIgaBHRoognSXBR4CVcEvzlOQnDV7ECHmhefnD0zgwVEJ3wy_Ra3J5DyuU56fSGanBCOtTTkMu8PTq2vx_j78gewUvsUnilPetBnp_5r3ihGjHDuOGjum9r5DWqKNKAL4DU/s1600/App+VoiceOver.png" title="mock-up App Store screenshot with added section reading Supports VoiceOver on app preview page" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Potential  Feature for App Store</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Would you buy a song that may or may not play, a car that may or may not fit in your garage, or a remote that could or could not work with your TV? Probably not, but a similar problem is facing <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2014/06/happy-birthday-voiceover.html">VoiceOver</a> users (and users of other built-in accessibility features) every time they look for a new app on the App Store. This user base is growing quickly due to high quality accessibility features that Apple builds into every iOS device. Currently, the App Store offers no way for users to know if the app will be accessible before hitting the buy button. For VoiceOver users, this means throwing away money if the app turns out to be inaccessible. While the issue of app accessibility has been getting a lot of buzz lately, hopefully Apple can implement some solutions to the problem before and until app accessibility is virtually ubiquitous.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One way to help users know if an app is accessible before hitting the buy button is to add an accessibility report to the apps App Store page. Just as App Store pages prominently displays if an app is compatible with Game Center. This report could be generated during Apple's app review process and consist of a simple rating scale to help users determine if the app is accessible for their needs. As Rene Ritchie of <a href="http://imore.com/">iMore.com</a> suggested, maybe Apple would decide not to recommend any apps that are not fully accessible.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There are other solutions such as allowing developers to create an app accessibility preview alongside the full blown app previews coming with <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2014/06/ios-8-more-accessible-than-ever.html">iOS 8</a>. Developers could walk users through how the app interacts with <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2014/06/happy-birthday-voiceover.html">VoiceOver</a> or other <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2014/04/apple-announces-wwdc-2014-will.html">accessibility</a> features directly in the App Store using audio and video.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Hopefully Apple and app developers continue to keep in mind when updating their products.</div>

Diposting oleh Abdullah Syafii

Apple Announces WWDC 2014: Will Accessibility Enhancements Take Center Stage Once Again?

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://devimages.apple.com.edgekey.net/wwdc/images/wwdc14-home-branding.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="picture of colorful Apple logo made from varying sized rounded squares " border="0" height="244" src="https://devimages.apple.com.edgekey.net/wwdc/images/wwdc14-home-branding.png" title="WWDC 2014" width="500" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ets.berkeley.edu/sites/default/files/images/accessibility.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="75" src="https://ets.berkeley.edu/sites/default/files/images/accessibility.jpg" title="Apple Accessibility Icon" width="75" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2014/03/apple-releases-ios-71-with-numerous.html">Apple</a> announced that their World Wide Developers Conference (<a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2013/04/apple-to-update-os-x-and-ios-at-wwdc.html">WWDC</a>) will take place from June 2nd - 6th in San Francisco, California. At the event, Apple will preview the future versions of <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2014/02/launch-center-pro-speed-up-common.html">iOS</a> and <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2013/10/os-x-mavericks-includes-switch-control.html">OS X</a>. It is unknown what these changes will entail, but if history is any indication Apple will preview iOS 8 and OS X 10.10. Consistently, over the past few years Apple has steadily improved the accessibility features of both iOS, which runs the iPhone, <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2014/02/whats-on-my-ipad-assistive-apps-i-use.html">iPad</a>, and iPod Touch and OS X, which runs on <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2011/07/mac-os-x-lion-includes-new.html">Mac</a> computers. Last year with OS X 10.9 Mavericks, Apple added <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2013/09/new-in-ios-7-detailed-look-at-switch.html">Switch Contro</a>l, <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2013/10/new-in-ios-7-system-wide-large-type.html">large text</a>, <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2012/10/ios-6-voiceover-compatiblity-with-maps.html">VoiceOver</a> enhancements, customizable closed captioning, and enhanced dictation. iOS 7 added <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2013/10/os-x-mavericks-includes-switch-control.html">Switch Control</a>, improved <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2013/09/new-in-ios-7-ask-siri-to-turn-on.html">Siri</a>, and ability for developers to utilize system text-to-speech voices.<br /><br />At WWDC 2012, Apple devoted precious time during their Keynote to detail improved accessibility features found in iOS 6. With millions of users any accessibility improvements can have a dramatic impact on many users. Hopefully, Apple can continue to improve their current accessibility options while continuing to insure that any possible future devices are also accessible to people with all abilities. For attendees, the venue is fully ADA compliant.<br /><br />Stay tuned to the <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/">Assistive Technology Blog</a> to learn all about how the WWDC 2014 announcements impact accessibility.</div>

Diposting oleh Abdullah Syafii

iOS 6 To Be Released on September 19th With New Accessibility Features

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.apple.com/ios/images/overview_title.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://images.apple.com/ios/images/overview_title.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Today, <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2012/06/today-apple-announced-ios-6-new-update.html">Apple</a> announced that <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2012/06/today-apple-announced-ios-6-new-update.html">iOS 6</a>, the software that runs <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2012/08/ios-6-iphone-5-and-ipad-mini-expected.html">iPhone</a>, iPad and iPod Touch, will be released on September 19th. The free software update will include new <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2012/06/ios-6-guided-access-accessibility.html">accessibility</a> features such as Guided Access, Speak Selection with highlighting and improved Siri. Click here to learn more about <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2012/06/ios-6-guided-access-accessibility.html">Guided Access</a>. iOS 6 will also include Made For iPhone Hearing Aids which allow hearing aid users to better use the iPhone. Along with accessibility improvements <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2012/06/ios-6-guided-access-accessibility.html">iOS 6</a> includes an updated maps app and more.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.apple.com/ios/whats-new/images/accessibility.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://images.apple.com/ios/whats-new/images/accessibility.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Click read more below to view more images of iOS 6 from Apple.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><a name="more"></a><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.apple.com/ios/whats-new/images/siri_overview.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="http://images.apple.com/ios/whats-new/images/siri_overview.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.apple.com/ios/whats-new/images/maps_overview.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="http://images.apple.com/ios/whats-new/images/maps_overview.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />

Diposting oleh Abdullah Syafii

iOS 6: Single App Mode Will Help Teachers Give Tests on the iPad

<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/9Gn4sXgZbBM?rel=0#t=6841" width="560"></iframe><br /><br /></div>Apple's upcoming <a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ciframe%20width=%22560%22%20height=%22315%22%20src=%22http://www.youtube.com/embed/9Gn4sXgZbBM?rel=0%22%20frameborder=%220%22%20allowfullscreen%3E%3C/iframe%3E">iOS 6</a> will include single app mode which will allow teachers to keep students from leaving a test. This way students cannot leave the test and go look up the answers online. This allow teachers securely administer tests on the <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2012/03/new-ipad-thoughts-from-assistive.html">iPad</a>, iPhone or iPod Touch.<br /><br />To learn more about iOS 6 <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2012/06/today-apple-announced-ios-6-new-update.html">click here</a>.

Diposting oleh Abdullah Syafii