Apple has opened up third-party keyboards, so Fleksy can become your system-wide input method if you wish. They also added braille input directly to VoiceOver, letting you use braille on the screen anywhere you can type. By the way, that last one was on a WWDC Keynote slide, so it's public knowledge. Those, plus the Alex voice, plus all the features still protected under NDA, make iOS8 a pretty exciting release in my book. We have no idea just what to expect to see, so at least wait until iOS8 is out in the wild before saying that Apple has done nothing. On Jul 1, 2014, at 9:25 AM, David Chittenden <dchitten...@gmail.com> wrote:
> 1) Just because Apple has not implemented the features you wish to see does > not mean, in any way, that Apple has not added new features to VoiceOver. > > 2) Unless you are a beta tester, you do not know what Apple has or has not > added. And, beta testers are not supposed to provide such information. > > 3) I listened to two podcasts which discussed some of the new accessibility > features. As I respect the list position, even though I am not a beta tester, > I am reframing from making any comments besides the one I made about the Alex > voice. Also, I will not state which podcasts I listened to. > > > > David Chittenden, MSc, MRCAA > Email: dchitten...@gmail.com > Mobile: +64 21 2288 288 > Sent from my iPhone > >> On 1 Jul 2014, at 23:37, mário navarro <mario....@gmail.com> wrote: >> >> ok. >> seems to me, that users of vo do not have new features in voice over on IOS8. >> because if these are the new releases for IOS8 accessibility, nothing was >> done especially for vo. >> jonathan moasen and some others blind users have made a list of the new >> features they would like to see the voice over on IOS8, but if these are the >> new accessibility to IOS8, we can consider that nothing of the desires we >> all have been met. >> and there was so much to do and improve the voice over on IOS8. >> I can not believe that apple has only this to offer us ... >> >> I will prepare myself for another big disappointment ... >> cheers . >> >> >> Em 01-07-2014 07:38, Christopher Hallsworth escreveu: >>> If it's like the mac Alex will be a U.S. English voice only. Other >>> languages should still use the Vocalizer Expressive voices as with the case >>> on iOS 7. As for speak screen I speculate this would be useless for VO >>> users; more for those with low vision such as Zoom users or those with a >>> learning disability such as dyslexia. Just a disclaimer: I am a beta tester >>> but can still only speculate. >>> >>> Christopher Hallsworth >>> Student at the Hadley School for the Blind >>> www.hadley.edu >>> >>>> On 01/07/2014 04:05, mário navarro wrote: >>>> >>>> >>>> hi. >>>> alex on IOS8 will only support English / USA, or will speak all the >>>> languages that are available today in the voices of IOS7 vocalizer >>>> expressive voices? >>>> yes, because if Alex comes to IOS8, must be present for all languages >>>> and not only for English USA. >>>> on the mac, alex only supports English / USA. >>>> who assures us that alex on IOS8 will not be the same as the mac? >>>> >>>> now speak about speak screen. >>>> Can anyone explain in more detail what this tool is capable to do >>>> specifically on the screen? >>>> because it seems to me that for this purpose we have the selector elements. >>>> with the selector elements can also view the screen and all the elements >>>> that can be found in the screen ... >>>> what makes this tool more? >>>> is this not more of the same? >>>> I do not understand what the speak screen will give us more than the >>>> selector elements. >>>> We can also read the entire screen with two fingers up gesture, that >>>> informs us of what is on the screen. >>>> anybody explain to me what the speak screen does most specifically? >>>> thanks. >>>> cheers. >>>> Em 28-06-2014 15:23, Robert C escreveu: >>>>> Yosemite is no harder than Apple. It could be worse, much worse. And >>>>> now we wait out the summer. That for some methinks will be much harder >>>>> than learning to spell Y o s e m i t e. ;) >>>>> >>>>> Quote of the nanosecond . . . >>>>> I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy every minute of it. >>>>> Robert & Annie Yanni ke7nwn >>>>> E-mail- >>>>> gone.to.da...@gmail.com >>>>> >>>>>> On 6/28/2014 5:05 AM, Devin Prater wrote: >>>>>> I totally agree with the article. Even little things like the reader >>>>>> mode in Safari for mac and iOS, make things so simple and lovely. I >>>>>> can't wait to see what's new in Yosimidy though. On a side note, do >>>>>> they have to make OS names so hard to spell nowadays? What ever >>>>>> happened to simplicity there? LOL. >>>>>> On Jun 28, 2014, at 2:15 AM, Nicholas Parsons >>>>>> <mr.nicholas.pars...@gmail.com> wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>>> Thought the below article might be of interest to some on the list. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> http://www.macstories.net/stories/an-overview-of-ios-8s-new-accessibility-features/ >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> An Overview of iOS 8's New Accessibility Features >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Since this year's WWDC keynote ended, the focus of any analysis on >>>>>>> iOS 8 has been its features -- things like Continuity, Extensions, >>>>>>> and iCloud Drive. This is, of course, expected: iOS is the operating >>>>>>> system that drives Apple's most important (and most profitable) >>>>>>> products, so it's natural that the limelight be shone on the new >>>>>>> features for the mass market. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> As I've written, however, the Accessibility features that Apple >>>>>>> includes in iOS are nonetheless just as important and innovative as >>>>>>> the A-list features that Craig Federighi demoed on stage at Moscone. >>>>>>> Indeed, Apple is to be lauded for their year-over-year commitment to >>>>>>> improving iOS's Accessibility feature set, and they continue that >>>>>>> trend with iOS 8. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Here, I run down what's new in Accessibility in iOS 8, and explain >>>>>>> briefly how each feature works. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Alex. Apple is bringing Alex, its natural-sounding voice on the Mac, >>>>>>> to iOS. Alex will work with all of iOS's spoken audio technologies >>>>>>> (Siri excepted), including VoiceOver, Speak Selection, and another >>>>>>> new Accessibility feature to iOS 8, Speak Screen (see below). In >>>>>>> essence, Alex is a replacement for the robotic-sounding voice that >>>>>>> controls VoiceOver, et al, in iOS today. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Speak Screen. With Speak Screen, a simple gesture will prompt the >>>>>>> aforementioned Alex to read anything on screen, including queries >>>>>>> asked of Siri. This feature will be a godsend to visually impaired >>>>>>> users who may have issues reading what is on their iPhone and/or >>>>>>> iPad. It should be noted that Speak Screen is fundamentally >>>>>>> different from Speak Selection, which only reads aloud selected >>>>>>> text. By contrast, Speak Screen will read aloud everything on the >>>>>>> screen -- text, button labels, etc. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Zoom. Apple has made some welcome tweaks to its Zoom functionality >>>>>>> in iOS 8. The hallmark feature is users now have the ability to >>>>>>> specify which part of the screen is zoomed in, as well as adjust the >>>>>>> level of the zoom. In particular, it's now possible to have the >>>>>>> virtual keyboard on screen at normal size underneath a zoomed-in >>>>>>> window. What this does is makes it easy to both type and see what >>>>>>> you're typing without having to battle the entirety of the user >>>>>>> interface being zoomed in. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Grayscale. iOS in and of itself doesn't have "themes" like so many >>>>>>> third-party apps support -- and even like OS X Yosemite's new "dark >>>>>>> mode". iOS does, however, support a pseudo-theme by way of Invert >>>>>>> Colors (white-on-black). In iOS 8, Apple is adding a second >>>>>>> pseudo-theme to the system with Grayscale. With this option turned >>>>>>> on, the entirety of iOS's UI is turned, as the name would imply, >>>>>>> gray. The addition of a Grayscale is notable because it gives those >>>>>>> users who have issues with colorized display -- or who simply view >>>>>>> darker displays better -- another way to alter the contrast of their >>>>>>> device(s). >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Guided Access. The big addition to Guided Access is that Apple is >>>>>>> leveraging its own new-to-iOS-8 Touch ID developer API to enable >>>>>>> users to be able to exit Guided Access using their scanned >>>>>>> fingerprint. This is a noteworthy feature because it effectively >>>>>>> guarantees that students (or test-takers or museum visitors) can't >>>>>>> leave Guided Access to access the Home screen or other parts of iOS. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> As well, Apple has added a time limit feature to Guided Access, >>>>>>> thereby allowing teachers, parents, and the like to specify the >>>>>>> length of time Guided Access is to be used. Especially in special >>>>>>> education classrooms, features such as Touch ID to exit and the >>>>>>> timer can be extremely powerful in ensuring an uninterrupted >>>>>>> learning experience, keeping students on task yet still set the >>>>>>> expectation that a transition (i.e., "You can play games now", for >>>>>>> instance) will take place in X minutes. In terms of behavior >>>>>>> modification, Guided Access's new features are potentially >>>>>>> game-changing, indispensable tools for educators. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Enhanced Braille Keyboard. iOS 8 adds support for 6-dot Braille >>>>>>> input system-wide. This feature involves a dedicated Braille >>>>>>> keyboard that will translate 6-dot chords into text. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> "Made for iPhone" Hearing Aids. Apple in iOS 8 has improved its Made >>>>>>> for iPhone Hearing Aids software so that now users who use hearing >>>>>>> aids and have multiple devices now can easily switch between them. >>>>>>> Moreover, if a hearing aid is paired with more than one device, >>>>>>> users will now be able to pick which device they'd like to use. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Third Party Keyboard API. This topic (as well as QuickType) is >>>>>>> worthy of its own standalone article, but the accessibility >>>>>>> ramifications of iOS 8's third party keyboard API are potentially >>>>>>> huge for those with special needs. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> A third-party keyboard on iOS 8. (Source: Apple.com) >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Anecdotally speaking, I hear from several low vision iOS-using >>>>>>> friends who lament the default system keyboard, which is essentially >>>>>>> the same keyboard that shipped with the original iPhone in 2007. The >>>>>>> problem, my friends say, is that the key caps are too small and the >>>>>>> glyphs too hard to read. With the new API, though, third party >>>>>>> developers such as the team at Fleksy can create entirely customized >>>>>>> keyboards that users can use instead of the stock one. This means >>>>>>> developers can control key spacing and size, color, and so forth in >>>>>>> an effort to create keyboards that accommodate for a wide array of >>>>>>> visual -- and motor -- needs. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> In fact, at WWDC I had a chance to speak with Fleksy co-founder and >>>>>>> COO, Ioannis Verdelis, about the keyboard API and his company's >>>>>>> product. While I won't divulge anything that was said at our >>>>>>> meeting, suffice it to say that Ioannis and his team were stoked at >>>>>>> the news of the new API, and are really excited for what they have >>>>>>> in the works for iOS 8. They really believe the new Fleksy will >>>>>>> benefit a lot of people with special needs. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Miscellany. iOS 8 brings with it a few housekeeping changes to >>>>>>> Settings.app, where the Accessibility options are located. For >>>>>>> example, the Subtitles & Captioning option -- which previously was >>>>>>> found under Hearing -- has been moved to a new Media section, right >>>>>>> next to a new Video Descriptions toggle. Furthermore, the Physical & >>>>>>> Motor pane -- home to such features as Switch Control and >>>>>>> AssistiveTouch -- has been rechristened Interaction. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> As stated above, Apple's steadfast commitment to improving >>>>>>> Accessibility year after year deserves the utmost praise, and 2014 >>>>>>> is no different. As someone who relies on some of iOS's >>>>>>> Accessibility technologies in order to use my devices, the breadth >>>>>>> and depth of these features never cease to amaze me. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Without any tinge of hyperbole, I often marvel at how truly >>>>>>> Accessibility reflects Apple's ethos of designing products for >>>>>>> everyone, regardless of cognitive or physical impairment. (A >>>>>>> sentiment I have expressed numerous times elsewhere.) Again, these >>>>>>> are signs of real innovation, although they (unfortunately) go >>>>>>> largely unheralded. It's my strong opinion that Apple is leading the >>>>>>> industry in this regard, and iOS 8 takes another step forward in >>>>>>> extending their lead. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> -- >>>>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>>>>> Groups "MacVisionaries" group. >>>>>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, >>>>>>> send an email to macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >>>>>>> To post to this group, send email to macvisionaries@googlegroups.com. >>>>>>> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries. >>>>>>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >>>>>> >>>>> >>>> >>> >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "MacVisionaries" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email to macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >> To post to this group, send email to macvisionaries@googlegroups.com. >> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries. >> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "MacVisionaries" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > To post to this group, send email to macvisionaries@googlegroups.com. > Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. -- Have a great day, Alex Hall mehg...@icloud.com -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MacVisionaries" group. 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