Apple has made accessibility for differently abled people a cornerstone of iPhones and iDevices since 2007, and most of us never bother to explore these controls on our iPhone unless there is a specific need.
Well one really useful Accessibility tool is the AssistiveTouch feature, if your iPhone power button stops working for example how can you restart the device or lock the screen? (hint the iPhone will turn on if it has switched itself off when you connect the charging cable).
Enabling AssistiveTouch
Go To: Settings > General > Accessibility
Then: Tap on “AssistiveTouch”
Enable AssistiveTouch and a little box with a circle in it appears on the right-hand side.
The AssistiveTouch button is pretty smart it even disappears when you take a screenshot with it on screen! That’s why we had to take a picture of the screen to show it to you!
Once you’ve enabled AssistiveTouch tap on its button then Device > More > Restart
To lock the screen, its Device > Lock Screen
There is a treasure trove of controls that are now accessible via the AssistiveTouch button and often it is faster to use.
You can customize the look and which controls are available in Settings > General > Accessibility > AssistiveTouch
Tap on Customize Top Level menu…
Then you can set how many Icons show up on first tap:
Tap on the new empty icon with the + symbol in it and choose the control you want to add:
You can also change a default icon simply by tapping on the icon you want to change.
If the AssistiveTouch button is in the way when using your device simply drag it to another edge of the screen, the AssistiveTouch button will always stick to an edge!
Most of the Accessibility tools can now be accessed from within the AssistiveTouch button, however here are some Accessibility tools that are not.
Display Zoom
iPhones come with beautiful retina displays and the content on them is nicely spaced to look great. However, when your eyes are tired the screen on your iPhone can make you squint.
Simply go to: Settings > Display & Brightness Scroll down to View and tap on it
Then set Display Zoom to “Zoomed’
Now everything on the screen is slightly larger and easier to read.
Speech
This feature is seldom used on iPhones but you may be aware of it on your Mac after all if you’ve been using Macs since the 90’s it was one of the first Star Trek esque features built right into your computer.
To enable Text-To-Speech simply go to: General > Accessibility > Speech
I find the most useful is to enable Speak Selection which provides an extra button to the selection contextual menu.
You can also use Highlight Content which will highlight the words as they are being spoken in a karaoke esque manner.
It is worth tuning the “Speaking Rate” of the Speech setting depending on your intelligibility of the iOS voice.
Now you are aware of the usefulness of the Accessibility features in iOS I’m sure you will be exploring them in greater detail especially the ‘AssistiveTouch” button which has to be the most underused feature in iOS and is really useful and less invasive than the control center.
Leave us a comment on how you use the Accessibility features and what features you would like Apple to develop in the future.
AI Usage Transparency Report
Pre-AI Era · Written before widespread use of generative AI tools
AI Signal Composition
Score: 0.05 · Low AI Influence
Summary
This article discusses the accessibility features of iPhones and iDevices, specifically the AssistiveTouch feature, Display Zoom, and Speech. It provides step-by-step instructions on how to enable these features and customize their settings.
Related Posts
What is the Managed App Store & Why you need it
--- Many people discount the importance of running app level updates on your computers. Programs like Chrome, Firefox and Adobe Creative Suite all have built it update utilities that will look for and apply critical security and functional updates from their respective development teams. Part of the job of software vendors is providing quality assurance meaning they are testing their software to make sure that it is stable and usable for their users. However little is known about how each vendor actually tests their software. Many only test on newer...
Moment Helps You Gauge Your iPhone Use
Smartphone addiction is real. Do you check your iPhone before you get out of bed? During family dinners? Right before you go to sleep? Constantly during the day even when you’re on vacation? If you—or your family members—feel that you're disappearing into your phone too often or at inappropriate times, it may be time to do something about it. Consider how this behavior affects your relationships and daily routines – are you missing out on quality time with loved ones or neglecting responsibilities because of your phone use?
Block Telemarketing Calls Automatically on Your iPhone
Junk calls are one of the great annoyances of the modern world. You're minding your own business when your iPhone vibrates in your pocket. You pull it out, curious as to who's calling, but don't recognize the number. You may notice that it's in the same exchange as your phone number, suggesting that it's a neighbor. Often these calls are nothing more than automated messages or telemarketers trying to sell you something.
HomePod Preorders Begin, Smart Speaker Ships Feb 9
Apple has started preorders for its new HomePod as of yesterday. Priced at $349, the audio accessory focuses on delivering high-quality sound, offers integration with Siri's AI capabilities, and provides access to Apple Music's vast library of 45 million songs. The device is designed to work seamlessly within existing Apple ecosystems, allowing users to control it with their iPhone or iPad.
How to Use Apple Pay Cash on Your Apple Watch
After you install watchOS 4.2, you will see on your paired iPhone with iOS 11.2 installed, an Apple Pay Cash option within the Watch app's Wallet settings. To enable it, simply toggle the switch to "ON". You'll then be prompted to sign in with your Apple ID to complete the setup process.
Move your Photos library to an External drive
Sometimes whether it is for backup purposes or for hosting, you will want to move your photos stored in your Apple Photos application library on your Mac to an external drive instead of the startup boot drive. This can help free up space and reduce clutter on your main drive. Making the change is simpler than you think, as long as you follow a few straightforward steps.
Does your iPhone battery need to be replaced?
Earlier this week we reported that Apple had acknowledged some iPhones are being throttled to prevent unexpected shutdowns. This admission came after a class-action lawsuit was filed against the company, alleging that it intentionally slowed down older devices to encourage users to upgrade to newer models. See our previous post for more information on this development.
Our Top 5 free macOS App picks for 2017
It is the season for giving, and we're happy to share some of our free apps with you. Here's a rundown of what's available to install on your Mac:
High Sierra using APFS breaks Boot Camp switching
If like me you use the Boot Camp Control panel in Windows to restart your Mac into High Sierra and you are using an SSD drive for High Sierra, you may or may not notice that you can no longer choose your Macintosh startup disk in the Boot Camp Control Panel in Windows. This change is likely due to a limitation in the integration between Boot Camp and High Sierra on an SSD, but I haven't been able to find any official documentation confirming this.
High Sierra has some new features for the mail App
Just like Spotlight, the Mail App now supports natural language search. If that phrase leaves you stumped, it means you can search using a more natural way, such as using "from Jon last week" instead of specifically searching for "jon@gmail.com" on 11/13/2017. This allows you to type in your searches without having to worry about the exact format or syntax, making it easier to find what you're looking for.
