Accessibility Tips and Tricks Using Apple's iOS - Page 3

Gestures (for iPad only)

 The iPad's "Gestures" option allows for different ways to make seections and move items on the screen. To turn on gestures:

1. Click the "Settings" icon on the home screen
2. Under the "General" menu, toggle the heading "Multi-Tasking Gestures" to "On"

Some multi-tasking gestures that have been added to iOS 5 and higher that may be beneficial include:

Five Finger Pinch: Place all four fingers and your thumb on the screen at the same time and with them all still touching the screen move them in toward each other until they touch to easily return to the Home screen.

Four Finger Swipe Up: To quickly view the multi-tasking screen you can place four fingers simultaneously on the screen and, while still touching the screen with all four fingers, motion up to reveal the multi-tasking screen. (Note: The opposite is also true. If the multi-tasking screen is currently being displayed, simultaneously placing four fingers on the screen, while still touching the screen with all four fingers and motioning them down will hide the multitasking screen.)

Four Finger Swipe Left/Right: To switch between your open apps, you can place four fingers simultaneously on the screen, and while still touching the screen with all four fingers drag your fingers left (or right) across the screen. Each time you Four Finger Swipe Left or Right, you can quickly move between your most recently used apps.

Split Keyboard (for iPad only)

 Splitting the keyboard on your iPad will allow you to type with your thumbs. To do this:

1. Click the "Settings" icon on the home screen
2. Under the "General" menu, select "Keyboard"
3. Toggle "Split Keyboard" to "on"

When this feature is enabled, you can toggle it on and off using gestures. To split the keyboard, pinch the tip of your index finger against your thumb as you touch the middle of the keyboard. While continuing to touch the keyboard with both your thumb and finger, split them apart, which will split the keyboard for typing with your thumbs. To revert back to the original keyboard display is just as simple. With your finger and thumb separated a few inches apart, have both simultaneously touch each side of the separated keyboard. While each remains touching the keyboard, pinch your thumb and index finger together until they touch to have the full keyboard reappear.

Have any accessibility trick you've learned that would be useful to others? Please share your tips and tricks with us in the comments section below.