Appendix A Accessibility 114
Switch Control
Switch Control lets you control iPad using a single switch, or multiple switches. Use any of several
methods to perform actions such as selecting, tapping, dragging, typing, and even free-hand
drawing. The basic technique is to use a switch to select an item or location on the screen, and
then use the same (or dierent) switch to choose an action to perform on that item or location.
Three basic methods are:
•
Item scanning (default), which highlights dierent items on the screen until you select one.
•
Point scanning, which lets you use scanning crosshairs to pick a screen location.
•
Manual selection, which lets you move from item to item on demand (requires multiple switches).
Whichever method you use, when you select an individual item (rather than a group), a menu
appears so you can choose how to act on the selected item (tap, drag, or pinch, for example).
If you use multiple switches, you can set up each switch to perform a specic action and
customize your item selection method. For example, instead of automatically scanning screen
items, you can set up switches to move to the next or previous item on demand.
You can adjust the behavior of Switch Control in a variety of ways, to suit your specic needs
and style.
Add a switch and turn on Switch Control
You can use any of these as a switch:
•
An external adaptive switch. Choose from a variety of popular USB or Bluetooth switches.
•
The iPad screen. Tap on the screen to trigger the switch.
•
The iPad FaceTime camera. Move your head to trigger the switch. You can use the camera as
two switches; one when you move your head to the left, and the other when you move your
head to the right.
Add a switch and choose its action. Go to Settings > General > Accessibility > Switch Control >
Switches.
Turn on Switch Control. Go to Settings > General > Accessibility > Switch Control, or use the
Accessibility Shortcut—see Accessibility Shortcut on page 100.
Turn o Switch Control. Use any scanning method to select Settings > General > Accessibility >
Switch Control.
Bail out! Triple-click the Home button at any time to exit from Switch Control.
Basic techniques
These techniques work whether you’re scanning by item or by point.
Select an item. While the item is highlighted, trigger the switch you’ve set up as your Select Item
switch. If you are using a single switch, it is your Select Item switch by default.
Display available actions. Select an item using the Select Item switch. Available actions appear
in the control menu that is displayed when you select the item.
Tap an item. Use your selection method to choose Tap from the control menu that appears
when you select the item. Or turn on Settings > General > Accessibility > Switch Control >
Auto Tap, then just select an item and do nothing for the Auto Tap interval (0.75 seconds if
you haven’t adjusted it). Or set up a switch specically to perform the tap gesture at Settings >
General > Accessibility > Switch Control > Switches.
