Introduction
Thanks for your interest in the Abra kick-off training about the accessibility of apps. My name is Paul van Workum and I am working in the field of app accessibility.
Switch Control
Switch Control is used by people with severe motor impairment. If you are not able to control a device with your fingers, or a normal keyboard this is a solution.
There a multiple external buttons available. Some have one, two or even more buttons and some people use a joy stick. For example, you can control the external buttons on the switch control with your whole hand or even with your head
Camera
You can also control the device with a camera. For example, by moving your head left, you can move the cursor left.
Slow
Switch Control is a rather slow way of controlling the device. You either have to wait until the focus is at the element you want to activate or you need to tap the buttons multiple times.
Simulate
When the screen reader works, switch control usually also works. You can test this by simulating the external buttons. For example, with the ‘volume down’ and ‘volume up’ buttons on Android. Simulation works on iOS by tapping on the whole screen. Or you can connect a bluetooth keyboard.
Demonstration
Let me show you how switch control works. Let’s go to the ScreenReader app.
Start scanning by pressing the button.
(THE SWITCH CONTROL CURSOR STARTS MOVING ON THE SCREEN)
Notice the cursor moves automatically. Once the item you want to select is highlighted, press the button.
(PAUL CLICKS THE SWITCH ONCE THE ‘ADJUST SETTING DOWN’ ITEM IS HIGHLIGHTED)
Executing actions with switch control takes time. That is one of the reasons why time limits in apps should be avoided.
