by Joe Lonergan
The iPhone has a built-in screen reader called VoiceOver and anyone that starts to use it has to be aware there is a steep learning curve. So, we are informing you that there are some extra resources out there to get you started or even help you along your journey to be a proficient VoiceOver user.
Apple has included an area called VoiceOver Practice which lets you practice gestures and lets you know what each gesture does as you perform them in the practice area, but this can only get you so far before you may need some extra training from an IT trainer or a member of your peers. To try out VoiceOver Help perform a quadruple finger double tap on the screen and Voiceover will announce starting help.
But recently We did discover a new app called VO Starter. According to the makers of this app “VO Starter is the first app to offer blind and visually impaired iOS users training on the built-in screen reader, VoiceOver”.
After you download the VO Starter app and launch it you are met with a simple interface. You can simply press on a start button and then you will be walked through a step-by-step tutorial of how to use VoiceOver.
Alternatively, you can tap on the different sections that are available on the first page of the app such as
- VoiceOver basics
- basic gestures
- magic tap
- using the Rotor
- using the home and lock screens
- status bar and control centre
- learning how to edit text
- multi-finger gestures and advanced features.
As you can see, a lot of information is covered, and there is even an option to listen to the instructions in a real voice if you prefer. At the end of each section, you get the chance to practice what you have learned. This feature is really good and is especially helpful for more difficult tasks like entering text or using the rotor.
Verdict
We really like this app; it is good for trainers and users that are new to VoiceOver, and it is a great resource/tutorial to get you started.
Download the VO Starter App from the App Store.