Switch Control

K
Kim
3 min read

Switch control is a way for users to interact with the screen without direct touch. iOS Switch Control allows users to set up external physical switches, head movements, or vocalizations as a mode of access.

Flexspeak has basic compatibility with iOS Switch Control’s 1- and 2-switch scanning. Use 1- or 2-switch scanning to select words, activate the message window, and toggle languages without touching the screen.

Flexspeak has full compatibility with iOS Switch Control’s Gliding Cursor mode. Use Gliding Cursor mode to activate any item without touching the screen.

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1- and 2-switch scanning in Flexspeak does yet not reach the Edit, Settings, Search, Keyboard, Message Prediction, Back, and Clear buttons. Have a need for full compatibility with switch scanning? Let us know at support@flexspeak.com.

Two-switch scanning

User controls when to move focus and when to activate an item.

  1. Go to iOS Settings.
  1. Navigate to Accessibility > Switch Control > Switches
  1. Select Add new switch > Select a switch source > Select a switch action. Configure your first switch to the action Move to next item.
  1. Select Add new switch > Select a switch source > Select a switch action. Configure your second switch to the action Select item.
  1. Now both of your switches should be listed under Switches. You can enable/disable, delete, and change their configuration here at any time.
  1. Navigate back to the Switch Control settings page.
  1. Set Scanning Style to Manual Scanning.
  1. Set Switch Control Mode to Item Mode.
  1. [Optional] Toggle Group Items to ON to enable row-column scanning. Toggle Group Items OFF for single item by item scanning.
  1. [Optional] Adjust other settings as needed.
  1. At the top of the Switch Control page, toggle Switch Control to ON to start switch access.

One-switch auto scanning

Focus automatically moves across items and user controls when to activate the focused item.

  1. Go to iOS Settings.
  1. Navigate to Accessibility > Switch Control > Switches
  1. Select Add new switch > Select a switch > Select a switch action. Configure your single switch to Select item.
  1. Navigate back to the Switch Control page.
  1. Set Scanning Style to Auto Scanning
  1. Set Switch Control Mode to Item Mode.
  1. [Optional] Toggle Group Items to ON to enable row-column scanning. Toggle Group Items OFF for single item by item scanning.
  1. [Optional] Adjust other settings as needed.
  1. At the top of the Switch Control page, toggle Switch Control to ON to start switch access.

Gliding Cursor

Crosshair focus automatically moves across the height and length of the screen. User controls when to stop the focus and pin points an item to activate.

  1. Go to iOS Settings.
  1. Navigate to Accessibility > Switch Control > Switches
  1. Select Add new switch > Select a switch > Select a switch action. Configure your single switch to Select item.
  1. Navigate back to the Switch Control page.
  1. Set Scanning Style to Auto Scanning
  1. Set Switch Control Mode to Gliding Cursor.
  1. [Optional] Under the Point Scanning section, select Gliding Cursor and adjust the Selection Mode and Cursor Speed settings as needed.
  1. At the top of the Switch Control page, toggle Switch Control to ON to start switch access.

To learn more, view Apple’s support page on Switch Control.

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