Devices, Methods, and Graphical User Interfaces for Accessibility Using a Touch-Sensitive Surface

• US 20130311921A1
• Filed: 07/23/2013
• Published: 11/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Fleizach, Christopher Brian, Seymour, Eric Taylor
• Application Number:
  US13/949,149
• Publication Number:
  US 20130311921A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/767
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04808 Several contacts: gestures triggering a specific function, e.g. scrolling, zooming, right-click, when the user establishes several contacts with the surface simultaneously; e.g. using several fingers or a combination of fingers and pen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

An accessibility method is performed by an electronic device with a display and a touch-sensitive surface. The method includes: displaying a plurality of user interface elements on the display; in response to detecting a first user interface navigation gesture by a finger on the touch-sensitive surface, navigating in the plurality of user interface elements in accordance with a current navigable unit type; in response to detecting a first user interface navigation setting gesture on the touch-sensitive surface: changing the current navigable unit type from the first navigable unit type to a second navigable unit type; and outputting accessibility information about the second navigable unit type; after changing the current navigable unit type, in response to detecting a second user interface navigation gesture by the finger on the touch-sensitive surface, navigating in the plurality of user interface elements in accordance with the current navigable unit type.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

at an accessible electronic device with a touch-sensitive display;

displaying a plurality of user interface elements on the touch-sensitive display, wherein a current focus is on a first user interface element;

detecting a first touch gesture that contacts the touch-sensitive display, wherein the first touch gesture is independent of a location on the touch-sensitive display that corresponds to a second user interface element; and

,

in response to detecting the first touch gesture;

changing the current focus from the first user interface element in the plurality of user interface elements to the second user interface element in the plurality of user interface elements; and

outputting audible accessibility information that identifies the second user interface element.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first touch gesture does not contact the location on the touch-sensitive display that corresponds to the second user interface element.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first touch gesture is independent of a location of any of the plurality of user interface elements on the touch-sensitive display.

4. The method of claim 1, including:

detecting a touch activation gesture that contacts the touch-sensitive display, wherein the touch activation gesture is independent of a location on the touch-sensitive display that corresponds to a user interface element, the user interface element corresponding to the current focus; and

,

in response to detecting the touch activation gesture, executing an action associated with the user interface element that corresponds to the current focus.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the touch activation gesture is independent of a location of any of the plurality of user interface elements on the touch-sensitive display.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the audible accessibility information includes one or more words output as spoken text that corresponds to the second user interface element.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the spoken text further comprises user options for the second user interface element.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the audible accessibility information includes a border hit sound to indicate that the current focus has changed from the first user interface element to the second user interface element, and the border hit sound is distinct from the one or more words that are output as spoken text and correspond to the second user interface element.

9. The method of claim 1, including:

determining that the second user interface element is a first editable text field; and

,

in accordance with a determination that the second user interface element is the first editable text field;

setting a cursor at a first cursor location in the first editable text field; and

outputting audible accessibility information associated with the first editable text field.

10. The method of claim 9, including:

detecting a second touch gesture that contacts the touch-sensitive display in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first touch gesture; and

,

in response to detecting the second touch gesture;

in accordance with a determination that the cursor is not at an end of the first editable text field;

moving the cursor forward in the first editable text field to a second cursor location within the first editable text field; and

outputting audible accessibility information associated with the second cursor location within the first editable text field; and

,

in accordance with a determination that the cursor is at an end of the first editable text field;

maintaining the cursor at the end of the first editable text field; and

outputting audible accessibility information indicating that the cursor is at an end of the first editable text field.

11. An accessible electronic device, comprising:

a touch-sensitive display;

one or more processors; and

memory storing one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for;

displaying a plurality of user interface elements on the touch-sensitive display, wherein a current focus is on a first user interface element;

detecting a first touch gesture that contacts the touch-sensitive display, wherein the first touch gesture is independent of a location on the touch-sensitive display that corresponds to a second user interface element; and

,

in response to detecting the first touch gesture;

changing the current focus from the first user interface element in the plurality of user interface elements to the second user interface element in the plurality of user interface elements; and

outputting audible accessibility information that identifies the second user interface element.

12. A computer readable storage medium having stored therein instructions, which, when executed by an accessible electronic device with a touch-sensitive display, cause the device to:

display a plurality of user interface elements on the touch-sensitive display, wherein a current focus is on a first user interface element;

detect a first touch gesture that contacts the touch-sensitive display, wherein the first touch gesture is independent of a location on the touch-sensitive display that corresponds to a second user interface element; and

,

in response to detecting the first touch gesture;

change the current focus from the first user interface element in the plurality of user interface elements to the second user interface element in the plurality of user interface elements; and

output audible accessibility information that identifies the second user interface element.