Welcome to Enable Ireland’s latest AT Ezine, which focuses on switch access to mobile devices such as Tablets and iPads.

Although it is one of the most recent platforms upon which Assistive Technology is being delivered, in the last 5 years we have seen exponential growth in the number and range of solutions available on mobile devices. With the right selection of apps a tablet or smart phone can be the perfect technology to assist people in all kinds of tasks. Pretty much any AT that is available on a desktop or laptop computer is also available on a Mobile Operating System (OS) and because mobile devices also contain various sensors that can give information on location and context, they can be even more useful as AT.

Now that iOS (iOS 7 and later) has all the clever Switch Control software built into it we no longer need to use expensive and complicated switch interfaces. Below we outline two options: One wired and one wireless.

Switch access to the iPad has been available for some time, and while the addition of switching to iOS7 has opened the iPad to many, particularly experienced switch users, the use of third party Bluetooth switch boxes allow for a simpler access method to specified apps. This can be useful for those who require an easier row column scan or a simple scan pattern.

Samples of switch accessible apps are outlined below, which may help switch users access the iPad for leisure, education or communication apps. If you want to find out more, please visit out blog site, ATandMe.com

Environmental Controls and Smart Home technologies are devices that can assist a person enter their home or control various devices within it such as their lights, heating system, television, music player or door intercom.  If can provide many benefits to an individual which include increased independence, access, security, privacy and comfort.  Controlling these systems is now possible using apps on portable phones and tablets.

Grapevine Computer Access is a software application that helps people with physical disabilities to gain full access to a Windows™ computer, laptop or tablet - without needing to use a standard keyboard or mouse. The software consists of an on-screen keyboard, full mouse control and a wide array of shortcuts for performing common tasks - all accessible using either a pointing device (e.g. mouse, joystick, head movement tracker) or switches (scanning).

What does Switch Control mean to the user?

Switch Control makes the entire iOS accessible to a switch user as well as previously inaccessible Apps (AngryBirds anyone?). So what about the apps that were designed to be switch accessible before Switch Control? Well they are still useful because they are much easier to set up and often much easier to use. Another benefit of Switch Control is that we have been released from the bonds of those complex and expensive Bluetooth switch interfaces, costing up to €300, which can be difficult to set up and often only suitable to be used with a limited range of apps.