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Fall 2024 Edition.
A service of the Technology User Group at the Maryland State Library for the Blind and Print Disabled. Feel free to share this newsletter.
This article will look at the interaction between emergency switchboards and phone and in-home devices when accessing 911 services with Siri and Alexa. Systematic interaction with VoiceOver is also included.
The easiest way to make a 911 call with your iPhone is to hold down either the side button or the home button and then instruct Siri to call 911. Many people enjoy using their iPhone “hands-free” and utilize the “Hey Siri” interaction regularly, and this can be very helpful if you need to quickly make a 911 call. But what if your iPhone isn’t set up to respond to “Hey Siri”? Since this newsletter is focused on new tech users, assistance may be necessary to set up the “Hey Siri” option. This can be done using the following steps (as of iOS 18):
- Make sure VoiceOver is turned on.
- Tell Siri to go to Settings.
- Swipe to the right with one finger in the middle of the screen until you hear Siri. Double tap Siri with one finger.
- Swipe to the right with one finger in the middle of the screen until you hear Talk to Siri. If this setting is in the OFF position, then double tap Talk to Siri with one finger.
- When you hear "Siri" or "Hey Siri," double tap the screen. This is not a button or visual screen element, so you have to listen for it.
- Swipe to the right with one finger in the middle of the screen until you hear the Continue button.
- Say each command that you see or hear on your screen. There will be several.
- Tap Done, or VoiceOver may tell you when you are finished.
911 services can also be summoned using other methods enabled on the iPhone. Keep in mind that these are not universal commands since older iPhone models may not have the exact same options as the newer phones. One method is to hold down the side button while also pressing either the volume up or the volume down button. A menu will come onscreen giving you several options. Swipe right until you hear the option for Emergency Call. You then have the choice to either double tap Emergency Call or continue holding down the two buttons (side and volume). If you choose the latter, a brief countdown will commence, and once the countdown is finished, emergency services will be summoned. Please note that if you have your phone in silent mode, then your better choice is to hold down the buttons and wait for the countdown, as VoiceOver will not give you an indication of when Emergency Call appears on your screen.
Another way to prepare for a 911 call is to start from your iPhone’s settings. First ask Siri to open Settings, then with your finger placed in the middle of the screen, you can swipe to the right with one finger until you hear the “Emergency SOS” button. Double tap the button with one finger to open the options. As you swipe to the right with one finger, you will hear several options: call with hold and release, call with five button presses, and call quietly. VoiceOver will give you a description of each method as you swipe through the options, allowing you to decide on the method(s) you wish to use should you need to contact 911. You can turn on all three options if you choose by double tapping with one finger the switch button associated with each choice. The switch button must be in the ON position for each selection you wish to use. There is also an option to have an emergency contact person rather than summoning 911 directly.
In Maryland, if you have an iPhone with Verizon, T-Mobile or AT&T, you can text 911. Knowing Siri’s propensity to make errors, you will want to be concise and clear when engaging with this choice.
If you have an Alexa device such as an Echo, Show or app, the assistant will not call 911 but can be set up to call an emergency contact person instead. You will need to use your iPhone to instruct your Alexa device in setting up the emergency contact. Here is how to do this:
- On your iPhone, open the Alexa app. Say, “Siri, open the Alexa app.”
- Double tap with one finger on the More tab located at the bottom of the screen.
- Swipe with one finger in the middle of the screen until you hear Communicate. Double tap Communicate with one finger.
- Swipe with one finger in the middle of the screen until you hear Contacts. Double tap with one finger on the Contacts option.
- Find the contact you want by swiping to the right with one finger in the middle of the screen. Once you’ve found the person you wish to have as an emergency contact, double tap with one finger to select that contact.
- Swipe to the right with one finger in the middle of the screen until you hear the Make Emergency Contact option.
- Double tap Make Emergency Contact with one finger, and the process should be complete.
Many sources across the web proclaim Alexa will release “Remarkable Alexa” in mid-October. The AI-supported Alexa will have daily AI-generated news summaries, a child-focused Chat bot, and conversational shopping tools. Amazon is expected to charge for this new service, but a determination of the price has not yet been made.
When it comes to VoiceOver gestures, three-finger taps are probably the most precarious for novice tech users to attempt, as these gestures can have unintentional and undesirable results if not approached with care. This is not to say that users should never try to master three-finger taps. Rather, this is a reminder to be very cautious and to follow instructions carefully. A three-finger single tap will give either an image description or the orientation of the last icon used, such as the row, column or page. A three-finger double tap turns the speech on and off, and a three-finger triple tap turns on and off the screen curtain, which blanks out the screen for privacy and security purposes. With three fingers, you can literally make your iPhone unusable for both sighted and blind users by accidentally turning off the speech and enabling the screen curtain.
If you’re struggling to use ride-sharing apps to get transportation, try GoGoGrandparent. It isn’t just a service for seniors; rather, it is available for anyone 18 years of age or older. GoGoGrandparent can act as an agent to book your trip through ride-sharing services like LYFT or Uber. Call GoGoGrandparent toll free at 1-855-464-6872.
In addition to transportation services, GoGoGrandparent offers meal, grocery, and prescription delivery, as well as some in-home care and home repair services. A membership plan is required, which ranges in price for those needing only occasional service to those who need a comprehensive suite of services.
NLS is pleased to announce the release of BARD Express, version 3.0.0.7. This release includes the long-awaited BARD Express Player, which allows patrons to choose audio books or magazines from their BARD Express bookshelves and listen to them directly on their PCs.
Much like BARD Mobile, the BARD Express Player allows users to adjust the narration speed; jump to navigation points, such as part, chapter, or article; create bookmarks; and much more. Users can also create global settings for narration speed, auto-play, auto-rewind, and more.
Patrons using JAWS and NVDA can either use the Tab key to move to each of the player’s functions or tap a single letter assigned to that function. For example, a user can type F for fast forward, R for rewind, or B for bookmarks. A complete list of commands can be found under the BARD Express Help menu.
Scripts are built into the 2024 version of JAWS to optimize the BARD Express Player. Patrons using JAWS 2022 or 2023 can download the same scripts from the BARD Express page on the NLS website and import them into their screen readers.
We particularly recommend reading Section 7 of the BARD Express User Guide. Section 7 is dedicated to the BARD Express Player and will help you familiarize yourself with the new player. Other sections of the User Guide cover topics such as Getting Started, Bookshelf, Wish List, and Searching the BARD Collection.
If you need more assistance, please contact the reference desk at reference.desk@maryland.gov.
Whether you are a novice iPhone user or an old pro, there are many times when you want to prevent your phone from locking up on you. Trying to recall a gesture or simply typing in information can lead to frustration when your device falls asleep in the middle of your work. Fortunately, there is a remedy! Just do the following:
- Tell Siri to open Settings.
- Swipe with one finger to the right until you hear Display and Brightness.
- Double tap with one finger to open this setting.
- Swipe with one finger to the right until you hear Auto-Lock.
- Double tap Auto-Lock with one finger to open a menu of options.
- Swipe to the right with one finger to find the auto-lock setting that works best for you.
- Double tap with one finger to select that option.
Auto-Lock is important because there may be times when you forget to press the Lock Button to secure your phone. Keep this in mind as you choose a time option.
All Technology User Group (TUG) meetings can be joined via Zoom:
https://marylandlibraries.zoom.us/j/6562037293
Meeting ID: 656 203 7293
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Upcoming TUG Topics:
November 2: Assistive Technology Gifts for the Holidays
December 14: New Apps & Web Sites
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