iPad Accessibility – First Look

I have been looking at the iPad accessibility for a week or so and have some comments.

1. It seems the Voiceover and “three finger Zoom” are bait buggy.  Voiceover sometimes reads the icons from the home screen when in an app.  The “three finger Zoom” sometimes freezes the device.  Both problems require a restore of the device.
2. There is so much multi-touch real estate that I often tap something I do not want to tap, and off I go to somewhere I do not want to go.
3. Safari surfing is the best app.  I find minimal zooming is needed and it is really a nice experience.
4. The iPhone apps at 2x are easier to use than the iPad apps.  This is because the keyboard is easier for visually impaired users.
5. The iPad performs well in bright light.  Better than I thought it would.
6. There is no text-to-speech for the iBooks app.
7. Watching video is fantastic, I can get close and see things I never could on a TV or at a theater.

I would like to see the following

1. The “three finger Zoom” to navigate like the “pinch Zoom” interface.
2. The buttons on the mail tool bar to be bigger.
3. Slightly larger fonts on the iBook app.
4. Larger fonts on the iPad lists
5. The keyboard on the iPad to work just like the iPhone.  When the keys are touched, they are magnified and show above the key.  I like the iPhone colors on the keyboard better.  The key characters are bold and easier to read.
6. Text-to-speech for the iBook app.
7. Flash video support in Safari, (so I can use the iPad for all of my web browsing needs).

Overall, the iPad is a great device for low vision users, (At least for me).