The Mythical Apple iPad
There have been many blog posts in the last few days suggesting that Applie is working on a new mobile device. CNET had a very good summary article of these posts this morning. Some of the articles even have mocked up art work suggesting what the device looks like. This mid-sized mobile device is reported to be bigger than an iPhone, but smaller than a Mac Book. Some have named the device, the iPad, a device that’s more portable than notebooks and lacks a keyboard.
It would be great if someone could produce a mobile device that could replace a collection of devices we typically use now. Such a device could be very helpful to low vision users: It would be great if the iPad had these features:
- A higher resolution and larger touch screen to better display images and videos.
- Enhanced touch screen gestures that to eliminate visual buttons, icons and user interface controls.
- Enhanced screen technology to work in both low light and bright light environments.
- Enhanced on-screen keyboard support for application specific situations.
- Superior speech-to-text and text-to-speech application interfaces.
- Higher function zoom application support for all applications.
- A pedestrian and vehicle mode real time GPS application
- Support for Mac OS and the App Store for new applications.
- Support for both Sony and Kindle book reader applications.
- Additional Safari browser shortcuts for low vision users, (such as pop-up tags to jump to primary focus areas of the page).
- Support for assistive technologies for WCAG 2.0.
This would be a really neat device and could reduce the load in our computer bags. Being a gadget nerd, I would buy it if the price were below $500. Apple would really have a hot item. The support for low vision users would benefit all users. Let’s hope the rumors are true.