Appendix A Accessibility 161
Switch Control
Switch Control lets you control iPhone using a single switch or multiple switches. Use any of
several methods to perform actions such as selecting, tapping, dragging, typing, and even free-
hand drawing. The basic technique is to use a switch to select an item or location on the screen,
location. Three basic methods are:
Item scanning (default),
Point scanning, which lets you use scanning crosshairs to pick a screen location.
Manual selection, which lets you move from item to item on demand (requires multiple
switches).
Whichever method you use, when you select an individual item (rather than a group), a menu
appears so you can choose how to act on the selected item (tap, drag, or pinch, for example).
customize your item selection method. For example, instead of automatically scanning screen
items, you can set up switches to move to the next or previous item on demand.
and style.
Add a switch and turn on Switch Control
You can use any of these as a switch:
An external adaptive switch. Choose from a variety of popular USB or Bluetooth switches.
The iPhone screen. Tap the screen to trigger the switch.
The iPhone FaceTime camera. Move your head to trigger the switch. You can use the camera as
two switches; one when you move your head to the left, and the other when you move your
head to the right.
Add a switch and choose its action. Go to Settings > General > Accessibility > Switch Control >
Switches. If you use only one switch, it is your Select Item switch by default.
If you’re adding an external switch, you need to connect it to iPhone before it will appear in the
list of available switches. Follow the instructions that came with the switch. If it connects using
Bluetooth, you need to pair it with iPhone—turn on the switch, go to Settings > Bluetooth, tap
the switch, then follow the onscreen instructions. For more information, see Bluetooth devices on
page 40.
Turn on Switch Control. Go to Settings > General > Accessibility > Switch Control, or use the
Accessibility Shortcut—see Accessibility Shortcut on page 143.
Use any scanning method to select and tap Settings > General >
Accessibility > Switch Control. Or, triple-click the Home button.
Basic techniques
Whether you use item scanning or point scanning, the Switch Control basics are the same.
Select an item. While the item is highlighted, trigger the switch you’ve set up as your Select Item
switch. If you are using a single switch, it is your Select Item switch by default.
Perform an action on the selected item. Select a command from the control menu that appears
when you select the item. The layout of the menu depends on whether you use Auto Tap.
