# VoiceOver VoiceOver is an Accessibility feature available on Apple platforms. It provides an interface between your app and your blind or low-vision users. In short, it's a screen reader. ## Overview [Activating VoiceOver](#Activate-VoiceOver) fundamentally changes the touch interface of an iOS device, so when you activate it, you need to know these basic commands to navigate: - VoiceOver focuses an item on the screen and speaks it to the user. - To navigate between items, you can either flick left/right to go to the previous/next item, or you can drag your finger around the screen. - Double tapping anywhere on the screen activates the item (no need to double tap exactly on the item on the screen). - Items have a label (describing the item) and can have among others: - traits (describing the item: a header, a button, selection state, etc.); - a hint (describing how to interact with the item). The following video is a great summary. The content is succinct, high quality and up-to-date, even though the video quality is low and the demo is on an iPhone 3GS. [![Video screenshot]][Video link] ## Activate VoiceOver Go to `Settings > General > Accessibility > VoiceOver` and toggle the top switch. Alternatively, if you are activating/deactivating VoiceOver often, I'd advise to set it as the Accessibility Shortcut. When enabled, a triple tap on the Home button will toggle VoiceOver ON and OFF from anywhere. ``` Settings > General > Accessibility > Accessibility Shortcut ``` ## Additional Resources - [Apple presentation of VoiceOver] - [AppleVis intro to VoiceOver] [Apple presentation of VoiceOver]: http://www.apple.com/accessibility/osx/voiceover/ [AppleVis intro to VoiceOver]: http://www.applevis.com/guides/ios-miscellaneous-voiceover/intro-ios-accessibility-blind-and-low-vision-users [Video screenshot]: https://img.youtube.com/vi/WxQ2qKShvmc/0.jpg [Video link]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxQ2qKShvmc "iPhone VoiceOver Function For People With Disabilities"