IOS 7 and VIPs

Today I updated to IOS 7 on my iPad (I use a Samsung mobile). I'm not actually sure if previous versions have as many accessibility features, but I found the most useful feature for my vision was the "Larger type" text feature. It gives you the option to increase the font size in any app that has enabled the feature. Of course I made it almost to the largest and then I tested out all my favourite apps. 

The standard email app is now awesome. The font is enlarged in the content and title of the email and it makes it really easy to use and puts less strain on my eyes. 

The other app I barely used previously was the standard calendar. I found I could never read at a glance what appointments I had so I never used it. The design has changed and it is visually appealing plus the appointments are larger so I can actually see what I am supposed to be doing!

Other apps I use that I've found to be easier to see are: Music, eBay, Maps and Podcasts. I'm assuming the update would also be useful for iPhones, but I found the biggest problem I had with the iPhone was the size of the screen in comparison to the text sizes, which is why I switched to the Samsung.

IOS 7 is definitely worth an update.

iPad Verdict

I know some of you have been eagerly awaiting the verdict on the iPad and I have been very slack over the past few weeks with updating you all.

I purchased the iPad 2 about a month ago now and I will say that it has been the most useful purchase I have made in a long time! I have not been able to put it down! I am constantly on it - playing games, checking emails, facebook or reading.

I was most excited to download books I've been waiting to read for some time now and that was the first thing I did. Using the iPad I have been able to read about a book a week. It is so easy and fabulous. I can make the font as large as I want and lie in bed with it and don't have to worry about lighting or how close it is to my face. Books download in less than a minute and I love that you can sample a book before you buy it.

I also use it to the newspaper. You can download an app (I downloaded the Sydney Morning Herald) and it updates every day. You can zoom in and read it in large font. I haven't been able to read the paper in years and now I can! You can also get magazines and cook books which is fantastic, as I find most recipe books have tiny font so I can take my iPad into the kitchen and read a recipe with ease.

I think the iPad is very beneficial for the vision impaired, although it is quite expensive and I don't think it can be subsidised as a visual aid. As mentioned previously I purchased mine for free on a plan with monthly data (which works out I pay the iPad off plus a little extra for the data usage) through Vodafone.

The iPad is definitely worth purchasing. It's capabilities are endless.

Bookworm

I really enjoy reading, especially before bed, and have a recent goal of collecting many books to make a mini library. In the past few months, I have realised that it has become harder to read books, and I can no longer put the book closer to my face as it is already touching my nose. So I stopped reading and started watching more tv.


Not long later I signed up at my local library and discovered there was a "large print" section. I was so excited I could start reading again without having to strain my eyes. I started browsing through the shelves trying to find something interesting, but everything seemed like an old, romantic novel and nothing I was interested in. All the books seemed to be targeted at an older age group. What about me?! I have poor vision too and want to read! So I was left disappointed. 


I then decided to do some googling to see if I could find anybody selling large font books. I looked up the major websites and found, once again, that almost all the books were aimed at the older generations. I was actually quite surprised I thought that at least the major novels would be printed in large font, but no.


Options to help reading would include reading on the computer where there is adaptive software to enlarge, or a screen reader, but this doesn't enable me to read in bed or lay in the sun and read. I thought possibly I could purchase an iPad and download books on there to enlarge, yet this is an expensive investment considering there are other things that I need as well. 


I hope to find a place or a shop online that sells large text font in books that I'm interested and if anybody has a secret about this please share! 


I am also seriously considering getting an iPad not only to help me read but also so I could play all my favourite games that I'm starting to struggle playing on my iPhone. 


Until then, I will be tuned in to my tv (mind you it's 60 inches and I still can't see the thing properly!!).