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You would think that the Apple iPhone is all about fun and games, but it is also a great device filled with features to help the visually impaired. Maxis recently reached out to the blind in Klang Valley, offering them a RM500 discount for an iValue plan so they can make use of the features to do things they never could before or was too unaffordable such as sending text messages, reading and even accessing applications on the phone.
Maxis also held a demonstration session last month for 70 members of the Malaysian Association of the Blind to allow them to have a hands-on session with the iPhone 3GS’ built-in accessibility features.

“We are truly excited about the iPhone 3GS and its new features but were previously worried about the price tag. The special offer from maxis makes the smartphone so much more available to us. Before the iPhone 3GS, visually impaired mobile phone users like me had to purchase screen reader software costing up to RM1,000 to install on our phones. I’m personally looking forward to using the iPhone 3GS on a daily basis. My favourite feature is the built-in voice over function which I found to be the most useful.” – Yam Tong Woo, Chairman of the Malaysian Association of the Blind Cyber Club (MABCC).

Key accessibility features of the iPhone 3GS include:


VoiceOver
In addition to Voice Control, iPhone 3GS features VoiceOver, the world’s first gesture-based screen reader. Instead of memorising keyboard commands or pressing tiny arrow keys, you simply touch the screen to hear a description of the item under your finger, then double-tap, drag, or flick to control the iPhone.  
VoiceOver speaks 21 languages and works with all of the applications built into iPhone 3GS. VoiceOver also features a virtual control called the rotor. Turning the rotor — by rotating two fingers on the screen as if you were turning a dial — changes the way VoiceOver moves through a document based on a setting you choose. For example, a flick up or down might move through text word by word or character by character, perfect for proofreading or editing text.
Zoom
Zoom on the iPhone lets the user magnify the entire screen of any application. The user may zoom up to five times the normal size and move left, right, up, and down to view any portion of the screen close up. Zoom works everywhere, including the Home, Unlock, and Spotlight screens, and with every application, including those purchased from the App store.

White on Black
iPhone 3GS allows you to change the display to white on black for higher contrast. The White on Black feature may be used in any application, as well as on the Home, Unlock, and Spotlight screens, and with Zoom and VoiceOver.

For more information on iPhone 3GS from Maxis, please visit www.maxis.com.my/iphone3gs.