Very useful & promising but lacking important elements
I’m disabled & use this app to run my assistive technology daily. It’s pretty versatile, & relatively easy to use! With regards to feedback, I have a few suggestions for requests & improvements…
1. Please make it so we can make custom “Hey Siri!” commands (e.g. “Hey Siri, door open” or “Hey Siri, TV on”) — with most apps that allow this, like Govee (which controls lighting using this feature very well), it essentially exports shortcuts to the Apple “Shortcuts” app. You have no idea how helpful this would be! It’d be much more efficient than using the “voice control” function, which can be kinda long-winded. Plus, with voice control, you have to be able to see your device to use it; with “hey siri” you don’t, you only need to know the commands & have your phone within hearing range (which could be helpful to blind users).
2. The switch device automatically goes to sleep after inactivity — the ability to turn this function off via the app would be VERY useful. Turning the device on is the only thing that I must rely on someone else to do for me, which kinda defeats the purpose of it giving independence when you think about it. I know it risks the device’s battery, but that’s why I suggest making it optional — for people like myself, who leave it connected to a usb port on my wheelchair, the battery life of small devices is a non-issue.
3. Every now and again, after using the app, my keyboard stops working & an odd dark dot appears on the screen, usually the lower half (looks like a damaged pixel, but I know it’s not because I can actually screenshot it). Restarting the device doesn’t fix this. So far, the only fixes I have found are —
• Open the app, tap the keyboard button (bottom), & then tap “toggle”, when the keyboard pops up, close the app.
• Disconnect bluetooth or turn the main switch device off.
4. In the app, when you have to type in a textbox (e.g. to label a button), the iphone keyboard overlaps the textbox & prevents certain buttons being pressed; the box should move up a little when the keyboard opens, to ensure it’s always viewable in its entirety. So far, the only fix I have found for this is to minimise the app & reopen it whilst the textbox is open.
5. With regards to the switch device itself, a splash proof cover would be really useful! I cannot take off or put on the assistive device without help; even if I could, I need it for unlocking & opening my front door. Where I live, it rains a lot! The device usually has to be out in the open for IR to work properly, which means I can’t mount it in a sheltered part of the wheelchair, & it’s at high risk of weather damage. I have already needed one replacement after being caught in heavy rain. Perhaps consider a weather seal for future devices? (Like they do to SLR cameras).
6. With regards to the switch device, some form of optional flip cover over the button could also be useful. You have no idea how much the general public are attracted to big buttons! Especially if I’m out somewhere like a pub — people just feel the need to press it & do not wait for consent! It’s very frustrating. I think part of the issue is that I can only mount it behind me (my wheelchair has limited options).
1. Please make it so we can make custom “Hey Siri!” commands (e.g. “Hey Siri, door open” or “Hey Siri, TV on”) — with most apps that allow this, like Govee (which controls lighting using this feature very well), it essentially exports shortcuts to the Apple “Shortcuts” app. You have no idea how helpful this would be! It’d be much more efficient than using the “voice control” function, which can be kinda long-winded. Plus, with voice control, you have to be able to see your device to use it; with “hey siri” you don’t, you only need to know the commands & have your phone within hearing range (which could be helpful to blind users).
2. The switch device automatically goes to sleep after inactivity — the ability to turn this function off via the app would be VERY useful. Turning the device on is the only thing that I must rely on someone else to do for me, which kinda defeats the purpose of it giving independence when you think about it. I know it risks the device’s battery, but that’s why I suggest making it optional — for people like myself, who leave it connected to a usb port on my wheelchair, the battery life of small devices is a non-issue.
3. Every now and again, after using the app, my keyboard stops working & an odd dark dot appears on the screen, usually the lower half (looks like a damaged pixel, but I know it’s not because I can actually screenshot it). Restarting the device doesn’t fix this. So far, the only fixes I have found are —
• Open the app, tap the keyboard button (bottom), & then tap “toggle”, when the keyboard pops up, close the app.
• Disconnect bluetooth or turn the main switch device off.
4. In the app, when you have to type in a textbox (e.g. to label a button), the iphone keyboard overlaps the textbox & prevents certain buttons being pressed; the box should move up a little when the keyboard opens, to ensure it’s always viewable in its entirety. So far, the only fix I have found for this is to minimise the app & reopen it whilst the textbox is open.
5. With regards to the switch device itself, a splash proof cover would be really useful! I cannot take off or put on the assistive device without help; even if I could, I need it for unlocking & opening my front door. Where I live, it rains a lot! The device usually has to be out in the open for IR to work properly, which means I can’t mount it in a sheltered part of the wheelchair, & it’s at high risk of weather damage. I have already needed one replacement after being caught in heavy rain. Perhaps consider a weather seal for future devices? (Like they do to SLR cameras).
6. With regards to the switch device, some form of optional flip cover over the button could also be useful. You have no idea how much the general public are attracted to big buttons! Especially if I’m out somewhere like a pub — people just feel the need to press it & do not wait for consent! It’s very frustrating. I think part of the issue is that I can only mount it behind me (my wheelchair has limited options).
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