Apple enables 'Assistive Touch' features on iPad in latest iOS 5 beta

Apple has enabled a very cool feature for iPad users in the latest beta of iOS 5. "Assistive Touch" allows users to perform gestures and button actions on the iPad with one touch. Users can call up the Assistive Touch menu by tapping a designated corner of the iPad's screen. The menu itself is similar to the bezel overlay that appears when adjusting the iPad's volume.

As noted by MacRumors, the Assistive Touch menu "allows one-tap access to all of the iPad's functions including rotation, shaking, volume changes and even gestures. Known gestures such as pinch and swipe can be recalled by a tap, and custom gestures can even be recorded and played back on command."

Assistive Touch is primarily meant to help those who might have trouble using some of the gesture elements of the iPad's multitouch features, like the elderly. The feature's settings were present in earlier iOS 5 beta's but were not enabled until the release of iOS 5 beta 3 earlier today.

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Source: http://www.macrumors.com/2011/07/11/apple-activates-assistiv…

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Apple has enabled a very cool feature for iPad users in the latest beta of iOS 5. "Assistive Touch" allows users to perform gestures...

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MrUnderwood

In my opinion this will be the future of touchscreen apple devices. Apple, being the consumer experts that they are, know that the general population is not ready for this. Similar to the removed trackpad device, that I have grown to prefer over a standard mouse, this will take time to implement into society. But still, the future.

July 12 2011 at 12:00 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Jonathan Ober

if you can assign the jailbreak sbsettings stuff to this it would be sweet. Like turn on and off bluetooth and wifi with one touch, hate digging for those in the menu in settings when I need to get to them quickly.

July 12 2011 at 9:58 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Toni Rudolf Vlaic

Interesting addition

July 12 2011 at 5:13 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

 Mike Beasley

It's on the iPhone, too.

July 12 2011 at 2:18 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

patent application

Here is the similar story...

Assistive Touch is a new interface found in iOS 5 that gives users quick access to certain commands. The new feature was enabled in the third beta of iOS 5 released to developers on Monday.

With Assistive Touch, an overlay menu is displayed that presents the user with commands that usually require certain physical actions, such as rotating the screen or shaking the device. This new feature allows for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch to be more accessible to those who may not be able to accomplish these tasks.

July 12 2011 at 2:16 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply