Comments on: Arguing for multitasking gestures on the iPad https://isource.com/2011/05/04/arguing-for-multitasking-gestures-on-the-ipad/ #1 Source for iPad, iPhone, iPod, Mac and AppleTV Fri, 06 May 2011 02:48:37 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.4.6 By: Rob https://isource.com/2011/05/04/arguing-for-multitasking-gestures-on-the-ipad/#comment-35346 Fri, 06 May 2011 02:48:37 +0000 http://isource.com/?p=37802#comment-35346 Thanks for your response. I’m looking at gestures in the special case of toddlers and special needs kids, in conjunction with a product I’ve developed called the BubCap home button cover. Apple’s iOS features fall far short of what is needed by those with young and special needs kids, specifically in regards to the home button. This single tactile button is very attractive to kids, and it single-handedly takes kids out of the app adults intend for them to use, and lets them run free on any iDevice. Even with full restriction settings and in airplane mode, kids are still able to roam free and wreak havoc with adult data such as contacts and calendar (just to name few). So, I was curious if a covered home button (or possibly no home button, if Apple goes that way) and gestures was overall more or less toddler-friendly. Note that I have spoken to a lot of speech therapists who work with kids using assistive technology apps, and they say the single Achilles heel of iDevices in this arean is the home button.

]]> By: Thomas https://isource.com/2011/05/04/arguing-for-multitasking-gestures-on-the-ipad/#comment-35335 Thu, 05 May 2011 17:14:15 +0000 http://isource.com/?p=37802#comment-35335 In reply to Rob.

I think that’s a distinct possibility, but I also think it’s covered by the fact that this is an advanced gesture with an ON/OFF toggle in Settings, and I believe that the gestures should go live with that toggle. After all, Apple did budge and provide options for the mute/lock rotation switch, and there are other features that are dedicated to help parents with children (parental locks) and those with special needs or physical disabilities (Accessibility – though that doesn’t cover everything, I’m sure).

I also want to make clear that I’m not arguing for a “homeless” iPad, so to speak. I think the Home button is here to stay, but touch-based alternatives to its functionality are very welcome.

]]> By: Rob https://isource.com/2011/05/04/arguing-for-multitasking-gestures-on-the-ipad/#comment-35331 Thu, 05 May 2011 15:24:47 +0000 http://isource.com/?p=37802#comment-35331 Thomas, do you think toddlers, kids in general, and special needs children might be apt to activate different swiping gestures mistakenly? Perhaps swipe four or five fingers while using a drawing program? I’m just wondering if gestures and no home button (or a covered home button) will be better or worse for kids using iPads (the background is, kids tend to press the home button too much).

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