This page explains how you can turn on the TalkBack screen reading application on your Android tablet or mobile. Sighted assistance will be required to turn on TalkBack if not turned on during setup.
Figure 1 - Accessibility Settings.
Figure 2 - TalkBack Option.
Figure 3 - TalkBack Toggle Switch.
Figure 4 - Alert Box.
Figure 5 - TalkBack Tutorial.
Figure 6 - Settings.
Figure 7 - Explore By Touch Tutorial.
Figure 8 - Speech Volume.
Select ‘Cancel’ to return to the main TalkBack Settings screen.
Figure 9 - Speech Volume Options.
Figure 10 - Pitch Changes.
By default, TalkBack will always speak keys as they are typed. If you would like TalkBack not to do this select the item (Figure 11).
Figure 11 - Keyboard Echo.
There are three options (Figure 12):
Select ‘Cancel’ to return to the main TalkBack Settings screen.
Figure 12 - Keyboard Echo Options.
By default, TalkBack will not speak when the screen is off. Select the item and tick the box if you would like notifications to be spoken when the screen is off (Figure 13).
Figure 13 - Speak When Screen is Off.
By default, TalkBack will use the proximity sensor in the device to silence speech. If you would like speech to not be controlled by the proximity sensor in any way, un-tick the tick-box (Figure 14).
Figure 14 - Proximity Sensor.
By default, Shake to start continuous reading is disabled. If you would like TalkBack to read on-screen content by shaking the device, select the item (Figure 15).
There are six options to adjust the sensitivity of this feature (Figure 16):
Select ‘Cancel’ to return to the main TalkBack Settings screen.
Figure 15 - Shake to start continuous reading.
Figure 16 - Sensitivity settings.
By default, TalkBack will speak the caller ID. If you would like TalkBack not to do this un-tick the tick-box (Figure 17).
Figure 17 - Speak Caller ID.
By default, the device will also vibrate to give you feedback. If you would prefer this not to happen, un-tick the tick-box (Figure 18).
Figure 18 - Vibration Feedback.
By default, feedback will be provided using sounds as well as speech output. If you would prefer this not to happen, un-tick the tick-box (Figure 19).
Figure 19 - Sound Feedback.
If you would any other audio on the device to be reduced when TalkBack is speaking, select the item to tick the tick-box (Figure 20).
Figure 20 - Focus Audio.
By default, any audio feedback will match the media volume. Select the item to change the setting (Figure 21). There are four options:
Select ‘Cancel’ to return to the main TalkBack Settings screen.
Figure 21 - Sound Volume.
By default, Explore by touch is turned on. Explore by touch means that TalkBack will speak items as you touch the screen. If you would like to turn this off, select the item (Figure 22). An alert box will then appear (Figure 23). Select ‘OK’ to turn off Explore by touch or select ‘Cancel’ to return to the main TalkBack settings screen.
Figure 22 - Explore By Touch.
Figure 23 - Alert Box.
By default, list items in on-screen list boxes will scroll automatically. If you would like this not to happen, un-tick the tick-box (Figure 24).
Figure 24 - Automatically scroll lists.
If you would like to be able to select the item which has the current focus of TalkBack by using a single-tap gesture, tick the tick-box (Figure 25). Note: This function is marked as ‘experimental’ and as such may not work as intended or in a consistent manner.
Figure 25 - Single Tap Selection.
Select Manage gestures if you would like to change the gestures used to operate TalkBack (Figure 26).
Figure 26 - Manage Gestures.
NOTE: These instructions apply to the standard version of Android as found in the Google Nexus range. They also apply to other devices (as long as they are using the same operating system) but please be aware that there may be minor differences. This is due to the custom ‘skins’ some companies apply to their mobile devices instead of the stock Android theme.