the problem with direct touch typing

By Liviu Serea, 1 March, 2024

Forum
iOS and iPadOS

Hello!

I have strange screen behavior with direct touch typing mode. As a way of typing text, I have been using direct touch typing for many years. I have an iPhone 10 with the latest version of iOS 16, I have an iPhone 12 with the latest version of iOS 16, I have an iPad mini 6, with the latest version of iPadOS 16, you will say that A possible problem is that the devices are not updated to iOS 17 .But I also have an iPhone 15 pro and the problem persists.

I explain the strange behavior below:

In any app, whether it's an Apple proprietary app or a developer app, if we enter text with VoiceOver with direct touch input mode, after entering text, I exit the app without going back to the previous panel. More clearly if I'm in an iMessage conversation, I write text with direct touch typing with jonn, and exit the iMessage app, the bottom of the screen, the dock area and the first row of apps. where the keyboard used to be, when I was in iMessage in the chat window with Jonn, it no longer responds to VoiceOver touch gestures. The double-click gesture to open apps in the dock or apps one row above the dock doesn't work. The problem with direct touch writing, manifests itself in all applications where text is entered. I talked about IMessage above, but the problem is also with Notes, on the computer, diary, Whatsapp, messenger, mail. Any application where the keyboard opens and text is entered into an edit field. I reproduced the situation on other iPhones of friends and the same thing happens to them. To understand my problem. All you have to do is open a conversation on WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger or imessage, from the rotor turn on direct touch writing, type a text, send the message. Leave the app open in the conversation, exit the app and try the double click gesture in the bottom area of ​​the screen where the dock is and the first row of apps above the dock, the double click gesture on the app icons doesn't work.

Options

Comments

By Stephen on Friday, March 1, 2024 - 21:08

Works fine for me and I use it all the time. Actually it’s the only thing I use.

By Mlth on Friday, March 1, 2024 - 21:08

There are 3 typing modes in the typing mode rotor, and the last one is "direct touch typing". I assume that is what OP is refering to. Unfortunately I primarily use Braille Screen Input, MBraille and touch typing, so I haven't experienced this issue.

By Stephen on Friday, March 1, 2024 - 21:08

Ummm btw I wouldn’t have commented if I didn’t attempt to duplicate the issue. Again, looks fine on my end.

By Liviu Serea on Friday, March 1, 2024 - 21:08

I don't contradict you stephen! but I tend to think that you didn't do the exact steps that I wrote in the topic. I have the problem on three phones, plus on other phones of my friends.

By Stephen on Friday, March 1, 2024 - 21:08

That’s the very definition of contradicting lol. 🤦

By Brad on Friday, March 1, 2024 - 21:08

Please walk me through, step by step, what settings you turn on so I can try and reproduce this bug.

By Liviu Serea on Friday, March 1, 2024 - 21:08

Hey Brad!

. 1. open an editing field, a note, or a chat conversation, Whatsapp, iMessage, messenger.
2. With the rotor choose direct touch writing.
3. Write some text. If you are in a chat window, send the message. Leave the chat window open in the conversation or if you are in a notes window stay there..
4. Swipe to get to the main screen where the apps are.
5. With the double-click gesture, try to open an app in the Doc or an app in the row above the Doc. Then the double tap gesture to open the app doesn't work.
6. To make it work, you still have to do the swipe gesture, the one when you want to go back to the main screen.

By Brad on Friday, March 1, 2024 - 21:08

The hand writing mode means you need to write letters on the screen with your finger, is that the one you're talking about?

Or are you talking about touch typing where you find a letter on the keyboard and tap it to type it?

This is very important to answer because if you mean hand writing then most of us who are blind won't be able to help you.

By Stephen on Friday, March 1, 2024 - 21:08

No, they mean the typing mode that’s called direct touch typing but to be honest, I can’t duplicate the issue, so I still can’t tell them what the problem is. Touch typing in direct touch typing are two different things. Direct touch typing is essentially where you place your finger right where the letter is supposed to be on the keyboard and it selects it. You don’t find it, you just tap the general location.

By Khomus on Friday, March 1, 2024 - 21:08

Somebody did a podcast on it here but it was pretty brief. I'd be interested in any tips on actually practicing it. Because hell, I'm on the one where you find a character and lift and it types, and I screw that up pretty regularly. I find it hard to imagine getting any good at something where I'm not even hitting an actual character.

Do you just switch to a different mode for passwords an the like? Because I feel like that would be even harder to type with direct touch. But I'm also thinking of websites and the like, where the predictive ability, I assume it uses that, goes out the window because a site could be anything really.

By Stephen on Friday, March 1, 2024 - 21:08

If you know where the letter is exactly on the keyboard, you can just touch it and it will input that letter. It works amazing provided you know where the letters are on the keyboard. Once you get the hang of it you can type pretty fast. If you have never used it before it will take lots of practice and getting used too.

By Ash Rein on Friday, March 1, 2024 - 21:08

One of my issues with direct touch typing is that when on a phone call the dial pad is no longer direct touch typing. It seems to revert back to standard typing where you have to double tap. This has been around for a while and Apple is fundamentally aware of it and acknowledges that it is an issue. The main reason why they aren’t fixing it is because not enough people are reporting it as an issue. It really requires being fixed because if it’s direct touch typing, it should be universal no matter what you’re using

By Khomus on Friday, March 1, 2024 - 21:08

Does orientation help? I usually do things in portrait, phone vertical in case that's the wrong thing. I need to mess around with braille input too, at some point.

By Brad on Friday, March 1, 2024 - 21:08

Sorry I can't help any further than I have, I hope you get the help you need.

Perhaps you could switch to touch typing for now and see if that helps.

By Liviu Serea on Friday, March 1, 2024 - 21:08

Ash Rein!! You are right! it's the same with me. with direct touch writing mode, in the phone application when typing a phone number, the insertion of digits is done either by standard double-clip typing, or by touch typing with finger lift insertion. same problem in the calculator app.

By Liviu Serea on Friday, March 1, 2024 - 21:08

yes brad, I'm talking about touch typing. I'm totally blind too. but I've been using touch typing, direct touch typing for many years. direct touch writing is the same as those who see and touch directly on the letter.

By Liviu Serea on Friday, March 1, 2024 - 21:08

bingo Brad! I'm glad you were able to understand the problem. i reported to apple too but i doubt if they understand and if they will fix something! I hug you!

By Brad on Friday, March 1, 2024 - 21:08

Hugs back.

By Ash Rein on Friday, March 1, 2024 - 21:08

I submitted a bug report and the case number is FB12554777. This has been going on for years. Like I said, if it’s set to direct touch typing, then it should remain direct touch typing, even during a phone call.