Braille screen input issue on ios 18 beta

By Mert Ozer, 9 July, 2024

Forum
Apple Beta Releases

Hello folks,
After hearing about the new BSI improvements in iOS 18, I decided to try them out. Although I'm not very familiar with Braille screen input, I've known Braille since I was 6, so I figured I could pick it up quickly.
And, oh my gosh, this new feature is a game-changer for me, just like for many of you. I really appreciate what Apple does with VoiceOver on iOS, but I want to point out a potential bug to make this feature even better.

Steps to reproduce the issue:

1: Open any app where you can navigate in Braille command mode. We'll use the native Notes app for this demonstration, but it could be anything.
2: Activate a text field and start typing using Braille screen input.
3: Type a word, like an email address or your first name, but do not add a space after typing.
4: Activate command mode with the swiping gesture.
5: What you will notice is nothing appears in the text field. If you add a space or deactivate Braille screen input with the pinching gesture, the text will appear.

I believe that after adding a space or exiting Braille input by pinching the screen, the typed text converts to plain text and appears on the screen. But if you don't add a space, the text disappears.
Adding and deleting a space takes just a fraction of a second, but in some fields like phone numbers or emails, you can't add or delete spaces. This workaround saves the day. I think Apple should make the conversion happen not only after adding a space or new line or exiting BSI but also after switching to the command mode. This would prevent issues when editing text in command mode.
Edit: I just recorded a short audio to demonstrate this issue, you can check it out on google drive; the link below:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Yt470pytMyVPpzHdriTPfG7berPaURqd/view?usp=sharing
Do you guys have the same issue? If so, why not create feedback and send it to Apple?

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Comments

By Mert Ozer on Sunday, July 7, 2024 - 15:13

Hello, yes! I encounter with this issue when using Uncontracted, English braille, i would be okay with this issue if it was there with only contracted braille.

By Ollie on Sunday, July 7, 2024 - 15:13

Have you sent this feedback to apple? I'm not experiencing this issue, but if you are they will be able to take a look at it.

By Holger Fiallo on Sunday, July 7, 2024 - 15:13

Is this with the recent beta that was release yesterday? If not, update.

By Mert Ozer on Sunday, July 7, 2024 - 15:13

"I will send the feedback today. In your case, you could type something without any spaces or new line characters which will convert the Braille text, and switch back to command mode, and you would still be able to display what you typed, right? FYI, I am using beta 3, which was released recently."

By Mert Ozer on Sunday, July 7, 2024 - 15:13

Yes, i am using the beta 3

By Mert Ozer on Sunday, July 7, 2024 - 15:13

My apologies to you all. Due to the way the setting for using contracted Braille has changed with iOS 18, I mistakenly thought I was using uncontracted Braille, which turned out to be wrong. This issue does not occur when using uncontracted Braille, so it is my fault.

By Indra on Sunday, July 14, 2024 - 15:13

and the new Braille Screen Input is really good. Love it very much. On my iPhone 13.

By Igna Triay on Sunday, July 21, 2024 - 15:13

The new braille screen input is a game changer. Loving it so far. I'm still trying to figure out the commands in command mode... does anyone know the command to go to the app switcher?

By Justin Harris on Sunday, July 21, 2024 - 15:13

I am absolutely amazed by the new BSI. However, I have yet to get a full grasp of the commands. Makes it hard when they are not exactly universal across operating systems and screen readers. I'm still used to the way it worked on old products like the BrailleNote, where dots 1 and 4 would navigate by line, 2 and 5 would be by word, 3 and 6 would be by character. But I don't think that's quite how it works here. But honestly, I don't care quite as much about the commands as I do the actual Braille input, which I still find to be massively improved.

By Igna Triay on Sunday, July 21, 2024 - 15:13

If you press s in commands mode in braille screen input, you get taken to the status bar... but how do you get out of the status bar and backnto the main part of the screen? I don't know if this is a bug or i'm missing something obvious so wanted to check here first before reporting it as a bug, can anyone confirm?

By Justin Harris on Sunday, July 21, 2024 - 15:13

It's like with a Braille display. Pressing S again will take you back out of the status bar.
Hth.

By Justin Philips on Sunday, July 21, 2024 - 15:13

Greetings. I have been using ios18 beta for about a day and I can easily say that my device usage habits have started to change. Doing almost everything on the device in braille makes it faster and feels like a more private experience. Below I am writing the braille codes you need to know in order to use the device, so you can memorize them now and be ready when the full version arrives. the working logic of the codes is just like computer keyboard shortcuts or physical braille keyboards.
Codes
1: Go to previous item.
4: Go to the next item.
3: Previous rotor element.
6: Next rotor element.
1 2: Exit.
2 3: Previous rotor.
5 6: Next rotor.
1 2 3: First item.
4 5 6: Last item.
1 3: Start help.
4 6: Notification center.
1 4: Copy.
2 5: Control center.
3 6: Activate .
1 2 6: Volume down.
3 4 5: Volume up.
1 5 6: Magic touch.
2 3 4: Go to status bar.
1 3 4: Turn mute on/off.
1 2 3 4: Turn speech on/off.
1 4 5 6: Swipe down.
3 4 5 6: Swipe up.
1 2 3 6: Paste.
1 3 4 6: Cut.
2 3 4 6: Repeat.
1 3 5 6: Undo.
1 2 5: Home screen.
3 5: Go to previous visible app.
2 6: Go to the next visible app.3 4: Read item summary.
1 3 5: Swipe right.
2 4 6: Swipe left.
1 2 3 5: Read all from current content.
2 4 5 6: Read all from the base.
1 2 3 4 6: Tag the item.
1 2 3 4 5 6: Turn the screen curtain on/off.
https://support.apple.com/en-gb/118665

By Lielle ben simon on Monday, September 30, 2024 - 15:13

Hi, Have you check if Automatic Braille Translation is turned on?
Maybe it could be solve the problem.
I have not this issue and I install the beta version.

By Dennis Long on Monday, September 30, 2024 - 15:13

turn on automatic translation and the problem is solved. again this is not a bug!