Method and system for providing touch-sensitive screens for the visually impaired

A method in a computer system adapted for use by the visually impaired for announcing a description of objects displayed on a touch-sensitive screen, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving a request to display a new object on the touch-sensitive screen;
• determining that a user has activated a summary mode for receiving the description of objects displayed on the touch-sensitive screen upon the new object being displayed on the touch-sensitive screen;
• displaying the new object on the touch-sensitive screen;
• and
• automatically providing audio feedback of the description of the objects displayed on the touch-sensitive screen.

A method in a computer system for selecting a list item of a list box, the computer system having a touch-sensitive screen, the method comprising the steps of:

• displaying the list box containing list items, the list box and list items having associated coordinate positions on the touch-sensitive screen;
• receiving a current coordinate position indicating where a user is touching the touch-sensitive screen or indicating that the user is not touching the touch-sensitive screen;
• when the current coordinate position is associated with the list box and a last coordinate position received is not associated with the list box, providing audio feedback indicating that the user has entered the list box;
• when the current coordinate position is associated with a list item and the last coordinate position was not associated with that list item, providing audio feedback indicating the list item;
• and
• when the current coordinate position indicates the user is not touching the touch-sensitive screen and the last coordinate position was associated with the list item, selecting the list item.

A computer system for selecting a control region of a touch-sensitive panel, the touch-sensitive panel having a plurality of control regions, the system comprising:

• means for receiving an indication that a user is touching the touch-sensitive panel, the indication including a current coordinate position;
• means for determining whether the current coordinate position is within a control region;
• means for, when the current coordinate position is within the control region, providing audio feedback indicating that the current coordinate position is within the control region;
• means for receiving an indication that the user is no longer touching the touch-sensitive panel while the current coordinate position is within the control region;
• means for selecting the control region;
• and
• means for, after selecting the control region, providing audio feedback indicating that the control region is selected.

A method in a computer system adapted for use by the visually impaired for announcing a description of a window displayed on a touch-sensitive panel, the method comprising:

• receiving an indication that a summary mode has been activated;
• receiving a request to display a change to the displayed window;
• displaying the change to the displayed window;
• and
• automatically providing audio feedback of a description of displayed changed window.

A computer-readable memory medium containing instructions for controlling a computer processor in a computer system adapted for use by the visually impaired to announce a description of a window displayed on a touch-sensitive panel each time the window changes by performing:

• receiving an indication that a summary mode has been activated;
• receiving an indication that the displayed window has been changed;
• and
• after receiving the indication that the displayed window has been changed, automatically providing audio feedback that describes the displayed window.

A method in a computer system for selecting a control region of a touch-sensitive panel the touch-sensitive panel having a plurality of control regions, the method comprising:

• determining whether a user is contacting the touch-sensitive panel over a control region;
• and
• when the user has contacted the touch-sensitive panel over the control region,
• providing audio feedback indicating that the user has entered the control region;
• determining whether the user has terminated contact with the touch-sensitive panel by releasing contact from the touch-sensitive panel over the control region;
• when the user has terminated contact with the touch-sensitive panel in such a way, selecting the control region, thereby causing the selection of the control region upon termination of contact instead of initiation of contact;
• and
• providing audio feedback indicating that the control region was selected.