# Tactile screen protecters for the iphone.

Category: Cell Phone Talk

## Post 1 by suzy (Veteran Zoner) on Sunday, 27-Nov-2011 13:40:30

hi all. Wonder if u can help. I am about to buy the iphone 4s but ive never had a touch screen phone before so i also want to order a tactile screen protecter. However, their seems to be a standard model and an advanced model of the screen protecter so just wondering really what's the difference between the two? And which would u recommend bearing in mind iall be completely new to the iphone.

## Post 2 by rat (star trek rules!) on Sunday, 27-Nov-2011 20:30:53

i'd personally suggest trying the phone without a tactile protector, if you learn it that way then you can use anyone's IPhone or ITouch with no problems instead of needing the dots those protectors have. That's the main difference between the standard and advanced, the number of locating dots

## Post 3 by rdfreak (THE ONE AND ONLY TRUE-BLUE KANGA-KICKIN AUSIE) on Sunday, 27-Nov-2011 21:33:24

Yeh I'm considering trying some myself.
The difference is the amount of dots, as the above person said; standard is just the letters on the online keyboard and advanced is all the controls on the screen of the iPhone at any one time.
I have had an iPhone 4S for about a month now (and I very briefly used an iPhone 3GS ages ago) and I, as most others, find that typing does get easier; the touch typing is great where you drag your finger over the vertual keyboard until you hear the character you want, and lift it off and character is inserted; you'll get quicker too in time. But I think the dots would make it even quicker. And while I like Rat's theory that it's better to get use to without, not everyone is going to want to be using a different iPad/iPhone other than their own.

## Post 4 by rat (star trek rules!) on Monday, 28-Nov-2011 12:41:06

maybe not using someone elses by choice, but what if you need to make a call and your device is dead or you don't have it with you but someone else does have theirs? plus i believe you have the protectors wrong, why would advanced have more dots on it?

## Post 5 by rdfreak (THE ONE AND ONLY TRUE-BLUE KANGA-KICKIN AUSIE) on Monday, 28-Nov-2011 18:28:36

That was my bad; other way around obviously.

## Post 6 by Shadow_Cat (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Monday, 28-Nov-2011 18:49:03

I've had my iPhone since May, and have used it without a tactile protector up to this point. I'm glad I did learn it that way, though I don't blame someone for wanting the tactile protector right as they get the phone. It's just easier for some people. However, I am curious about them, to see what I think of using it that way. I've ordered the standard model from Speed Dots. I'll be able to try it out in a couple days. Should be interesting.

## Post 7 by blw1978 (I'll have the last word, thank you!) on Tuesday, 29-Nov-2011 2:07:47

I just got an Iphone, and am totally new to touch screen phones. I ordered the advanced model from speed dots. It works well so far. One plus is that while you may not be typing all the time, the extra dots on the letters help orient me to other objects on the screen even when I'm not in keyboard mode. There seems to be a couple extra dots, for instance, on the line of icons with phone, mail ECt, there is an extra dot in the row, five dots as opposed to four icons if that makes sense. These could be keyboard controls. I'm still getting used to the onscreen typing mode. So far, I hate it. But then, I would regardless of the tactile protector. It may help to have some sighted assistance installing it, as it's vital to line up the keys with the dots. Sounds easy, but it's kind of a pain. In any case, good luck with your new purchase.

## Post 8 by JerseyGirl1989 (Zone BBS is my Life) on Tuesday, 31-Jan-2012 3:27:38

Hey! I too was wondering about this myself! I was gonna order one of these IPhone tactal protectors for an IPhone, but instead of waisting money, I was gonna try it out on my parents IPhone instead, to make sure I can use it, etc etc etc.... So for a person who has tried the IPhone without one and couldn't figure it ou-I'm totally blind- and have friends who use the IPhone and are totals too (idk how ya'll text on those things!) it would probably be better to get the advanced one, right??? (cause I'm gonna need as many dots as possible)! lol. And does it come with instructions on how to install the IPhone protectors?? I have the Haven Samson by verizon, and while that's good- it doesn't let me preview my text messages so it takes a while to send a text- but I'm used to a number pad phone apposed to a keyboard phone/tuch screen phone. Anybody who can help with this is greatly appreciated!!
Thanks,
Amber

## Post 9 by WillieTheWoof (I'll have the last word, thank you!) on Tuesday, 31-Jan-2012 9:46:41

Amber, I would strongly encourage you to learn to text without a raised dot screen protector. As you start doing it your fingers will remember the qwerty keyboard layout. The advantage here is should something happen to the protector you are not without the abillity to text. Also, should you have a need to use other I devices without protectors you'll have no problem adapting to them. I Use an iPhone and write text and e-mail using the touch screen. if they are going to be long writings I use the dragon dictate app which works well.

## Post 10 by JerseyGirl1989 (Zone BBS is my Life) on Wednesday, 01-Feb-2012 6:52:18

Hi! Thanks for the reply!! I've tried using the tuch screen- and I can't figure it out- I'd much rather use a protector just because of the fact that I have right now a numberpad on my phone- the letters are ABC instead of a keyboard phone.... (yes- I'm oldschool!) lol so that's why I looked into the screen protectors cause there's no tactal thing on the IPhone to orient me to the keyboard.... thanks for the suggestion! I've also tried to use the IPad and had the same problem.
Amber

## Post 11 by rat (star trek rules!) on Thursday, 02-Feb-2012 8:50:13

you need to stop saying because it's touch screen you won't be able to learn it, you're limiting yourself that way. if you sit down, open your mind, and work with it i think you'll surprise yourself at how easy it is to learn.

## Post 12 by LeoGuardian (You mean there is something outside of this room with my computer in it?) on Thursday, 02-Feb-2012 12:03:52

Interesting I've heard from sighted people asking me: "Yeah but Leo I've been texting on a number pad phone for &LT;insert number of years here>. Why can't Apple just embed a keyboard that simulates a number pad phone?"
The answer is they could: it's just a layout with an additional layer for interpretatiobn and insertion of the characters. I hope they actually do do it.
But to those who think you can't learn this blind, believe it or not, some touch screen speed advocates (including Steve Jobs) actually recommend that people learn to type without looking at the keyboard. Now remember, on a touch device with VoiceOver off, the minute you touch that screen you're interacting. In many ways the sighted population has it much harder than we do with these things. They bump and slide accidentally, just once, and it's like you or I pressing the home button or the three finger swipe.
Knowing this, I would never have even thoughtto recommend a sighted person learn to only look at the text they're entering, and not at the keys themselves. This is a fully sighted people recommending it.
If they can do this on a device that for them is a lot more sensitive, I'm pretty sure we can. I am, admittedly, a very slow texter and can't even text when walking around. Gives some young, silly and ignorant skulls full of mush something to giggle gaggle at, but I can't claim blindness as a real reason. After all, I'm pretty slow doing it on my old Windows phone.
I'll be the first to admit though when it's long emails or comments, I'm using a keyboard. That is most people though, and not just the blind. Most people over a certain age anyway. Some of us that didn't grow up texting.
A touch screen is like everything else that comes along: you'll get used to it.

## Post 13 by JerseyGirl1989 (Zone BBS is my Life) on Friday, 03-Feb-2012 6:33:42

I have tried the phone- and I cannot do it. I literally sat with the phone in the apple store for like an hour trying to figure it out... how to text.... and I couldn't figure out the 2 finger swipe/tap/whatever it is lol. And+ there isn't even a starting point for where the keyboard starts- that in itself is confusing to me...... hell- I couldn't even text on a keyboard phone because the buttons are toooo small! (and I have little hands) I just perfure big buttons, cause the small ones are too small for me. So I have tried out the phone- even tried the IPad, and I can't figure out how to use the tuch screen- doesn't work for me. And, believe me, the IPad/IPhone were tried with multiple, multiple attempts! I'm a very tactal person, so I need things to be.... like right there. If I can't find the starting point to the keyboard, I'm gonna get confused...... I agree, I don't really understand why apple doesn't just implement a numberpad phone... sheesh.... although, I feel like numberpad phones are going out of style..... after all, it is a sighted world, and so we blind people have to learn to adapt to it.
Amber

## Post 14 by LeoGuardian (You mean there is something outside of this room with my computer in it?) on Friday, 03-Feb-2012 10:13:18

"It is a sighted world" is a straw man six-day-creationist astrology froot loop argument.
My wife is fully sighted and when we went to the store to get her phone she got in that 'we-need-to-talk' position that most men know about, and you boys will learn about: shuts off the car, turns to me, straightens and says: "I don't want a touch screen."
She got a number pad phone. It's not a sighted or blind thing. Tell my wife and her age group that it's a sighted world why don't ya? While they're out driving around.
Truth be told whether it is a touch screen, a number pad or a mni keyboard has everything to do with current design trends and nothing to do with being sighted. Use the hammer that works for you to do the job.

## Post 15 by LittleSneezer (The Zone-BBS is my prison, but I like it here.) on Friday, 03-Feb-2012 13:11:33

I used the iPhone without a tactile screen protector for several months before finding about them. Learning how to use the touch screen seemed daunting at first, but it turned out to be easier than I expected. When I saw an ad for the tactile protectors on this site, however, I decided to ask for some for Christmas, and I'm glad I did. I have found that it makes typing quicker and easier, and finding some of the controls is simpler as well. Oh, and just a clarification on the difference between the standard and advanced models: the standard (which I use) has dots on all of the letters except f and j and some of the controls; the advanced has dots on the letters f and j and most, if not all, of the controls. So it is true that the advanced model has fewer dots on it than the standard.

## Post 16 by JerseyGirl1989 (Zone BBS is my Life) on Saturday, 04-Feb-2012 4:11:32

I got both moddles just in case- so I could find out what one works best for me.... When I ordered them from SpeedDots it said that the standard moddle is for people who are new IPhone Users and the advanced is, for, well more advanced users. I do agree that it doesn't matter the age you are about the numberpad phones, it's just that the apple products are the latest and greatest things out there right now! I mean out of all my blind friends, I'm one of the only ones who uses a numberpad phone. That's good that it makes typing faster... but does it come off the phone? Cause it's not my phone I'm practicing it with.... so I was wondering if I could get it off when I'm finished using it... since they are so low of a price, if it works for me, I figured I would just by it when I do get my own IPhone... if this does work for me. If not, I'll just use the phone I have now.
Amber

## Post 17 by Lisa's Girl forever (Help me, I'm stuck to my chair!) on Saturday, 04-Feb-2012 4:34:53

I use a perticture. screen. on my phone. and it works on my Iphone. yay:

## Post 18 by rat (star trek rules!) on Saturday, 04-Feb-2012 15:05:26

you can't learn an I device in an hour, you need to use it for an extended time, follow podcasts about it if you're not sure, it's not someting you just snap your fingers and learn. I personally will never get one of the speed dots protectors, i have no need for them, actually type rather quickly on my phone as it is now, and an added bonus, if i needed to use someone ele's phone like my gf's i could just grab it up, activate voiceover and type.

## Post 19 by LittleSneezer (The Zone-BBS is my prison, but I like it here.) on Saturday, 04-Feb-2012 15:23:46

I could use someone else's iPhone if need be; however, I just find that the tactile screen protector makes things a little easier, and I see no reason to be ashamed of using one. Oh, and Amber, they do stick onto the phone pretty well, but they definitely can be removed. I had to remove the first one I tried to put on my iPhone because I tore it while attempting to peel off the sticker at the top left of the screen protector.

## Post 20 by forereel (Just posting.) on Saturday, 04-Feb-2012 19:53:55

I finally bit and got one of these i Phone 4 S. I actually like it lots. As far as the touch goes I find it really simple to use. To double tap I sometimes use both hands when I've got it laying down on the table, but sometimes I just use 2 fingers on the same hand. I slide to were I want, than hold still and tap with the second finger. I got one of the braille protectors for a friend as a gift, but never tried it. She liked it, but has gone back to using her phone without, so I guess it just depends. There are some settings for tap, or touch typing, so maybe try both to see what works? I'm new and I think it requires your own personal taste, but it surprised me how easy it was to use even from the first couple days. Sometimes I can even just touchh tap. Odd, yes, but okay, I was a key buy before, so it amazes me. hahaha.

## Post 21 by The Elemental Dragon (queen of dragons) on Monday, 06-Feb-2012 9:59:46

this is what i don't understand. i picked up a lot of the iphone stuff in the first few hours of getting it. and if you have one of these tactile things. not all keyboards are the same all the time, like a keyboard in a to field be it messages and e-mails is different then the normal keyboard is different then the twitter keyboard... and you have apps all over the place. what if you want your apps in foulders, or you want your apps in your dock a different way, what then? maybe it's just me, who is just a fast learner, just my sense, but if you think you need it...
voice over tells you everything, i like rat said feel that you're limiting yourself.

## Post 22 by starfly (99956) on Monday, 06-Feb-2012 11:07:34

Last and also yes!! I will add here, if you feel like you need a keyboard, why not go check out a android slider phone on your phone carier net work, some will tell you that android is not as accessible as IOS, but I beg to differ. http://www.androidaccess.net. yes you will be faced with a touch screen but you have a choice if you want to interact with the screen or not, some even come with the a slecter button for okay like the droid 3 from VZ. Just saying, lastly its best if you become best friends with what ever touch screen OS your going to use because it will help you in the long run if you need to borrow a friends device. Yes, some android phones recently started coming with a basic screenreader like modarola's droid line.