Buying an ipad for use as a communication aid You need an email address to set up an itunes account. This is essential. You can of course set up a free g-mail account, just for your ipad. You will either need a credit card you can link to your itunes account or you will need to buy an itunes gift card to purchase apps the programs for your ipad. Using a gift card is safer. If you have easy access to a computer that will run the latest version of itunes, then download it free from www.itunes.com/download (This is essential to set up a new ipad.) If you do not have an up-to-date computer talk to the store where you are buying the ipad and ask them if they can open it up for you. Make sure you have the email address and credit card or gift card with you when you go to buy the ipad, as they will be needed to open it. The cheapest new ipad is the ipad 2 16GB WiFi costing under Aus$400 (in July 2014) which is fine as a communication aid. Also buy a case to protect the ipad and act as a stand. The magnetic ipad 2 cover is useless. The STM Grip3 hard case is good because it protects the corners of the ipad, attaches securely, and can easily be turned into a stand. Buy an anti-glare screen protector and apply it according to the directions on packet. Not only does it protect the screen, it makes it much easier to see. The MOSHI ivisor is the best I ve seen. It s easy to apply and can be removed for washing and restuck. More expensive than others, but worth it. If opening the ipad at home - connect the ipad to your computer s USB port with the cable supplied (which is also used to connect the ipad to its charger). Follow the onscreen instructions to start setting up your ipad. To use an ipad without a credit card, buy an itunes card and enter the number in the REDEEM box at the bottom of the Apps Store Featured Apps page after you ve opened the ipad.. Record the email address you re using, its password and the itunes password you choose, on the inside of the box. Also note down any credit card you used. Bring the email address and password, and the credit card or gift card to any appointments this enables you to use our WiFi to download more apps. For fun, and to get used to the process, press the App Store icon. Touch Q Search (top right hand corner) and type in talking tom cat. Select talking tom cat HD for IPad. Tap the FREE button on the icon, type the password you gave yourself when you set up your account, press OK and install. Press the Talking Tom icon and start talking to your new best friend! Next try Pocket Pond and Bubble Wrap.
To use an ipad (after it s been connected with itunes) This picture shows an ipad in portrait mode (vertical). Many people with disabilities find it more accessible in landscape mode (horizontal) To start Press HOME button at bottom of screen in portrait mode, or left of screen in landscape mode. (If nothing happens, press on/off on the outside edge (opposite side) button.) To unlock Drag arrow to right To move from screen to screen Drag to right or left. To go back to the Home screen (which contains the functional apps you receive automatically) Press the Home button outside the screen area App is short for Application and refers to the computer programs which run on the ipad. The small coloured square icons on the screen each open a different program when tapped. Only one program can run at a time. Small grey square icons showing tiny coloured squares are folders, containing many apps
To open an App Tap an app to open it. For example, tap Notes. You ll see a lined notepad. Tap the notepad and a keyboard will appear. Suggestion - type in your itunes email address and password so you ll be sure to remember them! NB: Press the home button to exit one program before trying to drag to another screen, or open another app. If you get somewhere & don t know what you re doing, press the Home button to exit. NB: Answer NO to every question when you open an app, or you may end up buying things you don t want! To turn an ipad off The Off switch is on the outside edge, opposite the home button. Charge your ipad when the battery indicator at the top left of the screen says anything below 50% To turn the sound up or down and to lock the screen The volume control and the lock switches are at the right of the long side. The lock switch stops the screen revolving every time you move the ipad round. You can lock the screen in either the vertical (portrait) or horizontal (landscape) position (for most communication aid users, horizontal is easier.) To delete an app which you don t want Press the app s icon till it starts to wobble and a cross comes up on its top left corner. Tap the X and follow the prompts. When finished, press the Home button. Settings - Tap Settings and select General in the left menu. This allows you to change all kinds of settings, place restrictions on the ability to delete and purchase apps, and ensure age-appropriate content. Set shutdown time in Auto- Lock, password in Restrictions (and decide what to restrict) and turn off Auto- Correction in Keyboard (see below for more details). Remember to back up your ipad, and in particular to back up PL2Go, if you re using it, regularly. NB There are no refunds on apps you ve paid for, so check them out before you buy. Find out more about the I-Pad at www.apple.com/ipad
ipad extras To get back to the HOME screen Press Home button (at bottom or side of the screen) once. To lock the screen orientation Use the Software Lock There are two ways you can lock the orientation in either portrait and landscape mode so it doesn t change every time you move the ipad. First, just like on iphone, you can now lock the screen orientation using the software lock. You can simply tap the HOME button twice to bring up the multitasking dock. Swipe your finger to the right on the dock until you see the music control buttons. Then just tap on the screen lock button to lock the screen orientation. Use Settings However, there is an option in Settings that lets you decide the function of the side switch. Tap Settings and select General in menu. Scroll down to Use Side Switch to: You can either keep it as a mute switch or choose Lock Rotation. Then you slide the lock button on the front right to lock or unlock the orientation. To avoid irritating and usually incorrect word predictions Tap Settings and select General in menu Scroll down to Keyboard Turn off everything but Enable Caps Lock To avoid unwanted shutdowns: Select Auto Lock and extend the shutdown time to 5 or 10 minutes. NB Once in Settings - General you can control a lot of what the user sees or can do by enabling Restrictions. You can specify age-appropriate content in Allowed Content, and turn off permission for Installing Apps and Deleting Apps. You can even turn off access to You Tube! We suggest using your postcode as the Restrictions Password, so any adult who knows you can then easily switch the restrictions to download more apps. The Content restrictions will still apply. Remember to reset the Installing and Deleting restrictions before you exit. RECORD your Restrictions Passcode losing it is a disaster, and requires the whole ipad to be reset. That s why using your year of birth is a good idea. Anne McDonald Centre 538 Dandenong Road, Caulfield 3162 Australia Ph 03 9509 6324 E-mail admin@annemcdonaldcentre.org.au Website http://www.annemcdonaldcentre.org.au