Useful TalkBack Gestures to use with your Android device and EasyReader
NOTE: This article applies to those running EasyReader on an Android device such as an mobile device or tablet with the devices native TalkBack Screen Reader.
Learn TalkBack gestures on mobile or tablet
TalkBack is controlled entirely by one finger.
Gestures with two or more fingers will not be handled by TalkBack. They’ll be sent directly to the underlying view. Two or more fingers will “pierce the veil”, so you can pinch-to-zoom or scroll the same as ever.
EasyReader has been designed to accommodate TalkBack Gestures and all should apply to the EasyReader Application.
How do I turn it on?
- Open the “Settings” application.
- Select “Accessibility” from the “System” section, way down at the bottom.
- Select “TalkBack” from the “Services” section.
- Toggle it to “On”.
How do I look around?
- Forward: Swipe right with one finger anywhere on the screen to move the focus forward. This is “forward” in the sense of text, so right/down.
- Back: Swipe left with one finger anywhere on the screen to move the focus back.
Explore and speak items on the screen
To explore the screen, drag your finger over it. TalkBack speaks the name of each item you touch. You can also use TalkBack gestures to explore the screen in order, from top to bottom and left to right.
| Action | Gesture |
| Select and speak an item | Tap or touch the item |
| Select the next item | Swipe right |
| Select the previous item | Swipe left |
| Moves focus to next:
Control/Words/Characters/Spoken Language/Speech Rate/Windows/Links |
Single-finger swipe down |
| Moves focus to previous:
Control/Words/Characters/Spoken Language/Speech Rate/Windows/Links |
Single-finger swipe up |
| Select to activate the item | Single-finger double tap |
| Pause or continue media | Two-finger double tap |
Scroll up, down, left, and right
Use TalkBack gestures to move to another page within your book.
| Action | Gesture |
| Scroll up one page | Two-finger swipe down |
| Scroll down one page | Two-finger swipe up |
| Scroll left one page | |
| Scroll right one page |
Take action on an item
Use TalkBack gestures to perform actions on an item.
| Action | Gesture |
| Select an item | Single-finger tap |
| Activate the selected item | Single-finger double tap |
| Drag a slider | Tap the slider to select it, then swipe up or down with one finger; or double-tap and hold the slider then drag the slider |
| Start or stop the current action (for example, play or pause a book) | Two-finger double-tap |
For more gestures you can visit: https://dequeuniversity.com/screenreaders/talkback-shortcuts