How to set up and operate switch control with an iOS device

This article explains how to set up and operate switch control with an iOS device. For instructions on using switch control with an Android device, see here.

Introduction

Switch control is an accessibility feature that allows the user to navigate and select items on their iOS or Android device using primary inputs, control inputs, or the REM400/500's touch screen.

To use switch control, you will need to pair your LiNX system to your iOS device and link a connectivity card to the paired device. Before operating, you will also need to identify the switches (inputs) you will be using and then assign an action to each switch. This article shows you:

  1. how to set up a connectivity card:

    1. by pairing the LiNX system with the user's device, and

    2. by linking the connectivity card with the user's device.

  2. how to connect to a device

  3. how to configure switch control

  4. how to operate switch control

  5. how to disconnect a device

  6. how to forget a device

The following set up procedure assumes that a connectivity card is available and selectable in one or more profiles. It also assumes that the user's iOS device, to which the LiNX system connects to, has an active Bluetooth connection.

Set up a connectivity card

Before you can use a connectivity card, you will need to:

  1. pair the LiNX system with the user's device, and

  2. link the connectivity card with the user's device.

These actions are described in more detail below.

Pair the LiNX system with the user's device

Open the connectivity settings menu by tapping and holding the Navigation button until the status and settings screen is displayed, and then tap on Settings | Connectivity.

At the bottom of the connectivity settings menu, tap on the Pair New Device button.

The pairing passkey displays on the touch screen with the name of your LiNX device to pair with — for example: REM-J16130951.

 

On your iOS device, open the Bluetooth menu by going to:

Settings | Bluetooth

 

If Bluetooth is not switched on, then switch it on now.

From the list of Bluetooth devices displayed on your iOS device, locate and tap on the name of the LiNX device that you wish to pair with (e.g. REM-J16130951) — the Bluetooth status of the selected LiNX device changes to "Connecting" while attempting to pair.

If the device pairs successfully, a confirmation screen is displayed on the remote module. Tap on the OK button to proceed. If no device is paired within the set timeout period, a message is displayed "No device was paired". Tap on the OK button to proceed and retry pairing.

 

NOTE The LiNX system remembers up to 10 paired devices. If you have reached this limit, and you need to add more devices, consider "forgetting" devices that have already been paired.

 

Link the connectivity card with the user's device

Connectivity cards must be linked to a paired device. To link a connectivity card to a device, open the connectivity settings menu by tapping and holding the Navigation button until the status and settings screen is displayed, and then tap on Settings | Connectivity.

The names of the connectivity cards are displayed in the Functions section (top section of the connectivity settings menu).

For each menu item, the connectivity card's name is displayed at the top, and the user's device, if any, is displayed at the bottom. If the connectivity card has no device linked to it, then "Not Linked" is displayed.

For connectivity cards that have not been linked, tap on the appropriate menu item.

Tap on the Not Linked button and select one of the paired devices in the list, or tap on Pair New Device button to pair with a new device.

Connect to a device

To connect to a device, select the appropriate connectivity function from a profile.

If the connectivity function is paired to a device, and the device is linked to the function, then it attempts to connect to the device via Bluetooth.

The Bluetooth connection status indicator shows when the Bluetooth connection between the LiNX system and the user's device is:

disconnected

connecting

connected

no device
 
 

If the Bluetooth fails to connect, the status reverts to disconnected. To attempt to connect again, reselect the connectivity function from the profile (that is: deselect it, and then reselect it).

Configure switch control

Before you can use switch control, you need to identify the switches you will be using and then assign an action to each switch. For example, if you want your device to return to its Home screen when you tap on the REM400's touch screen, you will need to identify the REM400 touch screen as a switch input, and then assign that switch's action to Home Button. This section shows you how to assign actions to switches and then enable switch access.

Assign actions to switches

NOTE The following instructions are illustrative only as the steps may differ slightly between different iOS versions and devices.

To identify and assign actions to switches, open the iOS device's Switch Control menu by tapping on Settings | Accessibility | Switch Control.

  • Tap on Switches

  • Tap on Add New Switch…

  • Tap on External — you are prompted to activate your external switch.

Activate your external switch — for example, tap on the REM400's touch screen or deflect the joystick in a single direction (forward, reverse, left or right) and then name the external switch — for example: Touch screen — so that you can identify it later.

 

Assign an action to the switch. From the Actions menu, choose a switch action, such as Home Button or Select Item.

If required, repeat the above instructions to add more switches.

Enable switch control

After assigning switches to actions, enable Switch Control.

Operate switch control

The following operation description assumes that a connectivity card with a switch control function has been set up as described in the previous sections.

Operation indication

The switch control function allows the user to navigate and select items on their iOS device.

The switch control indication varies depending on if a user's device is connected via Bluetooth and whether or not a switch control input is active — see below.

Switch control indication — not connected

This is shown when a switch control card is selected, but no user device is connected.

Switch control indication — connected

This is shown when a switch control card is selected, and a user device is connected.

Switch control indication — active

This is shown when a switch control card is selected, a user device is connected, and a switch is active.

Device navigation and operation

Use the switches that were assigned to navigate menus and operate applications on the user's iOS device.

 

Disconnect a device

To stop using a connectivity card, select a different function card from a profile. When the connectivity card is deselected, the Bluetooth connection disconnects.

 

Forget a device

Open the connectivity settings menu by tapping and holding the Navigation button until the status and settings screen is displayed, and then tap on Settings | Connectivity.

Select the paired device that you wish to forget under PAIRED DEVICES.

 

Check the details on the next screen and then tap on Forget this Device. Tap on Forget this Device button again, or the Cancel button to cancel this operation.

Forgetting a device will unlink it from any functions it is linked to, as well as unpair it from the system.