Quick Tip: Assigning a braille display command to tell the time on iOS

In this short AppleVis episode, host Scott Davert walks through how to bind a custom braille display command that instantly announces and brailles the current date and time on an iPhone. The motivation is simple: while the lock screen shows the time, that isn’t always convenient; a dedicated braille command lets you check the time anywhere without leaving what you’re doing.

The conversation centers on VoiceOver’s braille command customization inside iOS. Scott explains that, as of this recording, iOS does not offer an equivalent mapping for a connected QWERTY keyboard or a native touchscreen gesture; he hopes Apple adds those options later. He also points out a brief “silent” behavior in one of the command menus where speech may stop speaking; there’s a quick recovery keystroke for that. Finally, he clarifies that longer braille displays can show the entire date and time on one line, while shorter displays (like 20-cell units) may require a single pan forward to reveal all details.

Step-by-step: Assign a braille display command to announce the time on iOS

1. Open Settings on your iPhone with VoiceOver enabled.
2. Go to Accessibility → VoiceOver → Braille.
3. Select your connected braille display (e.g., Braille Edge) to open its command categories.
4. Open the section for assigning Braille button commands.
5. If speech goes quiet on this screen, press Space + dot 4 once to restore speech.
6. Press Space + F to use Find, type time, and navigate to the Time action.
7. Activate Assign New Braille Keys.
8. When prompted, press your desired chord (example: Enter + T for “time”). If it doesn’t register, activate Assign again and retry promptly.
9. Test your new binding: press the chord and confirm VoiceOver speaks—and your display shows—the current date and time.
10. On 20-cell displays, pan forward once if the full string doesn’t fit.
11. Press Space + Backspace (dots 7–8) to back out when finished.

Tip: To jump quickly to the Assign New Braille Keys control when it’s at the bottom of the list, try Space + dots 4-5-6.

Key details and tips surfaced in the episode include that this workflow is specific to braille displays attached to iOS with VoiceOver enabled, that QWERTY keyboard mapping for the Time action isn’t available yet, and that using space with dots 4-5-6 is a quick way to jump to the “Assign New Braille Keys” control if it’s at the bottom of the list. Scott’s suggested binding—Enter with T—keeps the command memorable and fast. The end result is a friction-free way to check the time from anywhere in iOS, without unlocking or navigating away from your current task.

Transcript

Disclaimer: This transcript was generated by AI Note Taker – VoicePen, an AI-powered transcription app. It is not edited or formatted, and it may not accurately capture the speakers’ names, voices, or content.

Scott: Hey, everybody. It's Scott Devert back for a podcast, this time covering a quick tip, which is how to set up a Braille display command to access the time and date on your iOS device.…