“Clicks Power Keyboard Brings Compact Typing to iPhone” — Accessibility Tested, Android Communicator

Clicks has launched the Power Keyboard, a compact physical keyboard and wireless charging accessory designed for iPhone users, with full VoiceOver compatibility confirmed. The device, which features a 47-key layout, integrated 2,300 mAh battery, and magnetic wireless charging pad, aims to bring fast, distraction-free typing to mobile users seeking an alternative to touchscreens.

Speaking to Double Tap, Rachel Ramos, a long-time technology user and blind professional, detailed her experience with the device after pre-ordering both the Power Keyboard and the upcoming Clicks Communicator. “Once customised, it becomes a fully VoiceOver-compatible keyboard that’s very compact and travel friendly,” she said. The keyboard works via Bluetooth and can be configured in iOS to use a single modifier key for VoiceOver commands, enabling common actions like opening the App Switcher or muting speech without touching the screen.

Ramos confirmed that the Clicks Companion App, used to adjust keyboard settings, is functional but not fully accessible. “I can use the app, but some controls are unclear to VoiceOver, and one key setting for soft return always reports as ‘off,’” she noted. Feedback has already been shared with Clicks, and the company appears open to improving accessibility in future updates.

Looking ahead, the Clicks Communicator—an Android-based smartphone with a built-in keyboard—has also been pre-ordered by Ramos and others in the community. Designed for focused communication and productivity, it aims to reduce distractions by limiting app usage. Ramos expects the device to ship with TalkBack support and hopes for similar customisation options to the iOS keyboard.

The arrival of these devices signals a renewed interest in tactile mobile input for blind and partially sighted users. If Clicks continues to refine its accessibility tools, the Power Keyboard and Communicator could offer a meaningful alternative to on-screen typing and bring back the productivity benefits once associated with hardware keyboards.

Resources:

– Clicks Official Website
https://clicks.tech/ca

– Apple VoiceOver Guide
https://www.apple.com/accessibility/iphone/vision/

– Android TalkBack Documentation
https://support.google.com/accessibility/android/answer/6283677