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Joni Trythall: Thoughts On Smartphone Emergency Access

I have to say I'm not a fan so far of navigating iOS 10. It just seems there are more clicks and swiping and clutter. Two clicks to get in plus navigating to the app I want whereas before there was only one click. If I want to play my music on Apple TV? Click, click, swipe up, swipe left, swipe up. 

It doesn't feel like an improvement. But, you know, whatever. Eat what you're given, eat what you get.

But what if there were more at stake? Like teaching a pre-schooler how to contact 911? This is an issue designer Joni Trythall encountered after the update:

My son is four and a half. He has an iPad and is able to use it like a pro. It truly seems instinctual. Earlier this year I had taught him how to dial 911 with my iPhone. He did well considering he cannot read yet but I was always bothered by how wildly difficult the entire thing was; young children needing to gain access to emergency services does not appear to have been a concern during the design process.

After the most recent iOS updates (iOS 10) he can no longer navigate into emergency mode. Why is such a critical action buried under an additional perfectly calculated press of the home button?

She shares her Thoughts On Smartphone Emergency Access