Tapping
and swiping
Smart phones and tablets are wonderful gadgets that most of us would be lost without. Getting to grips with these amazing devices can be a little daunting however, as there's no mouse or separate keyboard to use. Instead, smart devices have touch-sensitive screens that allow us to open apps, type messages, take photos, read online books and more, by responding to different touches with our fingertips, known as gestures.
Once you know what these gestures do, smart devices become a lot easier to use.
In this course, we are going to learn about two of the most important gestures – tapping and swiping.
Below you will find three options for learning about them:
- Watch it: There's a short video to watch, demonstrating how to tap and swipe using a touchscreen on a smart device.
- Try it: For smart devices only. If you are using your smart device, why not have a go at practising your taps and swipes. This informative activity takes you through a number of different scenarios where these gestures come into their own.
- Read it: Read the steps in our handy guide that you can print or save for later. Available in different languages in the Print the guide section at the bottom of this page.
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Watch it
Watch our short video on how to tap and swipe on a smart device's touchscreen.
Transcript
There are many different kinds of touch gestures you can use on your smartphone or tablet. Let's look at tapping and swiping.
A tap is where you lightly touch a spot on the screen for just an instant. For example, you can make a call using taps.
A long tap is when you touch and hold your finger on the same spot. This gesture is also called tap and hold. For example, you can use a long tap to see options for an app.
A swipe is when you touch and slide your finger across the screen. You can swipe up and down, left and right, quickly or slowly. You swipe right or left to see more apps on your device, up and down to open new menus, and in many directions when playing games.
Try it
For smart devices only. Perfect your tapping and swiping skills in this fun activity.