Setting up your iPad

Overview

Before you start using the NoahFace App, it is strongly recommended that you:

Instructions to perform these changes are detailed below.

Disabling Automatic iPadOS Updates

The NoahFace App is typically used in mission critical applications. As such, you should consider turning off all automatic iPadOS updates. This avoids the possibility that Apple introduces a change that impacts your operation (this has occurred a number of times). You can then manually apply iPadOS updates on a planned and controlled schedule.

To do this, you should open the Settings application, select General and Software Update, and set Auto Updates to Off.

Note: There are of course advantages to leaving automatic updates enabled. For example, this will result in security patches being automatically applied. So, if you prefer, you can leave automatic updates enabled, however, there is a significant risk in doing so. Apple only permits downgrading to previous iPadOS versions for a very limited time window after the release of a new version.

Disabling Automatic App Updates

The NoahFace App is typically used in mission critical applications. As such, you should consider turning off automatic App updates. This avoids the possibility that NoahFace introduces a change that impacts your operation. You can then manually apply App updates on a planned and controlled schedule.

To do this, you should open the Settings application, select iTunes & App Store and then disable the Apps and App Updates switches.

Note: There are of course advantages to leaving automatic updates enabled. For example, this will result in bug fixes being automatically applied. So, if you prefer, you can leave automatic updates enabled, however, if you do this we would strongly recommend performing regular iCloud backups of your device.

Disabling Notifications

The NoahFace App is designed to be run as a mounted kiosk. As such, you should turn off Notifications so they do not interrupt its use.

To do this, you should open the Settings application, select Notifications, and:

  • Set Show Previews to Never.

Disabling Siri

The NoahFace App is designed to be run as a mounted kiosk. As such, you should turn off Siri so it cannot be inadvertently invoked.

To do this, you should open the Settings application, select Siri & Search and:

  • Disable the Listen for "Hey Siri" switch.
  • Disable the Press Home for Siri switch.
  • Disable all of the Siri Suggestions switches.

Disabling AirPlay and Handoffs

The NoahFace App is designed to run as a mounted kiosk. As such, you should turn off Airplay and Handoff capabilities.

To do this, you should open the Settings application, select General and Airplay & Handoff, and:

  • Set Automatically AirPlay to TVs to Never.
  • Disable the Handoff switch.

Enabling Time Synchronisation

The NoahFace App uses the local iPad time when recording events. This ensures the event time is correct in cases where there are temporary network outages. As such, you should turn on automatic time synchronisation to ensure your iPad time is accurate.

To do this, you should open the Settings application, select General and Date & Time, and:

  • Enable the Set Automatically switch.

Disabling Display Auto-Lock

iPadOS has a security feature which locks the display after a period of inactivity. Since the NoahFace App is designed to run at all times, you should disable this.

To do this, you should open the Settings application, select Display & Brightness, and:

  • Set Appearance to Light.
  • Set Auto-Lock to Never.

Enabling Guided Access

iPadOS has a security feature which stops users from closing an App or switching between Apps. Since the NoahFace App is designed to run at all times, you should enable this.

To do this, you should open the Settings application, select Accessibility and Guided Access. You then:

  • Enable the Guided Access switch.
  • Enter a passcode under Passcode Settings.
  • Set Display Auto Lock to Never.

This last setting is the equivalent of the setting under Display & Brightness, but applies when the NoahFace App is running in Guided Access mode.

Note: In earlier versions of iOS this setting was under General, Accessibility and Guided Access, and was a switch called Mirror Display Auto Lock. If you are running an earlier version of iOS, you need to turn this switch on.

Starting the NoahFace App

Once you have enabled Guided Access in the iPad Settings, you need to start the NoahFace App in Guided Access mode.

To do this, start the App as normal, and then, once it is running, triple-click the iPad home/lock button. This is the small button on the short edge of your iPad, so you will need to remove your iPad from its mount to do this. On older model iPads, this is the large round button under the iPad screen. When you do this, you will see the text Guided Access Started appear in the middle of the screen for a few seconds.

If you later want to exit Guided Access mode, you just triple-click the home/lock button again, enter your Guided Access passcode, and select End.