Apple HIG: Inputs
Check for .claude/apple-design-context.md before asking questions. Use existing context and only ask for information not already covered.
Key Principles
General
Support multiple input methods. Touch, pointer, keyboard, pencil, voice, eyes, hands, controllers. Design for the inputs available on each platform. On iPadOS, support both touch and pointer; on macOS, both pointer and keyboard.
Consistent feedback for every input action. Visible, audible, or haptic response.
Gestures
Standard gestures must behave consistently. Tap to activate, swipe to scroll/navigate, pinch to zoom, long press for context menus, drag to move. Don't override system gestures (edge swipes for back, Home, notifications).
Use standard recognizers; keep custom gestures discoverable. Apple's built-in recognizers handle edge cases and accessibility. If you add non-standard gestures, provide hints or coaching to teach them.
Apple Pencil
Precision drawing, markup, and selection. Support pressure, tilt, and hover. Distinguish finger from Pencil when appropriate (finger pans, Pencil draws).
Support Scribble in text fields. Users expect to write with Pencil in any text input.
Keyboards
Keyboard shortcuts and full navigation. Standard shortcuts (Cmd+C/V/Z) plus custom ones visible in the iPadOS Command key overlay. Logical tab order.
Respect the software keyboard. Adjust layout when keyboard appears. Use keyboard-avoidance APIs.
Game Controllers
- MFi controllers with on-screen fallbacks. Map to extended gamepad profile, sensible defaults, remappable. Always offer touch or keyboard alternatives.
Pointer and Trackpad
- Native feel. Hover effects, pointer shape adaptation, standard cursor behaviors. Two-finger scroll, pinch to zoom, swipe to navigate.
Digital Crown
- Primary scrolling and value-adjustment input on watchOS. Scrolling lists, adjusting values, navigating views. Haptic feedback at detents.
Eyes and Spatial (visionOS)
- Look and pinch. Generous hit targets (eye tracking is less precise than touch). Avoid sustained gaze for activation. Direct hand manipulation in immersive experiences.
Focus System
- Critical for tvOS and visionOS. Predictable focus movement. Every interactive element focusable. Clear visual indicators (scale, highlight, elevation). Logical focus groups.
Remotes
- Siri Remote: limited surface. Touch area for swiping, clickpad for selection, few physical buttons. Keep interactions simple.
Motion and Nearby
- Gyroscope, accelerometer, UWB: use judiciously. Suits gaming, fitness, AR. Not for essential tasks. Provide calibration and reset. For UWB, communicate distance and direction with visual or haptic cues.
Reference Index
| Reference |
Topic |
Key content |
| gestures.md |
Touch gestures |
Tap, swipe, pinch, long press, drag, system gestures |
| apple-pencil-and-scribble.md |
Apple Pencil |
Precision, pressure, tilt, hover, handwriting |
| keyboards.md |
Keyboards |
Shortcuts, navigation, software keyboard, Command key |
| game-controls.md |
Game controllers |
MFi, extended gamepad, remapping, fallbacks |
| pointing-devices.md |
Pointer/trackpad |
Hover, cursor morphing, trackpad gestures |
| digital-crown.md |
Digital Crown |
Scrolling, value adjustment, haptic detents |
| eyes.md |
Eye tracking |
Look and tap, gaze targeting, hit target sizing |
| spatial-interactions.md |
Spatial input |
Hand gestures, direct manipulation, immersive input |
| focus-and-selection.md |
Focus system |
tvOS/visionOS navigation, focus indicators, groups |
| remotes.md |
Remotes |
Touch surface, clickpad, simple interactions |
| gyro-and-accelerometer.md |
Motion sensors |
Gyroscope, accelerometer, calibration, gaming |
| nearby-interactions.md |
Nearby interactions |
U1 chip, directional finding, proximity triggers |
| camera-control.md |
Camera Control |
iPhone camera hardware button, quick launch |
Output Format
- Input method recommendations by platform and how they interact.
- Gesture specification table -- standard and custom gestures with expected behaviors.
- Keyboard shortcut recommendations following system conventions.
- Accessibility input alternatives for VoiceOver, Switch Control, etc.
Questions to Ask
- Which platforms and input devices?
- Productivity or casual app?
- Custom gestures in the design?
- Game controller support needed?
Related Skills
- hig-components-status -- Progress indicators responding to input (pull-to-refresh)
- hig-components-system -- System experiences with unique input constraints
- hig-technologies -- VoiceOver, Siri voice input, ARKit spatial gesture context
Built by Raintree Technology · More developer tools
When to Use
This skill is applicable to execute the workflow or actions described in the overview.
AGI Framework Integration
Adapted for @techwavedev/agi-agent-kit
Original source: antigravity-awesome-skills
Memory-First Protocol
Retrieve prior design decisions (color palettes, typography, spacing scales) to maintain visual consistency across sessions. Cache generated design tokens.
# Check for prior frontend/design context before starting
python3 execution/memory_manager.py auto --query "design system decisions and component patterns for Hig Inputs"
Storing Results
After completing work, store frontend/design decisions for future sessions:
python3 execution/memory_manager.py store \
--content "Design system: adopted 8px grid, Inter font family, HSL color tokens with dark mode support" \
--type decision --project <project> \
--tags hig-inputs frontend
Multi-Agent Collaboration
Share design decisions with backend agents (API contract changes) and QA agents (visual regression baselines).
python3 execution/cross_agent_context.py store \
--agent "<your-agent>" \
--action "Implemented UI components — new design system with accessibility compliance (WCAG 2.1 AA)" \
--project <project>
Design Memory Persistence
Store design system tokens and component decisions in Qdrant so any agent on any platform (Claude, Gemini, Cursor) can retrieve and apply consistent styling.
1---2name: hig-inputs3description: "Check for .claude/apple-design-context.md before asking questions. Use existing context and only ask for information not already covered."4risk: unknown5source: community6date_added: '2026-02-27'7---89# Apple HIG: Inputs1011Check for `.claude/apple-design-context.md` before asking questions. Use existing context and only ask for information not already covered.1213## Key Principles1415### General16171. **Support multiple input methods.** Touch, pointer, keyboard, pencil, voice, eyes, hands, controllers. Design for the inputs available on each platform. On iPadOS, support both touch and pointer; on macOS, both pointer and keyboard.18192. **Consistent feedback for every input action.** Visible, audible, or haptic response.2021### Gestures22233. **Standard gestures must behave consistently.** Tap to activate, swipe to scroll/navigate, pinch to zoom, long press for context menus, drag to move. Don't override system gestures (edge swipes for back, Home, notifications).24254. **Use standard recognizers; keep custom gestures discoverable.** Apple's built-in recognizers handle edge cases and accessibility. If you add non-standard gestures, provide hints or coaching to teach them.2627### Apple Pencil28295. **Precision drawing, markup, and selection.** Support pressure, tilt, and hover. Distinguish finger from Pencil when appropriate (finger pans, Pencil draws).30316. **Support Scribble in text fields.** Users expect to write with Pencil in any text input.3233### Keyboards34357. **Keyboard shortcuts and full navigation.** Standard shortcuts (Cmd+C/V/Z) plus custom ones visible in the iPadOS Command key overlay. Logical tab order.36378. **Respect the software keyboard.** Adjust layout when keyboard appears. Use keyboard-avoidance APIs.3839### Game Controllers40419. **MFi controllers with on-screen fallbacks.** Map to extended gamepad profile, sensible defaults, remappable. Always offer touch or keyboard alternatives.4243### Pointer and Trackpad444510. **Native feel.** Hover effects, pointer shape adaptation, standard cursor behaviors. Two-finger scroll, pinch to zoom, swipe to navigate.4647### Digital Crown484911. **Primary scrolling and value-adjustment input on watchOS.** Scrolling lists, adjusting values, navigating views. Haptic feedback at detents.5051### Eyes and Spatial (visionOS)525312. **Look and pinch.** Generous hit targets (eye tracking is less precise than touch). Avoid sustained gaze for activation. Direct hand manipulation in immersive experiences.5455### Focus System565713. **Critical for tvOS and visionOS.** Predictable focus movement. Every interactive element focusable. Clear visual indicators (scale, highlight, elevation). Logical focus groups.5859### Remotes606114. **Siri Remote: limited surface.** Touch area for swiping, clickpad for selection, few physical buttons. Keep interactions simple.6263### Motion and Nearby646515. **Gyroscope, accelerometer, UWB: use judiciously.** Suits gaming, fitness, AR. Not for essential tasks. Provide calibration and reset. For UWB, communicate distance and direction with visual or haptic cues.6667## Reference Index6869| Reference | Topic | Key content |70|---|---|---|71| [gestures.md](references/gestures.md) | Touch gestures | Tap, swipe, pinch, long press, drag, system gestures |72| [apple-pencil-and-scribble.md](references/apple-pencil-and-scribble.md) | Apple Pencil | Precision, pressure, tilt, hover, handwriting |73| [keyboards.md](references/keyboards.md) | Keyboards | Shortcuts, navigation, software keyboard, Command key |74| [game-controls.md](references/game-controls.md) | Game controllers | MFi, extended gamepad, remapping, fallbacks |75| [pointing-devices.md](references/pointing-devices.md) | Pointer/trackpad | Hover, cursor morphing, trackpad gestures |76| [digital-crown.md](references/digital-crown.md) | Digital Crown | Scrolling, value adjustment, haptic detents |77| [eyes.md](references/eyes.md) | Eye tracking | Look and tap, gaze targeting, hit target sizing |78| [spatial-interactions.md](references/spatial-interactions.md) | Spatial input | Hand gestures, direct manipulation, immersive input |79| [focus-and-selection.md](references/focus-and-selection.md) | Focus system | tvOS/visionOS navigation, focus indicators, groups |80| [remotes.md](references/remotes.md) | Remotes | Touch surface, clickpad, simple interactions |81| [gyro-and-accelerometer.md](references/gyro-and-accelerometer.md) | Motion sensors | Gyroscope, accelerometer, calibration, gaming |82| [nearby-interactions.md](references/nearby-interactions.md) | Nearby interactions | U1 chip, directional finding, proximity triggers |83| [camera-control.md](references/camera-control.md) | Camera Control | iPhone camera hardware button, quick launch |8485## Output Format86871. **Input method recommendations by platform** and how they interact.882. **Gesture specification table** -- standard and custom gestures with expected behaviors.893. **Keyboard shortcut recommendations** following system conventions.904. **Accessibility input alternatives** for VoiceOver, Switch Control, etc.9192## Questions to Ask93941. Which platforms and input devices?952. Productivity or casual app?963. Custom gestures in the design?974. Game controller support needed?9899## Related Skills100101- **hig-components-status** -- Progress indicators responding to input (pull-to-refresh)102- **hig-components-system** -- System experiences with unique input constraints103- **hig-technologies** -- VoiceOver, Siri voice input, ARKit spatial gesture context104105---106107*Built by [Raintree Technology](https://raintree.technology) · [More developer tools](https://raintree.technology)*108109## When to Use110This skill is applicable to execute the workflow or actions described in the overview.111112---113114<!-- AGI-INTEGRATION-START -->115116## AGI Framework Integration117118> **Adapted for [@techwavedev/agi-agent-kit](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@techwavedev/agi-agent-kit)**119> Original source: [antigravity-awesome-skills](https://github.com/sickn33/antigravity-awesome-skills)120121### Memory-First Protocol122123Retrieve prior design decisions (color palettes, typography, spacing scales) to maintain visual consistency across sessions. Cache generated design tokens.124125```bash126# Check for prior frontend/design context before starting127python3 execution/memory_manager.py auto --query "design system decisions and component patterns for Hig Inputs"128```129130### Storing Results131132After completing work, store frontend/design decisions for future sessions:133134```bash135python3 execution/memory_manager.py store \136 --content "Design system: adopted 8px grid, Inter font family, HSL color tokens with dark mode support" \137 --type decision --project <project> \138 --tags hig-inputs frontend139```140141### Multi-Agent Collaboration142143Share design decisions with backend agents (API contract changes) and QA agents (visual regression baselines).144145```bash146python3 execution/cross_agent_context.py store \147 --agent "<your-agent>" \148 --action "Implemented UI components — new design system with accessibility compliance (WCAG 2.1 AA)" \149 --project <project>150```151152### Design Memory Persistence153154Store design system tokens and component decisions in Qdrant so any agent on any platform (Claude, Gemini, Cursor) can retrieve and apply consistent styling.155156<!-- AGI-INTEGRATION-END -->
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