One notable gap in iPhone usability is the lack of a native, system-wide auto-scroll feature. This makes prolonged reading or browsing sessions less convenient, as users must repeatedly swipe to move through content. While accessibility features and app-specific solutions exist, they aren't designed for seamless, hands-free scrolling across different applications.

A Gesture-Based Auto-Scroll Solution

The idea is to create an iOS app that enables auto-scrolling triggered by customizable gestures, such as a double-tap-and-hold. The app could adjust scroll speed using pinch gestures or an on-screen slider and allow pausing without exiting the mode. It could also memorize preferred scroll speeds per app—slower for eBooks, faster for social feeds—and work across Safari, Kindle, and other apps without requiring individual integrations. To overcome API limitations, the app might use screen recording (with user permission) to detect scrollable areas when direct control isn’t available.

Optimizing for Users and Compatibility

For users, this would reduce the need for constant manual swiping, particularly benefiting avid readers, multitaskers, and those with motor impairments. Execution could start with a minimal version using iOS’s accessibility APIs for basic scrolling in supported apps, followed by broader compatibility features. Technical challenges include avoiding private APIs to ensure App Store approval and optimizing battery efficiency by limiting screen analysis to active scrolling sessions.

This approach fills a small but meaningful usability gap in iOS, offering a smoother way to navigate long-form content without competing with existing accessibility tools.