Copy a scientific name

[whitneybrook]

This is minor, but I miss the ability to copy scientific name on info page. It is nice to see the taxonomy. If I had to pick between seeing the taxonomy and being able to copy the scientific name, I would pick displaying the taxonomy.

iNat

iNat Next

[mellis]

I don’t consider this minor, this is a major issue to me!

Being able to copy the scientific name is absolutely essential in an identification and citizen science app like iNaturalist, and I also strongly believe the functionality to select and copy text should be greatly expanded throughout the app to enhance learning, accessibility, and support the needs of many users.

I was one of the people who originally requested the “Copy Scientific Name” feature in earlier versions of the iNaturalist and Seek apps, I’ve found this to be invaluable in my fieldwork and for educating others. However, I think this functionality should be taken a step further by allowing users to highlight and interact with nearly any text across the entire app, especially in comments and other useful text fields.

Why Allowing Broader Text Selection and Native Context Menus for Selected Text Throughout the App is Crucial for Learning and Accessibility:

On iOS, when text can be selected, a native context menu appears that offers several critically useful options including accessibility tools:

• Copy: Users can copy the text to the clipboard for use in other apps, such as notes, dichotomous keys, other field apps, research tools, or messaging and social platforms.
• Look Up: This quickly searches for the term’s definition or brings up relevant information from sources like dictionaries, Wikipedia, and relevant images, without having to leave the app.
• Translate: Ideal for non-native speakers or those working in multilingual environments, this option instantly translates selected text into another language.
• Search Web…: This option allows the text to be searched directly with across the internet to find relevant information.
• Speak: This option reads the text aloud, which is incredibly helpful for accessibility, particularly for users with visual impairments.
• Spell: This option speaks out the spelling of the word aloud, which is incredibly helpful for writing down complex scientific names or scientific words into field notes, particularly useful for anyone who wants to record the proper spelling of words in a notebook or database.
• Share…: This option allows the text to be shared directly with others via email, text, or social media.

Example in Practice:

Imagine a comment on an observation reads: “To properly identify this plant, according to the dichotomous key in World Grasses Online, you’ll need to look for diagnostic features like decurrent leaf bases, glandular trichomes on the adaxial surface, and a pubescent calyx. Additionally, check for a prominent ligule between nodes and axillary inflorescences to confirm if it’s part of the Poaceae family, or narrow down the ID further by looking on the midrib for appressed hairs, a good indicator of the Elymus genus.”

For a user unfamiliar with these terms — being able to highlight each of these scientific phrases and use the native iOS context menu to Look Up or Translate would enable them to understand the terminology in real-time. Alternatively, they could Copy the terms to their notes app for future reference or Share them with a collaborator who might have more expertise.

Why This Matters:

1. Accessibility: Many users rely on features like Speak or Translate for accessibility. Without the ability to select text, users with visual impairments or non-native English speakers are at a disadvantage. Full text selection makes iNaturalist more inclusive and accessible.
2. Scientific Education: Encouraging people to learn the names of organisms, scientific terminology, and to share knowledge with others is central to iNaturalist’s mission of connecting people with nature. Allowing users to copy and look up unfamiliar terms empowers them to engage deeply with the content and foster their understanding of science, species, and ecosystems.
3. Fieldwork and Cross-App Use: In the field, users often need to share species information between apps, whether to record data in a GIS system, reference a field guide, or communicate findings with others. Full text selection across the app would streamline workflows, allowing users to quickly Copy, Lookup, Translate, and Share information between apps and with others.

By adding the ability to select and interact with much more text throughout the app, iNaturalist would greatly enhance its utility for a wide range of users. This would support both accessibility and education goals while making the app more versatile in scientific and education uses.

Some examples of field apps that do this really well, allowing text selection throughout their field guide apps, greatly advancing their scientific usefulness in the field: Maryland Wildflowers app, Flora of Virginia app, vTree app, Plant Nova Natives app.

[wildwestnature]

We also used the feature to copy scientific name in the old ios app.

We also would enjoy being able to interact with any and all text to access ios choices like “look up” and “copy.”

[whitneybrook]

It’s working. Thanks!

Copied:

Pasted in observation note: