
BRAILLE SENSE
MANUAL:
(For Software Version 4.0)



SECTION 2 BASIC FUNCTIONS
TABLE OF CONTENTS



2. Basic Functions of the Braille Sense	2
2.1 How to Use the Commands	2
2.1.1 Messages	2
2.2 Concept of the Menu	3
2.2.1 Control Symbols on the Braille Sense	5
2.3 Using the Function Keys	8
2.4 Option Menu (Called Option Settings in the Program Menu)	9
2.4.1 Option Menu Overview	10
2.4.2 Option Menu in Detail	10
2.5 The AC Power Supply and the Battery Pack for the Braille   Sense	23
2.6 Basic Explanation of Disks, folders, and files	24
2.7 Controlling the Volume, Speed, and the Tone of Speech	25
2.8 How to use the Voice and the Braille display	25
2.9 Multi Tasking	26
2.10 Print Spool	27
2.11 Common Combination Keys	28


2. Basic Functions of the Braille Sense

2.1 How to Use the Commands
      
All of the commands that you will use on the Braille Sense are comprised of different combinations of the Braille keys.  In this user manual, the -" sign is used to indicate key combinations.  For example, space-z (dots 1-3-5-6) indicates that the user should press the space bar and letter z (dots 1-3-5-6) simultaneously and then release them at the same time.  You will also find expressions like space-1-3-5-6 in this manual.  This means that the spacebar with dots 1, 3, 5, and 6 should be pressed and released simultaneously.  You can execute most commands by pressing the enter button.  If you want to cancel the execution of any command, and return to the previous status, press space-z (dots 1-3-5-6).  Space-z (dots 1-3-5-6) is a very important command to remember, as it will allow you to back out of programs and menus, when you may have pressed keys that you did not mean to press.

2.1.1 Messages	

If you have setup an appointment in the Braille Sense, schedule Manager, you will be notified of your appointments by the Braille Sense on the day of your appointment.  When you are notified of an appointment, you can interact with the Schedule Manager as you normally would.  In order to exit from the Schedule Manager, you should press space-z (dots 1-3-5-6) or space-e (dots 1-5), and launch another program.

If you do not want to be alerted of todays schedule when you turn on the Braille Sense, you should turn off the check todays schedule option which will be explained in section 2.4.2.25.  Please refer to section 2.4.2.25 in this user manual for more information on this option.

If you turn off the Braille Sense while another program is opened, and then you turn it on again, the Braille Sense will tell you the name of the program that was running on the Braille Sense when you turned it off.  If you turn off the Braille Sense while you are using the word processor, it will tell you the file name/input mode and file protection status as well as the program name.

When you connect the AC adapter to the Braille Sense, the Braille Sense will speak the message AC adapter on.  When you disconnect it from the Braille Sense, the Braille Sense will say, AC adaptor off.

2.2 Concept of the Menu

The menu on the Braille Sense is similar to the concept of a restaurant menu.  For instance, a menu that is used at a restaurant will help you select your choice of food that will be served, while the menu on the Braille Sense provides you with choices that you can select.  If you have selected a menu item from the menu items list, and there are sub menus, the Braille Sense will display those choices for that particular item.

Navigating through the menu items on the Braille Sense is very simple to do.  There is a shortcut key code after the menu name.  You can move to any menu, and press enter, or type the shortcut key of the menu item, in order to select and execute an option in the menu.  Note that there are two types of shortcut keys listed in each menu.  There is a shortcut key that is listed in parentheses, and there is also a key combination.  The shortcut key that is in parentheses allows you to get to that menu item while in the menu.  The key combination that is not in parentheses will allow you to access that particular function either while in a specific program or while you are anywhere in the Braille Sense.  For example, if you are in the word processor, and press space-m (dots 1-3-4) or F2, and then press enter on file, you will hear new (n) pull down enter-n.  The word new represents the function.  The letter n (dots 1-3-4-5) is the letter that you would press while you are in the file menu in order to move directly to new.  Enter-n (dots 1-3-4-5) is what you would press to access the function new from anywhere in the word processor.  It is important to note that not all shortcut keys work from anywhere in the Braille Sense; some commands will only work while you are in a specific program.  For example, if you want to activate the new document option in the word processor.  You cannot press enter-n (dots 1-3-4-5) in the program menu to activate this option.  You must be in the word processor program in order for enter-n (dots 1-3-4-5) to activate the new document option.

You can also move to the next menu item by pressing space-4 or F4-right scroll button.  You can move to the previous menu item by pressing space-1 or F1-left scroll button.  When you want to move to the first item of the menu, you can press space-1-2-3.  If you would like to move to the last item of the menu, you can press space-4-5-6.  The corresponding menu name will be displayed on the Braille display, and the menu name will be spoken through the TTS (text to speech) engine.  If you want to listen to the name of the menu again, press space-r (dots 1-2-3-5).  Once you move to a menu item that you want to execute, press enter in order to execute the menu.  By pressing enter, you will move to the sub menu.  If there is no submenu, the Braille Sense will execute the command from the menu.  This process is called menu selection.  You may also move to any menu or execute any menu by pressing an initial spelling of the menu.

Sometimes, if a menu is executed by pressing enter, the lower-level menu is displayed.  In this case, the right direction arrow sign (->) is displayed after the name of the corresponding menu on the Braille display.  When this happens, the Braille Sense will say, pull down.  Or, if a menu is executed by pressing enter, the dialog box is displayed.  In this case, the ellipsis sign () will be displayed after the name of the corresponding menu on the Braille display.  The Braille Sense will also speak the message, common dialog.

Lets begin going through the various menus.  First, turn the unit on by pushing the power switch toward you.  Now, bring up the program menu.  You can bring up the program menu by pressing F1.  The program menu is the top menu in the Braille Sense.  That is, the program menu is the parent directory for everything, as there are no directories or menus above the program menu.  The items in the program menu are file manager, word processor, address manager, schedule manager, e-mail, media player, web browser, daisy player, bluetooth manager, msn messenger, database manager, utility, option settings, and help.  The first item of the program menu is file manager.  If space-4 is pressed, the next menu item is displayed on the Braille display, and it is also spoken.  If space-4 is pressed repeatedly, the help menu will be displayed.  The help menu is the last item on the program menu.

Press space-4-5-6 when file manager is displayed.  The Braille Sense will say help, as the help menu is displayed.  Then, press space-1-2-3, and the Braille Sense speaks file manager.  It means that space-4-5-6 moves to the last item of the program menu, and space-1-2-3 moves to the first item of the program menu.  If you want to move from the current menu to the upper level menu, press space-e (dots 1-5). 

At any point in the program menu or navigating sub-menus, you can press the F1 key to go to the program menu immediately.  The file manager, which is the first item of the program menu, will be displayed.

2.2.1 Control Symbols on the Braille Sense		

The Braille Sense has many control symbols.  Those symbols appear when you turn on the control information in the option menu.  The default value is set to on.  However, if you are in the web browser, the control symbols will be displayed even if you turn off the control information option.  The control symbol will appear in front of the menu name or item name.  For example, you might see something like, MN file (f) pull down.

The following table shows the names and the symbols of the control symbols that are displayed in front of menu names.
Name
Symbol
Comments
Menu
MN
It means the menu that has submenus.
Menu item
MI
It means the menu that does not have a submenu.
List item
LI
The item name after this symbol represents the name of the item in any list.
(Ex:  LI database or LI sample.txt in the file list of the file manager)


Edit box
EB
The item name after this symbol represents the edit box name. You can find the edit box after the edit box name.  In the web browser, the symbol EB may be followed by an edit box without an edit box name.  Edit boxes that begin with the symbol EB are one line.
(Ex:  EB name (cursor) in the address manager program or EB (cursor) 
Multi edit box
MEB
This also represents the edit box.  But you can type in more than one line in the edit box.
(Ex:  MEB message? (cursor) in the e-mail program)

Computer edit box

CE

It means there is an edit box to input ASCII Braille.
The edit box after this symbol should allow ASCII Braille to be typed in.
(Ex:  "CE recipient? (cursor)" in the email program)
Combo box
CB
It represents the combo box in which you can choose an item by pressing the up arrow key or the down arrow key.
(Ex:  CB type: *.* in the open dialog box of the word processor program)
Edit combo box
ECB
You can choose the desired item by pressing the up or down arrow key, or by directly typing in the item name.
(Ex:  ECB file name: (cursor)  in the open dialog box of the word processor program)
Prompt button
PB
PB follows any question in which you have to choose yes or no. You can toggle between yes and no by pressing the space or the backspace button. 

(Ex:  When you exit from the word processor, PB save? yes) 
Static box
ST
ST is followed by the current status.
(Ex:  ST noname.hbl/insert mode/write in the word processor program)
Link
LN
It means there is a link in the web page.
Anchor
ANC
It means there is an anchor in the web page.
Radio button

RB

It represents a radio button, which allows you to choose an item by pressing the up arrow key, down arrow key, space, or backspace.  Also it cycles between items when pressing this key.
(Ex: RB attribute: write in the information dialog box of the file manager)
Radio button select
SRB
It means that the radio button is selected in the web browser
Radio button unselect
URB
It means that the radio button is not selected in the web browser.
Check box check
SCHB
It means that the check box is selected in the web browser.
Check box uncheck
UCHB
It means that the check box is not selected in the web browser.

Links, anchors, and check boxes are controls that are only used in the web browser.  The symbols enable you to understand what type of box or menu you are working with.  For example, if MN, MI, or LI are displayed in front of a list, you can move from one item to the next item or previous item by pressing the up or down arrow keys.  If ECB, EB, CB, or MEB are displayed on the display, you will have to find the cursor and input the desired letters at the cursor position.  If BT is displayed, you can press enter to push the button.

2.3 Using the Function Keys
      
There are four function keys on the Braille Sense.  When using the Braille Sense, you can open the menus, cancel tasks, and move to other items by using these function keys.  No matter where you are in the Braille Sense, the F1 key will open the Braille Sense program menu.  You can also use F1 and the shortcut key for each program in the program menu to open each program anywhere in the Braille Sense.  For example, if you are in the word processor, and want to open the web browser, you could press F1-b (dots 1-2) to open the web browser.  In each program, space-m (dots 1-3-4) and the F2 key will open the specific menu for each program.  The F3 key has the same function as tab (space-4-5).  If you press space-F3, this will have the same function as pressing shift-tab (space-1-2).  The F4 key will function just like the escape key does on a  personal computer.  This key performs the same function as pressing space-e (dots 1-5).  Please note that the escape key does not exit a program, as does space-z (dots 1-3-5-6).   

You can Use combinations of the function keys to allow you to do many tasks.  Pressing F1 and F2 at the same time will work the same as page up on a personal computer.  If you press the F3 and F4 keys at the same time, this is the same as pressing page down on a personal computer.  The combination of the F1 and F4 keys will move you to the task ID (like the task bar in a computer running Microsoft Windows).  If you press the F2 and F3 keys simultaneously, you can switch between the different programs that are running just like pressing alt-tab in your PC.  The task ID and program switching will be explained in greater detail in the section 2.9, entitled, Multi-Tasking.
      

2.4 Option Menu (Called Option Settings in the Program Menu)

The option menu in the Braille Sense has information on all of your settings.  You can change your preferences regarding each option.  You can access the option menu by pressing F1.  Then, use space-4 or space-1 until you find option settings.  Then, press enter on option settings.  By pressing the space-o (dots 1-3-5), you can open the option menu while you are anywhere in the Braille Sense.  You can navigate all of the items in the option menu with space-1 (up arrow) or space-4 (down arrow).  You can also use the scroll buttons for navigating through each of the items.  You can change the setting values with the spacebar or backspace buttons.  There are many shortcut keys which you can use to quickly move you to wherever you want to go in the option menu.  By pressing space on an item in the option menu, you can turn the setting on or off, or toggle between the various options that are available for the item you are on.  

The option menu is like a dialog box.  To change and save the settings in the option menu, you must press enter once you have selected the setting that you want to save.  If you do not press enter (or select confirm) on the setting that you want, the setting will not be saved.  Once you press enter to save the setting, the Braille Sense will say, option saved, and you will be returned to where you were before you entered the option menu.  To cancel the change to the setting, press the F4 key, space-e (dots 1-5), or space-z (dots 1-3-4-5).  The Braille Sense will then speak the message, cancel saving option.  When you are on an option, you can also use tab (space-4-5) or shift-tab (space-1-2) to go to the confirm and cancel buttons.  If you want to save your settings, press enter on the confirm button.  If you do not want to save the changes you made to the settings, press enter on the cancel button.

Before we go in to detail about each option, lets first go through a brief overview of what you will find in the option menu.


2.4.1 Option Menu Overview

The option menu contains different settings that can be changed in the Braille Sense.  By pressing space-o (dots 1-3-5), you can open the option menu while you are anywhere in the Braille Sense.  The option menu has five groups.

1. Braille setting (which includes Braille display, Braille cursor, eight dot mode, view grade, and message display time) 
2. Voice setting (which includes voice, punctuation level, keyboard echo, voice volume, voice rate, voice tone, and scroll voice)
3. Display setting (which includes LCD, LCD font size, and video display)
4.  Print setting (which includes printer port and print paper size)
5.  General setting (which includes warning message, reverse scroll, skip empty line, control information, hot key information, power saving mode, power saving kick in, check today's schedule, check spelling automatically, and default document mode)

You can move between the five groups by pressing page down (space-3-4-5 or F3-F4) or page up (space-1-2-6 or F1-F2).  When a group is opened, a list of options will appear that can be changed for the particular setting that you are on.  A list of options under a group, are referred to as a list.  You can move between items in the list by pressing space-1 or space-4.  You can then change the setting for each option by pressing space or backspace on each option.

2.4.2 Option Menu in Detail

Now, lets take a look at each function in the option menu in more detail, and look at the specific steps on how to change the various settings. It is very important to note that there are duplicate short cut keys; therefore, pressing a short cut key will move the focus to the next setting that has a matching short cut key, and pressing the same short cut key will move the focus to the next setting that has the same short cut key.  If there are no more settings that have the same short cut key, the Braille Sense will wrap around and move to thefirst match. Pressing space- 1 or space- 4 moves the focus to the previous setting or the next setting. Pressing page-up (space-dots 1-2-6) or page-down (space-dots 3-4-5) will move the focus to the beginning of the previous group of settings or to the beginning of the next group of settings. 

2.4.2.1 Braille display		

The first item that you will find in the option menu is Braille display.  You can switch the Braille display on and off with the space key.  The default is set to on and the shortcut key is b (dots 1-2).  You can toggle the Braille display on or off, by pressing backspace-F3 while you are using another program in the Braille Sense, without having to pull up the option menu.  If you have changed the setting, press the enter key to save the setting.  You can also tab (space-dots 4-5) or shift-tab (space-dots 1-2) to the confirm button, and press enter.  If you do not want to save the setting, tab (space-dots 4-5) or shift-tab (space-dots 1-2) to the cancel button, and then press enter.  You can also cancel saving the setting by pressing spacez (dots 1-3-5-6) or space-e (dots 1-5).

2.4.2.2 Braille Cursor		

You can choose how you want the Braille cursor to show up on the Braille display. The shortcut key is c (dots 1-4).  By default the cursor is set to on.  If you do not want the cursor set to on, you can press the space key to turn the cursor off.  If you have changed the setting, press the enter key to save your changes.  You can also tab (space-dots 4-5) or shift-tab (space-dots 1-2) to the confirm button, and press enter.  If you do not want to save this setting, tab (space-dots 4-5) or shift-tab (space-dots 1-2) to the cancel button, and press enter on the cancel button.  You can also cancel saving the setting by press spacez (dots 1-3-5-6) or space-e (dots 1-5).

Note that there are three types of cursors: 
1. dots 7-8
2. blinking dots 7-8
3. blinking dots 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8

The blinking dots 7-8 will be displayed when you are in the insert mode in the word processor.  The blinking dots 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 will appear when you are using the start selection setting in the word processor and when you are in an edit box.  In all other situations, the cursor will be displayed as dots 7-8.
      
2.4.2.3 Eight Dot Mode		

You can choose to use a 6-dot-Braille or 8-dot-Braille display when using ASCII text mode.  The shortcut key is e (dots 1-5).  By default the 8-dot-Braille display is set to off.  You can switch this option to 8-dot-Braille mode by pressing the space key.  You can toggle this option on or off by pressing F1-right scroll button while you are using another program in the Braille Sense, without having to pull up the option menu.  If you have changed this setting, press the enter key to save your changes.  You can also tab (space-dots 4-5) or shift-tab (space-dots 1-2) to the confirm button, and press enter.  If you do not want to save this setting, tab (space-dots 4-5) or shift-tab (space-dots 1-2) to the cancel button, and then press enter.  You can also cancel saving this setting by pressing spacez (dots 1-3-5-6) or space-e (dots 1-5).
      
2.4.2.4 Viewing the Grade of Braille			

You can choose what grade of Braille you want the Braille display to use when reading.  The shortcut key is g (dots 1-2-4-5).  The setting choices are grade 1, grade 2, and ASCII.  You can switch between the settings by pressing the space key.  You can press space-g (dots 1-2-4-5) to cycle through the three settings while you are using other programs without calling up the option menu.  If you have changed this option, press the enter key to save the setting.  You can also tab (space-dots 4-5) or shift-tab (space-dots 1-2) to the confirm button, and press enter.  If you do not want to save the setting, tab (space-dots 4-5) or shift-tab (space-dots 1-2) to the cancel button, and then press enter.  You can also cancel saving the setting by pressing spacez (dots 1-3-5-6) or space-e (dots 1-5).


2.4.2.5 Message Display Time		

You can choose when a Braille message will disappear from the Braille display.  This setting will only work when the voice setting is set to off.  The shortcut key is m (dots 1-3-4).  The setting options that you can choose from are standby, ignore, and 1 to 10 seconds.  The default is 10 seconds.  The space key increases the option by one second and the backspace key decreases the option by one second.  You can set the unit to standby mode by pressing the space key until you reach stand by. In this mode, the message will remain until you press a key.  The higher value you select, the longer the message remains.  If you read the message before setting the number of seconds, you can clear the message by pressing any key.  If you choose ignore, then messages will be ignored and wont show on the display.  If you have changed the setting, press the enter key to save the setting.  You can also tab (space-dots 4-5) or shift-tab (space-dots 1-2) to the confirm button, and press enter.  If you do not want to save this setting, tab (space-dots 4-5) or shift-tab (space-dots 1-2) to the cancel button, and then press enter.  You can also cancel saving the setting by pressing spacez (dots 1-3-5-6) or space-e (dots 1-5).

2.4.2.6 Voice				

The next item in the option menu is the voice setting.  Lets explore the voice menu.  The first option in this menu will allow you to turn the Braille Sense voice on or off.  The shortcut key is v (dots 1-2-3-6).  By default the voice is set to on, so you will hear the Braille Sense speak.  You can turn off the voice with the space key.  You can toggle it on and off by pressing backspace-F2 while you are using another program in the Braille Sense without having to call up the option menu.  If you have changed this setting, press the enter key to save the setting.  You can also tab (space-dots 4-5) or shift-tab (space-dots 1-2) to the confirm button, and press enter.  If you do not want to save the setting, tab (space-dots 4-5) or shift-tab (space-dots 1-2) to the cancel button, and then press enter.  You can also cancel saving this setting by pressing spacez (dots 1-3-5-6) or space-e (dots 1-5).  You can also press dots 1-2 while turning on the Braille Sense, which will turn the Braille Sense on without speech.  When resetting the Braille Sense, you can also press dots 1-2 when you press the reset button to reset the Braille Sense, and turn on the Braille Sense without speech.  You can also use "backspace-F2" to toggle the voice between on and off.

2.4.2.7 Punctuation Level			

You can choose how you want the Braille Sense to read punctuation marks.  The shortcut key is p (dots 1-2-3-4).  The setting options are all, off, punctuation, and symbol.  The default setting is set to all in which the Braille Sense will say all punctuation marks and symbols.  The space key allows you to cycle through all four of the setting values.  If you select off, the Braille Sense will not say any punctuation marks.  The option, punctuation will make the Braille Sense say only punctuation marks, but the symbol option will say all symbols without saying punctuation marks.  If you have changed this setting, press the enter key to save the setting.  You can also tab (space-dots 4-5) or shift-tab (space-dots 1-2) to the confirm button, and press enter.  If you do not want to save this setting, tab (space-dots 4-5) or shift-tab (space-dots 1-2) to the cancel button, and then press enter.  You can also cancel saving this setting by pressing spacez (dots 1-3-5-6) or space-e (dots 1-5).

2.4.2.8 Keyboard Echo			

With this option, you can decide how the Braille Sense will speak when you are typing.  The shortcut key is k (dots 1-3).  The setting values are 'character and word, character, word, and off.  If you select the default character and word, you can hear each keystroke and a word right after it is completed.  If you select character, you can hear each keystroke letter by letter.  If you select the word option, you can hear each word right after it is completed, but not each letter.  You can cycle through each of the options by pressing the space key.   If you have changed the setting, press the enter key to save the setting.  You can also tab (space-dots 4-5) or shift-tab (space-dots 1-2) to the confirm button, and press enter.  If you do not want to save the setting, tab (space-dots 4-5) or shift-tab (space-dots 1-2) to the cancel button, and then press enter.  You can also cancel saving the setting by pressing spacez (dots 1-3-5-6) or space-e (dots 1-5).

2.4.2.9 Voice Volume		

You can set the volume level of the voice on the Braille Sense.  The shortcut key is l (dots 1-2-3).  The setting value is 1 through 10 with the default set on 6.  When you have set this option to 1, the volume will be set at the lowest level.  If you set this option to 10, the volume is the loudest.  If you set the volume level to 1, you will not be able to hear anything.  The space key increases the volume and the backspace key decreases the volume by one number at a time.  Please note that if you are at volume level 10, and increase the volume by one, the volume loops back to level 1.  The same is true if you are at level 1, and decrease the volume by one unit.  You will then be at level 10.  Without opening the option menu, you can increase the volume with the key combination of the backspace and F4 keys or you can decrease it with the backspace and the F1 key.  If you have changed the setting, press the enter key to save the setting.  You can also tab (space-dots 4-5) or shift-tab (space-dots 1-2) to the confirm button, and press enter.  If you do not want to save the setting, tab (space-dots 4-5) or shift-tab (space-dots 1-2) to the cancel button, and then press enter.  You can also cancel saving the setting by pressing spacez (dots 1-3-5-6) or space-e (dots 1-5).

2.4.2.10 Voice Rate			

You can control the speed of the Braille Sense speech.  The shortcut key is r (dots 1-2-3-5).  The setting options are 1 through 12 with the default set to 8.  The space key increases the speed level and the backspace key decreases the speed level by one unit at a time.  Without opening the option menu, you can increase the speed with the key combination of the space and F4 keys, or you can decrease it with the space and the F1 key.  If you are at level 12, and increase the speed by one unit, you will go to level 1.  Also, if you are at level 1, and decrease the speed by one unit, you will go to level 12.  If you have changed the setting, press the enter key to save the setting.  You can also tab (space-dots 4-5) or shift-tab (space-dots 1-2) to the confirm button, and press enter.  If you do not want to save this setting, tab (space-dots 4-5) or shift-tab (space-dots 1-2) to the cancel button, and then press enter.  You can also cancel saving the setting by pressing spacez (dots 1-3-5-6) or space-e (dots 1-5).

2.4.2.11 Voice Tone			

You can control the voice tone of the Braille Sense.  The shortcut key is t (dots 1-2-3-4-5).  The available options are 1 through 10 with the default set to 6.  At level 10, the voice tone will be the highest; and, at level 1, the voice tone will be the lowest.  The space key will increase the voice tone and the backspace key will decrease the voice tone by one level.  Just as with the voice volume and voice speed, if you are at level 10, and you increase the voice tone by one level, you will go to level 1.  And, if you are at level 1 and decrease the voice tone by one level, you will go to level 10.  When you are not in the option, menu, you can increase the tone by pressing, enter and F4, or you can decrease it by pressing enter and F1.  If you have changed the setting, press the enter key to save the setting.  You can also tab (space-dots 4-5) or shift-tab (space-dots 1-2) to the confirm button, and press enter.  If you do not want to save the setting, tab (space-dots 4-5) or shift-tab (space-dots 1-2) to the cancel button, and then press enter.  You can also cancel saving this setting by pressing spacez (dots 1-3-5-6) or space-e (dots 1-5).

2.4.2.12 Scroll Voice		

You can decide if you want the Braille Sense to speak while using the scroll buttons.  The shortcut key is s (dots 2-3-4) with the default set to off.  The default setting (off) does not allow the Braille Sense to speak while scrolling.  The space key toggles off/on.  If you set the option to on, you can hear the Braille Sense while scrolling.  If you have changed the setting, press the enter key to save the setting.  You can also tab (space-dots 4-5) or shift-tab (space-dots 1-2) to the confirm button, and press enter.  If you do not want to save the setting change, tab (space-dots 4-5) or shift-tab (space-dots 1-2) to the cancel button, and then press enter.  You can also cancel saving the setting by pressing spacez (dots 1-3-5-6) or space-e (dots 1-5).

2.4.2.13 LCD			

You can decide whether the Braille Sense will show text on the LCD screen.  If you decide to turn the LCD screen on, sighted people will be able to see what you are working on when they look at the LCD screen.  The shortcut key is l (dots 1-2-3) with the default set to off.  The options that you can choose from for this setting are, on, off, and (all,) lighting.  The (all) lighting setting will light the background of the LCD screen.  You can toggle between all three of these options by pressing the space key.  If you have changed the setting, press the enter key to save the setting.  You can also tab (space-dots 4-5) or shift-tab (space-dots 1-2) to the confirm button, and press enter.  If you do not want to save the setting, tab (space-dots 4-5) or shift-tab (space-dots 1-2) to the cancel button, and then press enter.  You can also cancel saving the setting by pressing spacez (dots 1-3-5-6) or space-e (dots 1-5).

2.4.2.14 LCD Font Size		

Here, you can change the font size on your LCD panel.  The shortcut key is f (dots 1-2-4).  The default is set to 13, but you can set the font size anywhere from 12 to 17.  You can increase the font by one size with the space key, and you can decrease the font size with the backspace key.  If you have the font size set to 17, and you increase the font by one size, the font will go to 12.  If your font size is 12, and you decrease the font by one size, the font will go to 17.  If you have changed the setting, press the enter key to save the setting.  You can also tab (space-dots 4-5) or shift-tab (space-dots 1-2) to the confirm button, and press enter.  If you do not want to save this setting, tab (space-dots 4-5) or shift-tab (space-dots 1-2) to the cancel button, and then press enter.  You can also cancel saving the setting by pressing spacez (dots 1-3-5-6) or space-e (dots 1-5).

2.4.2.15 Video Display		

You can choose to have the Braille Sense show your tasks on a VGA monitor.  That is, a monitor that would normally hook up to a personal computer.  The shortcut key is v (dots 1-2-3-6) with the default set to off.  To use a VGA monitor, you need to connect a cable from the Braille Sense VGA port to a computer monitor.  You can toggle this option on and off with the space key.  If you have changed the setting, press the enter key to save this setting.  You can also tab (space-dots 4-5) or shift-tab (space-dots 1-2) to the confirm button, and press enter.  If you do not want to save the setting, tab (space-dots 4-5) or shift-tab (space-dots 1-2) to the cancel button, and then press enter.  You can also cancel saving the setting by pressing spacez (dots 1-3-5-6) or space-e (dots 1-5).

2.4.2.16 Printer Port		

You can choose which port will be used for your printer port when sending your documents to a printer.  The shortcut key is p (dots 1-2-3-4) with the default set as parallel, which will use your parallel port.  If you want to use a parallel port printer, you can keep the default setting.  Otherwise, you can use one of the USB ports to be your printer port.  You can toggle back and forth between the options by hitting the space key.  If you have changed the setting, press the enter key to save the setting.  You can also tab (space-dots 4-5) or shift-tab (space-dots 1-2) to the confirm button, and press enter.  If you do not want to save the setting, tab (space-dots 4-5) or shift-tab (space-dots 1-2) to the cancel button, and then press enter.  You can also cancel saving this setting by pressing spacez (dots 1-3-5-6) or space-e (dots 1-5).

2.4.2.17 Print Paper Size

This option allows you to select the size of the paper that an ink printer will use, if you will be printing to an ink printer.  The shortcut key for this function is s (dots 2-3-4).  You can change the size for this option by pressing space.  You can choose between the settings of, letter (8.5 inches by 11 inches) or, legal (8.5 inches by 14 inches.)  If you have changed the setting, press the enter key to save the setting.  You can also tab (space-dots 4-5) or shift-tab (space-dots 1-2) to the confirm button, and press enter.  If you do not want to save the setting, tab (space-dots 4-5) or shift-tab (space-dots 1-2) to the cancel button, and then press enter.  You can also cancel saving the setting by pressing spacez (dots 1-3-5-6) or space-e (dots 1-5).

2.4.2.18 Warning Message		

You can choose whether you will hear a warning sound or not.  The shortcut key is w (dots 2-4-5-6).  This option is useful if the speech setting on the Braille Sense is turned off.   The default for this option is set to on.  If you turn off the speech, you will hear a beeping sound when you type in keys that the Braille Sense does not accept.  If you don't want to hear the warning sound, you can press the space key once to turn off the warning message.  If you have changed the setting, press the enter key to save the setting.  You can also tab (space-dots 4-5) or shift-tab (space-dots 1-2) to the confirm button, and press enter.  If you do not want to save the setting, tab (space-dots 4-5) or shift-tab (space-dots 1-2) to the cancel button, and then press enter.  You can also cancel saving the setting by pressing spacez (dots 1-3-5-6) or space-e (dots 1-5).

2.4.2.19 Reverse Scroll		

You can switch the direction of scrolling on the Braille Sense.  The shortcut key is r (dots 1-2-3-5) with the default set to off.  The space key toggles off/on.  In the default setting (which has the reverse scroll set to off), the left scroll button moves up a 32-cell display in your document, or one previous item in a list.  The right scroll button moves down a 32-cell display in the document, or the next item in the list.  If you turn the reverse scroll on, the left and right scroll buttons will function in the reverse direction.  If you have changed the setting, press the enter key to save the setting.  You can also tab (space-dots 4-5) or shift-tab (space-dots 1-2) to the confirm button, and press enter.  If you do not want to save the setting, tab (space-dots 4-5) or shift-tab (space-dots 1-2) to the cancel button, and then press enter.  You can also cancel saving the setting by pressing spacez (dots 1-3-5-6) or space-e (dots 1-5).

2.4.2.20 Skip Empty Line			

You can choose to have the Braille Sense read a blank line, or to skip empty lines.  The shortcut key is e (dots 1-5), and the default is set to off.  If you keep the default setting, you will hear the words empty line if there is a blank line.  The space key toggles off/on.  If you choose to turn this option on, the Braille Sense will skip all blank lines, and you will not hear the words empty line when there is a blank line.  If you have changed the setting, press the enter key to save your setting.  You can also tab (space-dots 4-5) or shift-tab (space-dots 1-2) to the confirm button, and press enter.  If you do not want to save the setting, tab (space-dots 4-5) or shift-tab (space-dots 1-2) to the cancel button, and then press enter.  You can also cancel saving the setting by pressing spacez (dots 1-3-5-6) or space-e (dots 1-5).

2.4.2.21 Control Information 
	
The Control information option turns on information regarding the files and menus in the Braille Sense.  For example, when control information is set to on, you will hear the Braille Sense say the controls a file or menu has.  (Ex:  You hear list item or menu item before a menu or list item.  If you have control information shut off, you will not hear list item or menu item).  Note that if the web browser is activated, the control symbols will appear even if you turn off the control information option.  To toggle control information between on and off, press space.  The short cut key for this function is I (dots 2-4).  If you have changed the setting, press the enter key to save the setting.  You can also tab (space-dots 4-5) or shift-tab (space-dots 1-2) to the confirm button, and press enter.  If you do not want to save the setting, tab (space-dots 4-5) or shift-tab (space-dots 1-2) to the cancel button, and then press enter.  You can also cancel saving the setting by pressing spacez (dots 1-3-5-6) or space-e (dots 1-5).

2.4.2.22 Hot Key Information 

As described before, hot keys are keystrokes that can take you directly to an item, such as a menu, or a particular item in a list.  The hot key information option allows you to decide if the Braille Sense will say the hot key for a function.  For example, if you hear, file f pull down, the hot key is the letter f.  If you prefer the Braille Sense only says, file pull down, you will want to turn the hot key information setting off.  To toggle hot key information between on and off, press space.  The short cut key for this option is h (dots 1-2-5).  If you have changed this setting, press the enter key to save the setting.  You can also tab (space-dots 4-5) or shift-tab (space-dots 1-2) to the confirm button, and press enter.  If you do not want to save this setting, tab (space-dots 4-5) or shift-tab (space-dots 1-2) to the cancel button, and then press enter.  You can also cancel saving the setting by pressing spacez (dots 1-3-5-6) or space-e (dots 1-5).

2.4.2.23 Power Saving Mode 		

You can choose to have the Braille Sense use the power saving mode.  The shortcut key is p (dots 1-2-3-4).  The default setting is set to on, which will use the power saving mode.  The space key switches between on, off, and message.  If you don't want to use the power saving mode, you can set the option to off.  If you set the option to message, you will hear a warning message that says power on in 10, 20, or 30 minute increments (depending on the setting that you will choose for power saving kick in) if you have not pressed any keys on the Braille Sense.  The next section explains how to change the power saving kick in to 10, 20, or 30 minutes.  If you have changed the setting, press the enter key to save the setting.  You can also tab (space-dots 4-5) or shift-tab (space-dots 1-2) to the confirm button, and press enter.  If you do not want to save the setting, tab (space-dots 4-5) or shift-tab (space-dots 1-2) to the cancel button, and then press enter.  You can also cancel saving the setting by pressing spacez (dots 1-3-5-6) or space-e (dots 1-5).

2.4.2.24 Power Saving Kick In		

When you want to use the power saving mode, you can set the time when the power saving mode will begin.  The shortcut key is k (dots 1-3) with the default set at after 10 minutes.  If you set this option to the default, the Braille Sense will enter into power saving mode when you have not used the Braille Sense for 10 minutes.  The space key changes the option setting to 10 minutes, 20 minutes, or 30 minutes.  If you have changed the setting, press the enter key to save the setting.  You can also tab (space-dots 4-5) or shift-tab (space-dots 1-2) to the confirm button, and press enter.  If you do not want to save the setting, tab (space-dots 4-5) or shift-tab (space-dots 1-2) to the cancel button, and then press enter.  You can also cancel saving the setting by pressing spacez (dots 1-3-5-6) or space-e (dots 1-5).

2.4.2.25 Check Todays Schedule

In the schedule manager (which you will learn about later), you are able to keep track of your appointments, using the Braille Sense.  The Braille Sense is able to check todays schedule when you turn it on.  You can decide if you want the Braille Sense to show todays schedule when it powers on, or when it wakes up from power saving mode.  The short cut key for this option is s (dots 2-3-4).  To toggle this option between off and on, press space.  If you have changed the setting, press the enter key to save the setting.  You can also tab (space-dots 4-5) or shift-tab (space-dots 1-2) to the confirm button, and press enter.  If you do not want to save the setting, tab (space-dots 4-5) or shift-tab (space-dots 1-2) to the cancel button, and then press enter.  You can also cancel saving the setting by pressing spacez (dots 1-3-5-6) ors space-e (dots 1-5).

2.4.2.26 Check Spelling Automatically

You can choose whether the Braille Sense will check spelling or not.  This option is available in multi edit boxes in programs such as the schedule manager, address manager, e-mail messages, the word processor, etc. The short cut key for this option is c (dots1-4). 

By default this setting is set to off which will not check your spelling.  If you want to check spelling, press space to toggle the option to "on and press enter.  Or, press tab (space-4-5)to move to the confirm button, and press enter.

If you set the option to on" and enter a misspelled word, you will hear a beep sound. You will hear a beep sound, even though you shut off the warning message discussed in section 2.4.2.18.

If you do not want to save the changed setting, press tab (space-4-5)to move to the cancel button, and press enter.  You can also cancel saving the setting by pressing spacez (dots 1-3-5-6) or space-e (dots 1-5).

2.4.2.27 Default Document

This function is used to set the default document type applied when you create a new document using the word processor on the Braille Sense.  The shortcut key for this option is q (dot 1-2-3-4-5).  When you create a new document in the word processor, Braille document (.brl file) is selected as the file type by default.  You can change the default setting using this option.  

You can choose between sense document, Braille document, and text document.  By default, it is set to Braille document.   Press space to toggle through the three settings, and press enter, or press tab (space-4-5) to move to the confirm button, and press enter, to save the changed setting. 

If you do not want to save the changed setting, press tab (space-4-5)to move to the cancel button, and press enter.  You can also cancel saving the setting by pressing spacez (dots 1-3-5-6) or space-e (dots 1-5). 

2.5 The AC Power Supply and the Battery Pack for the Braille Sense

It is very useful to know what the remaining battery power when the Braille Sense is being operated only on battery power.  If the remaining battery power is not sufficient, the Braille Sense will indicate that the battery power is low.  In this case, you need to check the remaining battery power, especially when you are using the Braille Sense without plugging it into an AC power supply.

To check the battery power status, press space-1-6.  You will find the following 2 items:

1.  Battery power level
2.  Power source (battery or AC supply)
	
The battery power level represents the percentage of the remaining battery power.  The power source indicates whether power is coming from the battery or the AC power supply.  If the battery power level drops under 15 percent, the Braille Sense will display the battery status on the Braille display, and it will announce (through the speakers) that the battery has less than 15 percent of its power left.  If the battery power level falls below five percent, the Braille Sense will give you a warning indicating that your battery power level is under five percent, and the Braille Sense will be automatically turned off in one minute, unless you connect the Braille Sense to an AC power supply.

Lets explore the detachable battery pack.  When the Braille Sense is shipped, you will find the battery pack is not installed in the Braille Sense.  This is done to prevent damage during shipping.  When you insert this battery pack in to the Braille Sense for the first time, the unit may display an inaccurate battery power level.  Before using the Braille Sense for the first time, please charge the battery for more than four hours, and do not use the unit while it is recharging.  If you need to use the unit during the initial recharge, the unit should be connected to the AC power supply for at least six hours in order to fully charge the battery.  When you remove the battery from the Braille Sense, make sure your unit is turned off; especially when the AC power supply is not connected to your unit.  Otherwise, you will lose all of your data that is stored in RAM.  If you remove the battery, and do not have the Braille Sense hooked up to the AC power supply, your data that is stored in RAM will remain for only about an hour.  In order to keep your data that is stored in RAM, the Braille Sense must be connected to an AC power supply or battery pack within an hour; otherwise the data that is stored in RAM will be lost.

2.6 Basic Explanation of Disks, folders, and files

The flash memory in the Braille Sense is similar to a big bookshelf in a library.  The piece of hardware in the Braille Sense that is called the disk is similar to the idea of a bookshelf in a library.  You can make partitions on a bookshelf in order to organize books into categories.  Each category can be compared to what are called folders on the Braille Sense.  The books in each section can be compared to what are called files on the Braille Sense.  You can save files into any folders at your convenience.  If you make the proper folder names for files you are saving, it will make it easier to find saved files when you need to access them later.

When the Braille Sense is shipped from the factory, the name of the flash memory in the Braille Sense is called flashdisk.  You can create folders on this flashdisk in any way that you prefer.

You can also expand your memory space by adding additional memory devices, such as a floppy disk drive through a USB port, USB stick memory (also known as a USB flash drive), or a compact flash memory card in the CF slot. The default name of the floppy disk drive is FDD and the name of the CF card is CFD.  The USB stick memory is called SMD.  If you decide to add any of these memory devices, you will be able to create folders, and save files on the additional memory devices.
        
2.7 Controlling the Volume, Speed, and the Tone of Speech

You can change the volume, speed, and tone of speech used on the Braille Sense.  To change the volume, you can press backspace-F4 to raise the volume.  Press backspace-F1 to lower the volume.  To make changes in the reading speed, you can press space-F4 to make the reading faster.  Press space-F1 to make the reading speed slower.  In order to make changes in tone, press enter-F4 for a higher tone and enter-F1 for a lower tone.  When any of the above combination keys are pressed, the Braille Sense will announce the status of its volume, speed, or tone.  The changes you made with these combination keys will remain in effect even when you turn off the machine and turn it back on again.  These changes can also be made in the option menu settings.  Please refer to sections 2.4.2.9, 2.4.2.10, and 2.4.2.11 in this user manual.

2.8 How to use the Voice and the Braille display

When using the Braille Sense, you can choose to use Braille only or speech only for reading.  You can also use both Braille and speech at the same time for reading.  However, you cannot turn off both Braille and the speech simultaneously.  You can utilize backspace-F2 to turn the speech on and off.  You can use backspace-F3 to turn the Braille on and off.  Please refer to section 2.4.2 in this user manual for more information.

2.9 Multi Tasking

The Braille Sense can do more than one task at the same time, which is called multi-tasking.   For example, you can work with the word processor while you are listening to music, and you can put calculations into a document at the same time.  This is called a Braille Sense multi-task.  If you want to work with the word processor while listening to music, you can first run the media player and play a music file.  While playing music, you can press the F1 key to open the Braille Sense menu and run the word processor.      

The Braille Sense can run up to seven programs simultaneously.  You cannot have more than seven multi-tasks.  That is, you cannot run more than seven programs at the same time.  If you try to run a program that you are already running, the new instance of the program will not start, and you will be taken to the instance of the program that is already running.  

For example, while you are working with a document called A, you decide to execute the file manager.  Next, you move to a document called B by pressing the move keys in the file list of file manager, and you press enter.  Then, the word processor will not load again for opening the document B, but the document B will be opened in the word processor, which document A is also running on.  If you want to switch documents, you need to open them in the word processor without running other programs.  In this case, you can switch them with space-1-4-5-6 or space-3-4-5-6.  Switching documents will be explained later in detail in section 4, which covers the word processor.  

Also, if you are running seven programs, and open another program, the first program that you opened will be shut down.  After you press F1 to call up the program menu, or after you press F1-F4 to open the Task ID, you can press escape (space-e or F4) to return to the previously-running program.
If you want to switch between programs while running more than one program, press the F1 and F4 keys at the same time to open the Task ID.  The Task ID shows the names and numbers of the running programs, just like the file manager.  You can cycle through the running programs on the Braille Sense with the space-1 or the space-4 and scroll buttons.  Press the enter key to run the program that you want after focusing on your selection.  

The combination of the F2 and F3 keys can switch between all of the running programs immediately without opening the Task ID.  It functions the same way as the alt-tab keys on your PC.  If you are running three programs and you are in the second program, pressing the F2 and F3 keys at the same time will move you to the third program.  If you press F2-F3 again, you will be on the first program.   

In the above case, pressing space-z (dots 1-3-5-6) will close the current running program and move you to the previous program.  However, if there is only one program running, pressing space-z (dots 1-3-5-6) will close the program and move you to the Braille Sense program menu.  Note that space-z (dots 1-3-5-6) is different from the escape key, which does not close programs.

2.10 Print Spool

The Braille Sense has a print spool function.  This function enables the Braille Sense to do other tasks while printing to an ink-printer or Braille embosser.  For example, if you send data to your printer or embosser, you will be immediately returned to where you were before the print command was executed.  If you want to check the print spool dialog box after you have given the print command, press space-2-3-4-6.  Then, you will see the dialog box which has three controls.  The first control is a list that gives you information about files that are being printed.  There is also a cancel button and a close button.  You can cycle through the three controls by pressing tab (space-4-5) or shift-tab (space-1-2).  In the information list, you can move item by item by pressing space-4 or space-1.  However, if you open up the dialog box without printing anything, you will see no list and the close button.

While printing, the information list will contain the following:  running program name, printing file name, printer type, the number of copies, and either printing or ready.  For example, lets assume that we are printing one copy of "sample.hbl" in the word processor.  In the info list, you will see "program: word processor, file: sample.hbl, printer, copy: 1, printing."  If you are using a Braille embosser, you will see embosser instead of printer.  If there is not anything printing and, (the printer is waiting), you will see ready instead of printing.  If you print something out in the e-mail program, you will see "emailtemp.txt," instead of the file name.  When you are printing something from the address manager, or the schedule manager, you will see the message, "prn_(time).txt.

If you focus on any of the files in the info list, and press enter on cancel after pressing tab (space-4-5), you will cancel the printing of that file.  If you press space-4-5 repeatedly, locate close, and press enter on close, you will close the print spool dialog box.  Pressing space-z (dots 1-3-5-6) will also close the print spool.
      
2.11 Common Combination Keys

1. Call up the program menu:  F1
2. Run the individual program in the program menu F1-shortcut key (varies for each program)
3. Call up the task ID list:  F1-F4
4. Switch to previous program:  Space-F2-F3
5. Switch to next program:  F2-F3
6. Call up the menu in the individual program:  Space-m (dots 1-3-4) or F2
7. Exit:  Space-z (dots 1-3-5-6)
8. Escape:  Space-e (space-1-5) or F4
9. Move to the next control in a dialog box:  Tab (space-4-5 or F3)
10. Move to the previous control in the dialog box:  Shift-tab (space-1-2 or F3-F4)
11. Move to the previous character:  Left arrow key (space-3)
12. Move to the next character:  Right arrow key (space-6)
13. Move to the previous line/item:  Up arrow key (space-1 or F14-left scroll button)
14. Move to the next line/item:  Down arrow key (space-4 or F4-right scroll button)
15. Move to the beginning of line/item:  Home key (space-1-3 or F2-left scroll button)
16. Move to the end of line/item:  End key (space-4-6 or F3-right scroll button)
17. Move to the top of a document or to the first item:  Ctrl-home (space-1-2-3 or F1-F2-left scroll button)
18. Move to the bottom of a document or to the last item:  Ctrl-end (space-4-5-6 or F3-F4-right scroll button)
19. Move to the previous page or to the first item of the previous 32-item group:  Page up (space 1-2-6 or F1-F2)
20. Move to the next page or to the first item of the next 32-item group:  Page down (space 3-4-5 or F3-F4)
21. Scroll left:  Left scroll button
22. Scroll right:  Right scroll button
23. Move the cursor to each cell or move to an item:  The corresponding cursor routing key
24. Read the current item again:  Space-r (dots 1-2-3-5)
25. Say current time:  Space-t (dots 2-3-4-5)
26. Check power status:  Space-1-6
27. Call up the option menu:  Space-o (dots 1-3-5)
28. Online help:  Space-h (dots 1-2-5)
29. Checking your version:  Space-v (dots 1-2-3-6) only in the Braille Sense program menu.
30. Check network status:  Space-n (dots 1-3-4-5) in the Braille Sense program menu

