Introduction



Using a Braille Display for Reading and WritingCTEBVI Conference March 20, 2015Presenter: Robert SweetmanSweetman SystemsPhone: 818-893-5887Email: bob@ TOC \o "1-3" \h \z \u Introduction PAGEREF _Toc411787214 \h 2Setup of the Focus 40 Blue Braille Display PAGEREF _Toc411787215 \h 2Connection of the Focus to a Computer Using a USB Connection PAGEREF _Toc411787216 \h 2Connection of the Focus to a Computer Using a Bluetooth Connection PAGEREF _Toc411787217 \h 3Quick Overview of Focus 40 Blue Functions PAGEREF _Toc411787218 \h 4Switching Braille Modes PAGEREF _Toc411787219 \h 5The Brailliant BI Braille Display PAGEREF _Toc411787220 \h 6Connecting with USB PAGEREF _Toc411787221 \h 6Overview of the Brailliant PAGEREF _Toc411787222 \h 8Learning Keyboard Functions PAGEREF _Toc411787223 \h 10Configuring the Braille Display for Student Preferences PAGEREF _Toc411787224 \h 10Underlining of Attributes PAGEREF _Toc411787225 \h 10Braille Settings in the JAWS Setup Wizard PAGEREF _Toc411787226 \h 11Taking Notes with Your Braille Display PAGEREF _Toc411787227 \h 12IntroductionAs students use the computer to create documents, read Email messages, or browse Internet content, use of a Braille display greatly increases literacy. For example, “there”, “their”, or “they’re” sound the same when read using speech output. In this session, we will demonstrate how using a Braille display can help students to become more proficient when reading and writing.We will show how to set up two popular Braille displays, the Focus 40 Blue which is manufactured by Freedom Scientific, and the Brailliant BI 40 which is manufactured by Humanware. We will then discuss general configuration items which are common to any Braille display.Setup of the Focus 40 Blue Braille DisplayThe Focus Braille display is provided in three sizes: 14-cell for use with an iPhone or iPad, 40-cell for portable use, and 80-cel for desktop use. All three models can be connected to a computer via USB cable or Bluetooth, or to an iPhone or iPad using Bluetooth. These displays can be connected to a computer using either USB or Bluetooth connections.Connection of the Focus to a Computer Using a USB ConnectionThe advantage of connecting via USB is that the display charges while it is connected to the computer. For this reason, it is good for a home connection.First, install JAWS for Windows, (the USB driver is installed with JAWS).Connect the Focus to the computer, (it will turn on automatically).Open the Options menu by pressing Alt+O while in the JAWS window, or by activating JAWS from the System Tray if JAWS has been configured to run in the system tray instead of in the task bar.Arrow down to the Braille dialog and press Enter.Tab to the Add Braille display button and press Spacebar, (this will open the list of Braille displays supported by JAWS). Note that you can click buttons with the mouse if you wish, but I have provided instructions that can be used with speech only.Choose Focus; then Tab to the Next button and press Spacebar.Choose the USB option, then Tab to the Next button and press Spacebar.Now, choose Focus as the primary device; then Tab to the Finish button and press Spacebar.You will be advised that you must restart JAWS for the changes to take effect. Press Spacebar to activate the OK button.Again, Tab to the OK button and press Spacebar to close the dialog.Press Insert+F4 followed by Enter to unload JAWS.To restart JAWS, press Windows+R to open the Run dialog; then type “JAWS16” and press Enter. Braille will appear on the display.Connection of the Focus to a Computer Using a Bluetooth ConnectionMost new laptops now come with Bluetooth. This is handy for use in the school setting, since the USB cable is not required.First, make sure that the computer’s Bluetooth option is turned on.On the Focus, Bluetooth is turned on by default.On the Focus, hold down the power button for about 4 seconds to turn it on.For Windows 97 or 98, Press the Windows key.In the search box, type the word “Bluetooth,” and press Enter.Press Enter on Add a Device, or click it with the mouse.Choos the Focus40 button and press Enter or Click it with the mouse.In the edit box, type the pairing code, “0000,” then tab to the Next button and press Spacebar. The Focus40 will be added as a device.Open JAWS options.Arrow down to Basics, and press Enter.Arrow down to Focus, then Tab to the Modify Settings button and press Spacebar.Select Bluetooth; then Tab to OK and press Spacebar. You will be advised that you need to restart JAWS.Activate OK to close this message; then activate OK to close the Braille basic settings dialog.Press Insert+F4 followed by Enter to unload JAWS.Press Windows+r, and type “jaws16” followed by Enter to restart JAWS.After about a minute, Braille will appear on the display.Since both USB and Bluetooth connections were established for the Focus display, connection will be automatic. When it is plugged in at home, the Braille display will connect when JAWS starts. At school, when there is no cable, turn on the Focus display, and then start the computer. The display will connect automatically.Quick Overview of Focus 40 Blue FunctionsThe Focus has an 8-key Braille keyboard for input. Cursor routing keys above the Braille display allow quick navigation when editing a document.There are panning keys on the front edge of the unit; one on the far right, and one on the far left. These can be pressed with the thumbs, and are used to pan right or left through the document. With JAWS, these panning keys can be reversed so that the left panning key moves right and the right panning button moves left. This setting is based on user preference which depends on which hand is dominant for reading Braille.On top of the unit, Nav Rocker keys are located on either side of the Braille display. Pressing down on a Nav Rocker pans Braille to the right; pressing up pans Braille to the left.Above the Nav Rockers are buttons that change the function of each Nav Rocker so that the user can pan through the Braille by display width, (referred to as display panning), by lines, by sentences, or by paragraphs.There are also rocker bars located on the front edge of the unit; just inside of the panning keys. Pressing down or up on a rocker bar moves the Braille display down or up one line at a time.On the front edge of the unit, in the middle, are Braille Shift 1 and Braille Shift2 keys. Just outside of the shift keys are the concave-shaped Braille Left Selector, and the concave-shaped Braille right selector which are used for various functions.There are functions available that allow a user to read Braille, input Braille, and run the computer using the Braille display alone. But the easiest way to get started with the Braille display is to use a standard Windows keyboard for running Windows, and the Braille display for reading Braille. More advanced functions can be added over time.Note. When a Braille display is connected to a computer running JAWS, the user can quickly learn the Focus key functions using JAWS keyboard help as follows.On the computer, press Insert+1 on the number row to turn on keyboard help.Key functions will now be spoken on the Focus.Press Insert+1 a second time to toggle JAWS keyboard help off.Switching Braille ModesThe student can switch quickly between Braille modes by pressing Dots1,2,3,4,7 with the Spacebar. I call this G-Chord+Dot7 which is easier to remember. The available modes are:Contracted Braille on for display. In this mode, all input is done from the computer. In this mode, words shown in Braille can be expanded making editing easier.Contracted Braille on for Input. In this mode, the student can input to the computer using contracted Braille on the Focus. The text is translated and displayed on the computer screen in print.Contracted Braille off. In this mode, computer Braille is shown on the Braille display. The student can input data from the Focus in this mode, but must write using computer Braille. When writing computer Braille, Dot7 can be used to capitalize letters.The Brailliant BI Braille DisplayThe Brailliant BI is provided with 32-cell, 40-cell and 80-cell Braille displays. Only the 32-cell and 40-cell models have keyboard input. The Brailliant has thumb keys that can be used to navigate through text. It can be connected via USB or Bluetooth.Connecting with USBIf you will be using the Brailliant with USB, you should download the latest driver from Humanware. Do not connect the Brailliant to the computer until you have downloaded and installed the USB driver. Use the following steps to download the USB driver.Press Windows+r to open the Windows Run dialog.Type the following line of text and then press Enter. the page that opens, activate the following link:“Download most recent Brailliant BI PC drivers and firmware.” When download completes, you will find the following file in your downloads folder.BrailliantBITools.exeNote. If the above procedure does not work, you can find the download on the Humanware web site. Go to and activate the link for the support page. Locate the following link:Brailliant BI, Brailliant and BrailleConnect.Here, you will find the link called “Download most recent Brailliant BI PC drivers and firmware.”Run BrailliantBITools.exe.Activate the “Install Brailliant USB Driver” button.When the driver installation wizard appears, activate the Next button. When you are notified that installation has completed, click Finish.Note. If you have JAWS 15 or 16, do not install the Brailliant Bi Driver for JAWS 10 or later, since these software drivers are already included in JAWS 15 and 16. You only need to install the software drivers if you are using JAWS 14 or lower.Connect the Brailliant using the USB cable. After connecting, open Device manager in Windows 8 and note the com port that is being used by the driver for the Brailliant; this will not show up unless you connect the Brailliant first.If you are using Windows 7 or 8, you can quickly open the Device Manager as follows.Press the Windows key. In the search box, type “device manager,” (without the quotation marks), and press Enter.In the tree view, locate Ports and press Right Arrow to open the list of ports.Note the number of the virtual com port that was assigned to the Brailliant. You will need this to configure JAWS for the Brailliant.Configure JAWS as follows.Open JAWS Options.Choose Braille, and activate the Add Braille Display button.In the list, choose the “Brailliant BI (signed)” driver and press Spacebar to check it; then activate the Next button. You will be prompted to select device options. Do not choose the USB option. Instead, choose the com port that was assigned to the Brailliant, (example, com14), then activate the Next button. Now, select the Brailliant BI as the default Braille display and activate the Finish button. Activate OK when you are told that you will need to restart JAWS; then activate OK to close the Braille display dialog. Unload and then restart JAWS.If you don’t get braille, switch the Brailliant from automatic to USB as follows.Press the Power button two times quickly to make changes in the Brailliant menu.Press the right-most thumb key two times to display the auto setting.Press the second thumb key in from the right until USB is displayed.Press the Power button two times quickly to close the menu.Braille should now appear when JAWS is restarted.I can then switch back to USB auto and the display still functions. This is the preferred setting, since you can then use the Brailliant with an iPhone or iPad without needing to change the settings.Connection ConsiderationsWhen using a computer, I have had much better performance when using the Brailliant with USB instead of Bluetooth.Also, make sure that com ports are available for a computer on which you plan to install the Brailliant. The Brailliant uses Bluetooth over Serial technology. In other words, USB is routed to a serial port. In one school district, all ports except the printer were disabled at the policy level. If this happens, make sure that your IT staff enable the communications ports.Overview of the BrailliantThe Brailliant has an 8-key Braille keyboard with Enter or Dot8 on the right, and Backspace or Dot7 on the left. Cursor routing keys located above the Braille display allow quick navigation while editing text.Thumb keys on the front edge are used to scroll through text. The outside thumb keys move down or up one line at a time. The inside thumb keys are used to pan right or left through the text. If you number the keys from left to right, they have the following functions.Move up one line.Move left through the text.Move right through the text, andMove down one line.You can press keys 3 and 4, (the two thumb keys on the right), to move the Braille display to the right on the current line.Pressing keys 1 and 2, (the two thumb keys on the left), to move the Braille display to the left on the current line.The standard Braille keys can be used in conjunction with the Spacebar for movement functions. For example,Move to beginning of file: Spacebar+Dots456.Move to beginning of file: Spacebar+Dots123.Down arrow: Space+Dot4.Up Arrow: Space+Dot1.Home: Space+Dots23.End: Space+Dots56.Toggle Braille translation on or off: Space+G.Go to Start Menu: Space+Dots34, (I call this the ST sign chord).The Brailliant also has Command keys which have many additional functions. The Command keys are the three keys located on either side of the Braille display. I will call these keys C1 through C6. These keys have slightly different functions.When I explain the Command keys, I tell students to think of them as a Braille cell with the sides spread far apart. For example, Command-G, (C1+C2+C3+C4), toggles between Contracted Braille on for display, Contracted Braille on for input, and Contracted Braille off. This allows the student to quickly toggle between use of the display for editing with the computer keyboard, Contracted Braille on for input from the Braille display, and Contracted Braille off for reading and editing computer Braille.Some other command functions include:Move to prior line: C1.Move to next line: C3.Move to next word: C5.Move to previous word: C2.Learning Keyboard FunctionsBoth the Focus and the Brailliant have extensive command lists that can be used to change JAWS settings, and also emulate Windows keystrokes. Both devices have manuals that are very helpful for learning these functions.However, most students learn the functions very quickly by turning on JAWS keyboard help toggle, (Insert+1). JAWS will then speak the function of each key or key combination.Configuring the Braille Display for Student PreferencesUnderlining of AttributesBy default, underlining and highlight attributes are turned on in JAWS Braille support. Most students that I have worked with find that this slows the reading of Braille. For this reason, I generally turn these attributes off. If needed, they can be turned on in the JAWS settings manager, or by using key commands that are available when using the Braille displays.Extra underlining can be turned off as follows.Press Insert+F2 to open the JAWS manager dialog.Press the letter S until you get to Settings Center, then press Enter.Press Control+Shift+D to load the default settings.Press Down Arrow one time to move to the tree view.Press B for Braille; then Right Arrow to open Braille settings.Arrow down to Braille Marking; then Right Arrow to open.Again, arrow down to Braille Marking, and open with Right Arrow.Use Spacebar to uncheck Highlight; then Tab to OK and press Enter.The other Braille marking is application specific. I generally turn off marking for Microsoft Word, Outlook, and Internet Explorer or Firefox. The easiest way to accomplish this is to first open the application; example, Microsoft Word.Press Insert+6 on the number row to open the settings for each program.Press Down Arrow to get to the Tree View; then B to locate Braille.For Word, I uncheck highlight and underline.For Internet Explorer, I uncheck highlight and Underline, which makes headings and links much easier to read.In Outlook I uncheck Highlight, underline, and script-defined markings.Braille Settings in the JAWS Setup WizardIf JAWS has already been installed, you can open the JAWS Setup Wizard from the JAWS Help menu.Arrow down to the setup wizard and press Enter.Press the Enter key 4 times to get to the Braille settings dialog.Here, you can choose initial Braille prefferences. For example,Contracted Braille Translation: Output only.Expand current word: Checked. Good for editing using the computer keyboard.Braille mode: Structured.Enable flash messages: Uncheck is student is using speech and Braille simultaneously.Enable word wrap: checked. This setting ensures that words are not broken at the end of a line.Reverse panning buttons: Unchecked by default; check depending on student preference.Placement of status cells: Many students choose None to maximize words on Braille display.Dot firmness: 100%.Tab to the Finish button and press Spacebar when done. The settings are updated immediately.Taking Notes with Your Braille DisplayTo take notes with the Braille display, make sure that JAWS is set to “Contracted Braille on for Input.” On a Focus, toggle to this setting using Space+Dots12457, (the Dot7G-chord). On a Brailliant, toggle to this setting using Command-G, (C1+C2+C4+C5). Now, print will appear on the screen as you write contracted Braille.You can press Insert+2 on the computer to quickly cycle to word mode. Most students prefer to turn JAWS speech off altogether using the layered keystroke, (Insert+Spacebar followed by S which toggles JAWS speech off and on. Turn speech on again for proofreading. If there is an error on a line, navigate to it quickly using the cursor routing buttons and make the correction. Corrections can be made in contracted Braille on the Braille keyboard. However, many people prefer to toggle to “Contracted Braille on for Display,” and make corrections using the PC keyboard. ................
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