BrailleNote: INTRODUCTION Lesson 1

This basic guide was written by the California School for the Blind. You can also check our web site www.csb-cde.ca.gov for updates to the guide or for the exercise files.

When using this guide, anything written in italics refers to the speech output of the Braille Note when a command is entered.

Documents saved on the KeySoft System Disk will be erased when the Braille Note is reset. 

First Letter Navigation

First letter navigation enables the user to quickly select a menu item.  For example, in the main menu if you press the letter w, you go directly to the word processing (Keyword) menu.  If you press the letter f, you go directly to the file manager menu.  First letter navigation commands will be used throughout this document.  When instructing students, you may want to have them navigate through the menus initially using the third and second thumb keys until they become familiar with the items in each menu. 

Choices and Context Oriented Help

The Braille Note will often give you a choice in a menu, such as print or setup printer?    or ask a question that requires a response, “Is the printer ready?”.  A response is required to any prompt that is a question.  Generally speaking, pressing the first letter of the choice you want will select that option.  For example, press P for print or S to setup the printer.  It is a good practice to press Y for yes and N for no although the enter key works for a Yes response when the Braille Note queries “Is the printer ready?”

Sometimes there may be several choices and the Braille Note does not make suggestions.  In this case, you can Press H with the space bar to use Context Oriented Help when you are uncertain what to do.  The Help Lesson (see Table of Contents) contains more information on built-in help. 

Lesson 1 – BRAILLE NOTE DESIGN

The Braille Note keyboard is ergonomically designed with a:

Six-Key Braille Keyboard with a Space Bar

Backspace Key (the left baby finger key) - moves back an item in a menu or list, exits a menu at the top of the menu or when in the word processor or other applications, erases the previous cell.

Return Key or Enter Key (the right baby finger key)

There are also four thumb keys:

Far Left Thumb Key is the Previous Key or what we refer to as Thumb Key 1 – exits the current operation or menu or when in the word processor or other application, goes up one line.

Middle Left Thumb Key is the Back Key or what we refer to as Thumb Key 2 – goes back through a menu or when in the word processor moves the braille display back one width - 32 cells or 18 cells depending on your unit.

Middle Right Thumb Key is the Advance Key or what we refer to as Thumb Key 3 - goes forward through a menu or when in the word processor advances the display one width - 32 cells or 18 cells depending on your unit.

Far Right Key is the Next Key or what we refer to as Thumb Key 4 – selects the next item in a menu or enters your entry at a prompt, (similar to the return key) or when in the word processor or other application, moves the display down one line.

The braille display itself is made up of 8 dots per cell to accommodate computer braille as well as to provide indicators for the cursor location or screen attributes.  Above each cell on the braille display are cursor routing switches which move the cursor to the cell you've selected. 

Commands may be initiated by holding down the “spacebar”, “backspace” and/or “enter” keys simultaneously with other keys.  Most of these key combinations are “mnemonic” and represent the command with the first letter of that command for launching the application or initiating the action to be taken. 

When you turn on the Braille Note (BN), you are placed in the same place you left off. 

For example: Resuming KeySoft, main menu or Keyword, resuming edit of ____ (file name).  The message you hear will depend on where you left off when you turned the Braille Note off or where it was when it went to sleep.  It is a good practice to have students exit to the main menu (all six braille keys with the space bar will always take you to the main menu) when they are finished working for the day.  If the battery completely drains before the Braille Note is used again, any information that was last input will be saved if this practice is followed. 

Turn the Braille Note around so that the back is facing you and explore the ports on the back panel.  When looking at the back the window on the far left is the infrared port.  This port can be used to print to an infrared enabled printer or embosser.  It can also be used as the connection device to a computer or Palm Pilot with an infrared port for file exchange or synchronization.  On the right side of the infrared port is the rj11 telephone line connection to the internal 56k modem for internet dial-up and e-mail service.  On right side of the rj11 connector is the parallel port for connection to an embosser or ink print printer.  On current products, the next port to the right is the compact flash card slot that is used for network access to the Internet or compact flash memory cards.  On the right of the compact flash card slot is the serial port that can be used for serial connection with an embosser, printer, a Palm Pilot as a visual display, the computer for the visual display or the active sync program, or a GPS receiver.  The last connector on the back is the AC Adapter socket that is used when the Braille Note needs recharging.

The right side of the Braille Note contains the PCMCIA (PC Type2 card) slot that is used for inserting a memory card, a low voltage ethernet card or the Super Disk Drive.  If using Compact Flash memory cards or ethernet cards, you will need a PC Card Adapter as well.  Storage devices in either the PCMCIA slot on the side or the compact flash card slot on the back are used for copying and transferring files to and from other devices and may also be used to back up files stored on the Braille Note.  You should always back up files on a separate storage device.  If the flash disk “hard drive” of the Braille Note crashes you will lose all data, but hopefully you’ve recently backed up your files to a memory card or floppy disk.  Backing up files to the flash disk itself should NEVER be done.  In fact, all files should be created and saved on the flash disk or a storage card.  NEVER save or backup files on the KeySoft system disk.  Why? When you reset the Braille Note, files saved on the KeySoft system disk will be erased and the operating system can be corrupted. 

The left side of the Braille Note contains a recessed reset button, the power button and the earphone jack. 

BrailleNote Curriculum Guide

Joan Anderson, Jerry Kuns, James Carreon
California School for the Blind
March 2005