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Braille Lite Training Materials

(Revised October 1999 by Jay Stiteley & Jim Allan)

Physical Components of the Braille Lite (BLT)

Hold the BLT so the on/off rocker switch is on the right side of the device and the braille display is closest to you.

VOCABULARY TERMS

Advance Bar
pressing right side of bar moves the display forward 18 characters, pressing left side of bar moves display back 18 characters.
Chord commands
This means that the space bar is pressed down with whatever dot keys, letters or contractions are listed in the command. For example Chord ST means pressing (dots 3-4) and the space bar simultaneously.
Writing cursor
The writing cursor is always at the bottom of the file. The reading cursor is there with it unless reading commands are given. As soon as writing begins the reading cursor jumps to the bottom of the file with the writing cursor. The writing cursor only moves from the bottom of the file when the "insert" or "delete" commands are used.
Reading cursor
The reading cursor is free to move around the file separate from the writing cursor. Caution: when using the reading commands, if the command is not executed properly, by releasing the space bar and respective dot keys at the same time, then the BLT thinks that it is a writing process and immediately pulls the reading cursor to the bottom of the file and writes the keystrokes.
Insert
This command pulls the writing cursor to the reading cursor and allows the user to insert up to the size of the clipboard.
Delete
This command allows deleting or erasing of characters, words, lines, sentences, paragraphs, or the remainder of the document. The writing cursor is pulled to the reading cursor position and the deleting process is started from the reading cursor position.
Backspace
This command will keep the reading and writing cursors together and only works from the bottom of the file. It will allow the erasing of the most recently written character. But it will only erase from the bottom of the file, not in the middle of the file. To remove a character from somewhere other than the bottom, the "delete" procedure will need to be used. The backspace command is available in the "insert" mode.
Status Menu
This menu is entered by pressing Chord ST (dots 3-4), enabling the user to change all settings (except Speech Parameters). Parameters include port settings, printing parameters, and braille display options. Chord E will exit the Status Menu, save the settings, and return to the current file.
Return
This refers to carriage-return/linefeed. Chord (dots 4-6) is used to generate a return character. When a file is transmitted to the printer, each time the printer receives a return character it will push the print head to the left margin and force a linefeed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE WRITING CONVENTIONS USED IN THESE TRAINING MATERIALS

This section describes how the training materials are written to make it clear what letters, spaces punctuation marks, etc. are part of the command and which are just written for clarity.

SETTING THE SPEECH PARAMETERS

The speech can be controlled in terms of volume, speed, pitch, frequency, punctuation and echoing capabilities.

Chord (dots 3-4-5) will enter the speech mode. Speech Command(s) then can be given, a Chord E (dots 1-5) will exit the speech parameters and invoke the settings.

Key echo, key click, or silent keys--space bar pressed repeatedly will cycle through these options:

BRAILLE DISPLAY PARAMETERS

All display parameter changes occur in the Status Menu Chord dots 3-4. All parameters are yes/no choices, toggled with the space bar. Chord B (dots 1-2) jumps to Braille display parameters. Move down the list using Chord dot 4 or up the list using Chord dot 1. Below is a list of braille display parameters (note default parameter setting is in all CAPS).

CREATE A FILE

WRITING IN THE FILE

There are 3 writing modes. The default mode is Append. All text will be added to the end of the file unless the insert or delete command is used.

Other writing modes must be turned on in the Status Menu using PC Edit mode. Steps follow:

Write as you would on a Perkins braille writer. Using traditional grade two braille rules and spacing for the braille. Letter signs should be used more often.

Writing Commands

Chord B
Backspace, moves the cursor back one space and erases that character. The BLT will then announce the character to the left of the new writing cursor position. The character to the left of the cursor position is announced because if the Chord B is given again the announced character is the character that will be erased.
Chord dots 4-6
creates a carriage return in your text. If "key echo" is on the BLT says "new line"
Chord dots 4-6 Chord dots 4-6
places two new lines together thus making the beginning of a new paragraph.
Chord dots 4-5 (n), Chord E
(n) is a number. This is the TAB command, it will place (n minus 1) spaces in the document. The writing cursor will appear in the number position indicated in (n). For example, if the number 6 was used for the tab number; there will be five spaces added to the document, and the writing cursor is on the sixth space waiting for the next keystroke. (Hint: all TABs start from the left margin, not the current character position)

HINTS FOR WRITING A FILE TO BE PRINTED TO INK

HINTS FOR WRITING A FILE TO BE PRINTED TO BRAILLE

If a file was originally written with printing it to ink and now it will be printed to braille, consider the following changes:

Tabs changed from five to two spaces. This will require searching with the Find Command (See Find Command below for more details )

READING CURSOR FUNCTIONS

These commands move the Reading Cursor within the file. If in "Append Mode" the writing cursor will remain at the bottom of the file. If the PC Edit is set to Y or I, and you are in the insert or over-write mode the writing cursor follows the reading cursor.

Reading Cursor Commands

Chord L (dots 1-2-3)
moves the cursor to the top of the file and says "top of file".
Chord dots 4-5-6
moves the cursor to the end of the file and says "bottom of file".
Chord dot 3
previous character, moves the cursor back one character and announces the character. The cursor is on the announced character.
Chord dot 6
next character, moves the cursor forward one character and says the new character. The cursor is on the announced character.
Chord dots 3-6
says the current character. If you press the Chord twice, the BLT says the HAM call word starting with the same letter. For example, for the letter C the word "Charlie" would be said.
Chord dot 2
previous word, moves the cursor back one word and says it. The cursor is on the first character of the spoken word. A word is defined as any string of characters between to spaces.
Chord dot 5
next word, moves the cursor forward one word and says that word. The cursor is on the first character of the spoken word.
Chord dots 2-5
says current word. Pressed twice, the BLT will spell the word. The cursor is on the first character of the word.
Chord dot 1
previous line, moves the cursor back one line and announces the line. The cursor is on the first character of the spoken line. A line is any string of characters between two single returns.
Chord dot 4
next line, moves the cursor forward one line and says the line. The cursor is on the first character of the spoken line. A line is any string of characters/words between two single return symbols.
Chord C (dots 1-4)
reads the current line and the cursor is on the first character of the line.
Chord dots 2-3
previous paragraph, moves the cursor back one paragraph and announces it. The cursor is on the first character of the spoken paragraph. A paragraph is any string of characters/words between any double set of return symbols.
Chord dots 5-6
next paragraph, moves the cursor forward one paragraph and announces it. The cursor is on the first character of the spoken paragraph.
Chord dots 1-2-4-5-6
read to end of file, will read the text in your file, starting at the cursor position. To stop the reading, press Chord E. The reading will stop at the end of the current line the cursor is on. The cursor will be on the first character of the next line.
Chord dots 1-5-6
where is cursor, speaks cursor position within the file. The position on the current line and the overall character number of the cursor in the file.
Chord R (dots 1-2-3-5)
room left in memory, announces the amount of reserved memory available in the file.

OPENING AN EXISTING FILE

There are several options for opening a file you have already created.

The following procedure works well if you remember the name of your file and how you spelled it.

This next procedure works well if you can not remember the name of your file and/or how it was spelled.

Another way to open an existing file is to remember the number of the file. To find out the file number execute a Chord C while in the file list.

USING THE "FIND" FEATURE

This is a method of locating specific text strings in a file. It is very useful for locating names in a phone or address list.

Find Text in Current File Procedure

To Find the next occurrence of the same text string, press Chord F, Chord E. Braille no text in for the statement "enter text to find"

To Find a previous occurrence of the same string press Chord F, Chord dots 1-4-5-6. Again enter no text when the BLT says "enter text to find"

Find and Replace Procedure

Find Text in ANY File Procedure (Global Find)

The following defaults are in effect-Search all RAM files both text and braille regardless of folder and not case sensitive.

Complete the command with a Chord E (dots 1-5). (note: if you do not enter any letters, the defaults are used)

The cursor moves to the first character of the found text string, BLT says "C, O, S, or Z" where

EDITING COMMANDS

In this section deleting, inserting, and single character corrections will be described.

Delete Text

Move the cursor to the first character of the text you want to delete. Remember: the cursor is on the first character of whatever increment of cursor movement is being used. If you want to position the cursor on a specific character use the Chord dot 6 or Chord dot 3. The cursor is on the spoken character.

Press Chord D (dots 1-4-5). BLT says, "Enter delete parameter."

After you have entered C, W, L, or P, you must also tell the BLT how many characters, words, lines, or paragraphs you want deleted. Remember, you must enter numbers in Nemeth code. For example to delete 3 characters enter C3. If only a single character, word, line, or paragraph is to be deleted, no number is needed.

Chord E. (Note: all deletions occur from the cursor to the end of the increment specified, C, W, L, or P.)

Note: all deleted text is copied to the clipboard. If text being deleted is larger than clipboard, BLT says "Insufficient space in clipboard, continue anyway. Enter Y or N"

Inserting Text

Overwrite

If you are editing your text and find a character you want to change, follow the steps below.

USING THE HELP FILE.

The BLT has a built-in help file. If you want to review some commands, you can open the help file using the Chord dots 1-4-5-6 command, BLT says "Help is Open." Use your "find" commands to help you locate the specific information. The BLT help file is written in Grade 1 Braille, so you will need to braille in your search string in Grade 1 Braille also. The reading commands are usable as well. When you have found the information you need, press Chord Z, and you will be returned to file you were editing. The Help File is "Write Protected," This means that no text can be written, inserted, or deleted in the Help File. The message "file is write protected" is spoken anytime a non-Chord command is given.

USING THE CLIPBOARD FEATURE

You can use the clipboard as a copy, cut and paste buffer.

Cut and Paste

Copy

PRINTING

Cable the BLT parallel port to the printing device (ink or braille printer).

Print text to ink printer through parallel port

Print text to braille printer through parallel port

DISK DRIVE

Connect Disk Drive to either serial (round) port on the BLT. BLT must be turned on first, Disk drive turned on next.

Saving to disk

Loading file from Disk Drive

Saving a braille file as a back translated text file

Directory of disk

USING THE CALCULATOR

The BLT has basic and scientific calculators available. Below are several of the commands available in the simple calculator.

Chord O, C -- opens the calculator. All numbers are written in Nemeth Code in the lower portion of the cell, and no number signs are used.

Math Functions

Commands

Chord E
concludes the problem, and pressing it a second time will repeat the answer, not repeat the operational functions of the problem.
Chord F
toggles the announcements of the numbers between digits and full numbers.
Chord S followed by letters A-Z. 
This stores the current answer in a memory area labeled by the indicated letter.
Letters A-Z. 
Letters used in a problem will represent the value that has been stored in that letter.
Chord Z
exits the calculator and returns to the previous file.

MACROS

A "macro" is a single keystroke that will execute a series of keystrokes that it has been programmed to perform. The BLT has a total of 63 possible macros. Each macro can have up to 63 keystrokes in it.

Create Macro

Executing a Macro

Troubleshooting

Warm Reset –returns all setting back to factory defaults, no data is lost

One-Handed Braille Mode

Silent turn on – space bar held down on turn on, no sign-on messages spoken


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Last Revision: July 30, 2002

Author: Jim Allan, TSBVI

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