VarioPro 64 / VarioPro 80 User manual BAUM BAUM
VarioPro 64 / VarioPro 80 User manual V 1.1 April 2006 (c) 2005 Copyright by BAUM Retec AG ,Q GHU $X , D-69257 Wiesenbach Tel. +49 (0) 6223 / 4909 -0 e-mail: info@baum.de All rights reserved. No part of this manual may be reproduced, translated or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, microfilming, recording, or information recording and retrieval systems, for any purpose, without the express written permission of Baum Retec AG.
1 Table of contents 1 2 3 4 Table of contents............................................................................................... 2 Introduction: VarioPro 64 and VarioPro 80 ..................................................... 3 About this manual ............................................................................................. 4 Description of the device.................................................................................. 5 4.1 Keys and operators .......................
2 Introduction: VarioPro 64 and VarioPro 80 Congratulations on buying your new VarioPro. You have just acquired one of two new Braille displays which offer a new dimension in functionality, flexibility and adaptability. VarioPro is a new Braille display with either 64 or 80 Braille cells designed primarily for workstation usage.
3 About this manual Chapter 4 contains a description of the device and its power supply, and Chapter 5 contains general information and the System Menu settings. Chapter 6 describes the installation process and gives details on how to connect VarioPro to various communication channels/ports. Chapter 7 describes the Braille key functions under various screen readers. The screen reader determines which functions are assigned to the Braille keys, and thus how VarioPro works with such applications.
4 Description of the device 4.1 Keys and operators VarioPro does not require its own on/off switch and is powered from the PC or from the mains. As soon as VarioPro receives power it switches itself on and emits a corresponding tone. On the front are the Braille cells – 64 with VarioPro 64, and 80 with VarioPro 80. Above each cell is a cursor routing- or positioning-key. On both the left and right of the Braille cells are three small round keys, known as Display keys.
The communications channels/ports are located in the recess at the back of the device on the right, approximately 2cm deep. On the far left is the round socket for the serial port; in the middle the square socket for the USB port (mini-USB port) and on the far right the mains adapter socket (5 volt). The non slip plastics upper surface is an ideal support for the PC keyboard.
- MicroSaver (1.8m steel cable with a locking mechanism and 2 keys) - 3 stick-on anchor plates which can withstand 370kg of pull - fixing kit (cleaning pad, special glue).
5 The VarioPro System Menu As soon as VarioPro receives power, either by plugging in the mains adapter or connecting it to a PC with the USB cable, the first lines of the System Menu appear on the Braille cells. This menu contains information relating to the Braille display. If necessary, the settings can be changed on the advanced System Menu.
5.1 The lines of the basic System Menu and their meaning. NB: If reading this document as an RTF file on the PC, the BlackBrl.ttf font must be installed from the accompanying installation CD so that the Braille version of the menu can be seen, otherwise only cryptic symbols will appear. As each line is also written in text, this is not strictly necessary. 5.1.1 First line: name of the Braille display This is the first entry in the System Menu. It displays the name of the Braille display.
5.1.3 Third line: serial number This shows the serial number of the Braille display Menu 3: “Serial number” Serial number: xxxxxxxx Serial number: xxxxxxxx 5.2 The advanced System Menu The additional options here allow you to optimise the set-up of your Braille display. You can select the communication channel/port and protocol (emulation), change the values of the auto-power-off and volume, or restore the factory settings. All settings are saved as soon as you quit the System Menu.
Protocol: default vario80 ht pb1 pb2 The appropriate protocol (emulation) for your particular screen reader must be selected. 5.2.2 Fifth line: Communications Channel Select the port to be used for data transfer between the PC and the Braille display. ‘Auto’ is the default setting which means that the correct port will be selected automatically. Menu 5: Comm. Channel Comm. channel: auto usb serial Comm. Channel: auto usb serial 5.2.
5.2.5 Eighth Line: dot strength The strength with which the pins in the Braille cells are set can be amended here, i.e. set them to feel hard and sharp, or soft and round. Menu 8: Dot strength Dot strength: 1 2 3 Dot strength: 1 2 3 5.2.6 Ninth line: Restore factory settings This option allows the Braille display settings to be restored to their status at the time of delivery. Click on one of the cursor routing/position keys above a word.
Menu off All settings will now be saved automatically. Press one of the cursor routing/position keys above the word ”off” to execute this command. 5.3 Self-test The Self-test function can only be accessed from the advanced System Menu. In the System Menu, press the first two and the last two cursor routing/position keys on the Braille display together to launch Self-test. The dots of each Braille cell will be activated one after the other and then cleared; the pressed keys will also be displayed.
has elapsed. The elapsed time will be reset to 0 whenever a key is pressed or data transferred from the PC. When the device is switched on and either a USB or serial connection established, if the connecting cable is pulled out or the PC switched off, the device will switch off after 1-2 minutes provided no valid signal is transmitted. When the device is switched off and the USB cable is inserted, the device will ‘wake up’. 5.
6 Installation and connection 6.1 Connection types Depending on the operating system used VarioPro can be connected to a variety of communication channels/ports. 6.1.1 Serial connection Before connecting, make sure that the power supply to the computer is switched off. Operating system: - Windows 2000/XP VarioPro can be connected to one of the serial ports COM1 to COM4 with the cable supplied. One end of the serial cable has a 9-pole so-called SUB-D plug which plugs into the serial port on the PC.
When the Braille display is connected to the PC, the new hardware will be recognised immediately and the PC will search for a driver. Insert the driver CD and let the PC search for the new driver on it. This will then be installed automatically – follow any instructions as appropriate. The driver installation dialog will appear once again – let the PC search for, and automatically load the appropriate driver again.
6.3 Other screen readers A driver is under development for Blindows, but in the meantime VarioPro can be used in the VarioPro 80 emulation. A driver is already available for JAWS should you not wish to use the emulation of another Braille display. The JAWS driver is in the JFWDRV directory of the VarioPro installation CD supplied. It also contains the “Readme-JFWDRV-ENG.txt” file with information on the current version of the driver.
7 Key assignment Standard assignments for commands and screen navigation, depending on the screen reader program. 7.
7.2 Other protocols When switching to another display protocol the key assignments are coordinated with the currently simulated display type or screen reader. 7.2.1 As Handy-Tech (HT) In the Handy-Tech emulation the keys are assigned as follows: D1 = HT-key up D2 = HT-key B1 D3 = HT-key down D4 = HT-key B2 D5 = HT-key B3 D6 = HT-key B4 7.2.
8 Help with malfunctions Minor things can happen which visibly affect the performance of a Braille display but which cannot be called a “real malfunction. A few examples and hints are described below. 1. The Braille display shows no characters. Check that the device is switched on. Has a program been launched which is accessing the Braille display’s port? Check that the correct protocol has been loaded. Was the correct port selected when the screen reader was loaded? 2.
9 Technical details 9.1 VarioPro 64 Desktop 64-cell Braille display for universal connection Dimensions: 458 x 23.9 x 260 mm (width x height x depth) Mass: 3010g Function keys: three keys on both the left and right of the Braille display, one key above each Braille cell and three rollbars on the front edge; designed for various functions and optimised usage. Ports: USB, serial Screen Readers: with VIRGO, Blindows, JAWS, Window Eyes or other screen readers.
10 Additional modules 10.1 Overview VarioPro acts as the base module for ‘docking’ various additional modules. These modules expand the functionality of VarioPro and allow optimum use of different applications according to the user’s personal preferences. Various modules are available whose keys, buttons and functionality allow the various system requirements to be coordinated in the most efficient manner.
10.1.1 Audio module This module is designed specifically to merge audio files simply. The easy-to-use sliders simplify the control and regulation of the position of 5 channels and the balance.
10.1.2 Speech module This module provides an elegant way of adjusting the various speech settings.
10.1.3 Telephony module This is a special module for use by telephonists. It can also be set up as an advanced status module. Operators, top down: - 4 keys C1 to C4 - Keypad with 16 keys K1 to K16 - 12 Braille cells - 1 rollbar C1-– C4 K1 – K4 K13 – K16 12 Mod.
10.1.4 Status module Displays status information on 4 Braille cells.
10.1.5 “Screen magnification” module This module allows screen magnification settings to be adjusted and the applications to be driven with the built-in trackball.
10.2 Connecting the modules to VarioPro Undo the screws on the left or right ends of VarioPro (depending on which side the modules are to be connected) and remove the black facing. The above image shows a side view of a VarioPro. On the left and right are the deep-set screws which hold the facing on. Once these screws have been taken out the black facing can be removed. Small metal blocks are delivered with the modules which are used to secure the modules with these same screws.
11 Contact details BAUM Retec AG, Schloss Langenzell, 68257 Wiesenbach, Germany. Tel. +49 (0) 6223 / 4909 - 0 Email Website support@baum.de www.baum.de Subject to alterations Information supplied without liability Copyright December 205 BAUM Retec AG © 2005 Copyright by BAUM Retec AG Schloss Langenzell, 69257 Wiesenbach, Germany All rights reserved.
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