Module 4: Taking off the training wheels
Taking off the training wheels... Achieving Braille proficiency
A continual challenge is how do I get a student learning from one grade to another. During this module, you will learn new techniques on how to further develop their Braille proficiency. HumanWare is proud to promote Braille literacy as this plays an imperative role towards your learner's success.
Benefits for the learner
Transition between Grade 1 and Grade 2 quickly and efficiently using modern technology, Interact and enjoy learning Braille, increase participation in ICT, Quieter than the tradition Perkins, increase touch typing skills
Benefits for the Teachers / Parents / TVI
A new introduction for Braille lessons, Engaging learning, less time consuming, cost-effective (No Braille paper), Instant Braille to text conversion, onscreen Braille characters (Enable/disable)
Download Module document word format
1. Improving Braille literacy and Touch Typing
3. Setting up the Touch with a Bluetooth device
4. Using multiple keyboard layouts
1. Improving Braille literacy and Touch Typing
There are many ways we try to engage our braille learners in learning braille and moving from one grade to another adds to the complexity. In this guide, we will take you through additional approaches that can be used as part of your student’s Braille, literacy and touch typing development in which can help your students engage and learn grade 2 braille, and independently.
The BrailleNote Touch now supports full QWERTY keyboard, and with many different keyboard layouts supported within Android, you will be sure to find the correct Keyboard layout and language of your choice.
Please refer to “Using multiple keyboard layouts” for more information on how to add additional keyboard layouts.
Before we begin the approaches first, you will need to connect a QWERTY keyboard, both Bluetooth and USB are both supported. Please refer to the following guides:
Once you have established the connection between a QWERTY keyboard and the BrailleNote Touch, you will be able to use both Braille and Qwerty input at the same time. There many benefits from doing this including using the BrailleNote Touch as a deaf-blind communicator. The sighted peer will use the QWERTY keyboard and the visual screen, and the deaf-blind user will be using the braille keyboard and the braille display. This combination allows for a real-time conversation without the use of interpreters.
Two approaches can be used to get your students to grade 2 and improve literacy, the first approach we guide you through how your student can use the QWERTY keyboard with the support of using the braille display, and the second approach can be used to evaluate the students progress.
Student using both Keyboard and Braille Display
This approach will allow a student to use their literacy skills, braille skills, and touch typing skills.
- Create two language profiles and call them Grade 1 and Grade 2.
Under the grade 1 profile ensure your preferred reading grade is set to Grade 1 and under your Grade 2 profile the preferred reading grade is set to grade 2.
Please refer to ‘Using language profiles.’ for more information on how to create and configure your language profiles.
- Now that you have two profiles configure, one profile showing Grade 1 and the other profile grade 2 are you ready to take on the first approach.
- Make sure the student is using the Grade 2 profile, press Enter with L to toggle between the profiles.
- Get the student to either use the Braille keyboard or QWERTY keyboard and type a sentence that you have assigned which contains contractions that are currently being learned.
- The student will essentially be writing in a grade 1 context, but on the braille display, it will show in grade 2. When the student is typing, they can check how it appears in braille. If however, they are still not sure of how it is presented in a grade 2 form they simple press Enter with L to toggle to the grade 1 profile and the display will show the words in grade 1. The student can keep toggling between these grades until they feel they have learned the contraction. Not only will the student improve their braille skills, but they will also be adapting their literacy skills and Touch typing skills to the lesson.
TVI or teacher using Qwerty keyboard and student using the braille display only
This approach allows for the TVI to evaluate the progress the student has made.
- Ensure the student is set to use the Grade 2 language profile.
- With the TVI predominantly using the QWERTY keyboard and the student reading the braille display, the TVI will type using the QWERTY keyboard keywords or sentences to which the student will be able to read in Grade 2 braille.
- This approach allows the teacher to assess the students reading of newly learned contractions.
- If the student, however, struggles to understand the contracted word, again the student can press Enter will L to toggle to the Grade 1 profile and read what’s on the braille display in Grade 1 context.
2. QWERTY keyboard support
As of the KeySoft version 5.0 update, KeySoft now fully supports the use of an external QWERTY style keyboard for full navigation, input and control of the BrailleNote Touch.
The BrailleNote supports the use of USB, Bluetooth and wireless (WiFi) QWERTY keyboards.
Connecting a QWERTY keyboard to the Touch
USB keyboards
A USB external keyboard can simply be connected into the USB port on the rear of the Touch. You can then use it immediately.
Bluetooth keyboards
A Bluetooth keyboard must be paired with the Touch first of all before you can use it.
Refer to “Setting up the Touch with a Bluetooth device ” for guidance on how to pair and connect a Bluetooth keyboard to the Touch (as well as other Bluetooth devices).
Wireless (WiFi) keyboards
A Wireless keyboard usually comes with a USB dongle that connects into the device that you want to use the keyboard with. In general, you can simply connect the keyboard’s USB dongle into the USB port on the rear of the Touch, and then you can use the wireless keyboard with the Touch. Refer to the wireless keyboard’s documentation for specific guidance on any special steps required for a particular keyboard.
3. Setting up the Touch with a Bluetooth device
The Touch has inbuilt Bluetooth connectivity, which gives you the ability to connect to a range of Bluetooth devices. You can connect to pair of headphones / headset via Bluetooth in order to hear the Touch’s speech through the headphones, and you can also connect to Bluetooth Keyboards in order to operate the BrailleNote Touch using full QWERTY keys.
In order to set up the Touch with a Bluetooth device, you have to follow some steps on the Touch, and you usually have to follow some steps on the other Bluetooth device as well. The specific steps that have to be followed on the other Bluetooth device will differ depending on the individual device – refer to the Bluetooth device’s documentation for guidance on this.
This document outlines the general steps required to establish the initial Bluetooth connection between the Touch and another Bluetooth device. Setting up a Bluetooth connection is referred to as “pairing” two devices.
Setting up a Bluetooth connection between the Touch and a pair of Bluetooth headphones / Headset or Bluetooth Keyboard.
You can use a set of Bluetooth headphones or a Bluetooth headset with the Touch. You can use this connection to hear the Touch’s audio output via the headphones or headset.
On the Touch, use the Braille shortcut Enter with Q to open the Quick Settings menu.
Now, type a letter B three times. You will be prompted “Bluetooth on” or “Bluetooth off”, depending on whether it is currently turned on or off. Press Enter.
You will be prompted “Bluetooth”, followed by the current Bluetooth name of your Touch, and the message “not visible to other Bluetooth devices”, if Bluetooth is currently turned on.
If Bluetooth is currently turned off, press Space with dot 4 until you are prompted “Off switch”. Now, press Enter to turn Bluetooth on.
You will then be prompted with the current Bluetooth name of your Touch, and the message “not visible to other Bluetooth devices”.
Type a letter S until you are prompted “Search for devices”. Now, press Enter.
You will be prompted “Available devices”. The Touch will search for visible Bluetooth devices in your current vicinity. Press Space with dot 4 to move to the list of Bluetooth device(s) found (if any). You can use Space with dot 4 or Space with dot 1 to move through the list. Move to the Bluetooth headphones / headset or Bluetooth Keyboard in the list, and then press Enter.
If the Bluetooth headphones / headset or Bluetooth Keyboard requires some additional steps, follow the appropriate steps. The connection should then be established successfully.
Removing a Bluetooth connection
You can remove a Bluetooth connection from the Touch. This effectively “unpairs” the Touch from a Bluetooth device that you have previously set up a connection with.
Note: If you remove a Bluetooth connection from the Touch, the Touch will no longer be paired with that Bluetooth device. If you want to use the Touch with that Bluetooth device in the future, you will need to follow the steps described above for establishing the initial Bluetooth connection again.
To remove a Bluetooth connection from your Touch, follow these steps:
Use the Braille shortcut Enter with Q to open the Quick Settings menu.
Now, type a letter B three times. You will be prompted “Bluetooth on” or “Bluetooth off”, depending on whether it is currently turned on or off. Press Enter.
You will be prompted “Bluetooth”, followed by the current Bluetooth name of your Touch.
Press Space with dot 4 until you are prompted “Paired devices”. Now, press Space with dot 4 until you reach the name of the Bluetooth device that you want to remove the pairing for.
Then, press Space with dot 4.
You will be prompted “Device settings button”. Press Enter.
You will be prompted “Paired Bluetooth device. Rename xx”, where “xx” is the device’s name. Press Space with dot 4.
You will be prompted “Unpair”. Press Enter.
The Bluetooth connection between your Touch and the Bluetooth device has now been removed.
4. Using multiple keyboard layouts
The BrailleNote supports all available Android keyboard layouts. By default, the BrailleNote is set to use the US keyboard layout.
To add additional keyboard layouts, follow these steps:
Use the Braille shortcut Space with O to open the Options Menu. You will be prompted “Options Menu”.
Type a letter A. You will be prompted “Android system settings”. Now, press Enter.
You will be prompted “Settings, wireless and networks”. Type a letter L twice.
You will be prompted “Language and input”. Press Enter.
Press Space with dot 4 until you get to the settings option immediately after “Google Keyboard”. Press Enter.
You will be prompted “Google keyboard settings, Languages” followed by the default language you are using. Press Enter.
You will be prompted “Google keyboard”. Press Space with dot 4 until you get the prompt “Use System language” If you require additional keyboard layouts other than your system language press Enter to uncheck. (Unchecking this option will allow you to select multiple keyboard layouts by languages)
Continue to press Space with dot 4 until you get to the choice of your keyboard language, and then press Enter to select the desired one.
Press and release the Home button, or use the Braille shortcut Space with dots 1 through to 6, to return to the Main Menu.
If have you already paired a Bluetooth keyboard or using a standard USB keyboard you will be able to use the standard Android command of switching Keyboard layouts. Pressing Control with Space on the Keyboard will perform this action.
5. Using a QWERTY keyboard with the Touch
This section describes all the commands which can be used on the QWERTY keyboard connected to your Touch to perform actions and functions. Note that the KeySoft version 5.0 update implemented full support for the mapping of all regular KeySoft actions.
Note: The ability to perform the KeySoft actions for HumanWare applications listed below will depend on the actual keys available on the QWERTY keyboard being used.
General
Home button (Main Menu): Alt with Control with H
Back button: Escape
Enter: Enter
TTS Volume up: Alt with =
TTS Volume down: Alt with -
Notification volume up: Control with =
Notification volume down: Control with -
Increase speech rate: Alt with Control with =
Decrease speech rate: Alt with Control with -
Open KeySoft Options menu: Alt with Control with O
Open screen describer: Alt with Control with /
Stop speech: Control
Repeat: Alt with Shift with R
Activate notification shade: Alt with Control with N
Jump to any item in a list or on a home screen: Type the first letter of the desired item or app
Running apps: Alt with Control with R
Clear app from app switcher: Delete
Contextual help: F1 or Alt with Shift with H
Contextual menu: Alt with Control with M
Quick settings: Alt with Control with Q
System information: Control with I
Toggle TouchBraille On/off: Previous with Next thumb keys
Toggle language profile: Alt with Control with L
Toggle keyboard layout: Control with SPACE
Radio status (Wi-Fi and Bluetooth): Alt with Control with I
Turn screen reader and accessibility on / off: Triple press the Home button
Unlock screen: Alt with Shift with U
Toggle speech on/off: Alt with Control with S
Toggle visual display on/off: Alt with Control with V
Eject media: Alt with Control with E
Toggle Braille grade: Alt with Control with G
Play – pause: Alt with P
Rewind: Alt with R
Fast forward: Alt with F
Navigation
Activate the selected item: Enter
Move to the previous item: Shift with Tab, Backspace or Alt with Left Arrow
Move to the next item: Tab, Space or Alt with Right Arrow
Braille panning left and right: Left or Right thumb key
Move to first element on visual screen: Home
Move to last element on visual screen: End
Scroll up in a list: Page-up
Scroll down in a list: Page-Down
Toggle navigation levels: Control with T
Move back using selected navigation element: Alt with Control with Left Arrow
Move forward using selected navigation element: Alt with Control with Right Arrow
Long press: Alt with Shift with Enter
Time: Alt with Control with T
Date: Alt with Control with D
Battery power: Alt with Control with P
Reading
Previous character: Left Arrow
Current character: Alt with Control with 1
Next character: Right Arrow
Previous word: Control with Left Arrow
Current word: Alt with Control with 2
Next word: Control with Right Arrow
Previous line: Up Arrow
Current line: Alt with Control with 3
Next line: Down Arrow
Previous paragraph: Control with Up Arrow
Current paragraph: Alt with Control with 4
Next paragraph: Control with Down Arrow
Jump to the beginning of a line or sentence: Home
Jump to the end of a line or sentence: End
Jump to the top of an area: Control with Home
Jump to the bottom of an area: Control with End
Page up, move accessibility focus one screen up: Page Up
Page down, move accessibility one screen down: Page Down
Read all: Alt with G
Stop reading: Control
Editing Text
Activate edit mode: Enter
Leave edit mode: Escape
Move to next edit box while editing: Enter
Move to next edit box without editing: Tab, Space or Alt with Right Arrow
Move to previous edit box without editing: Shift with Tab, Backspace or Alt with Left Arrow
Move insertion point to start of text field document: Control with Home
Move insertion point to end of text field document: Control with End
Delete previous character: Backspace
Delete previous word: Control with Backspace
Delete current word: Control with Delete
Delete from cursor to the end of the line: Alt with Control with C
Delete from cursor to the end of the document: Alt with Control with End
Select all: Control with A
Cut: Control with X
Copy: Control with C
Paste: Control with V
Select previous character: Shift with Left Arrow
Select next character: Shift with Right Arrow
Select previous word: Shift with Control with Left Arrow
Select next word: Shift with Control with Right Arrow
Select previous line: Shift with Up Arrow
Select next line: Shift with Down Arrow
Select previous paragraph: Shift with Control with Up Arrow
Select next paragraph: Shift with Control with Down Arrow
Select previous page: Shift with Page up
Select next page: Shift with Page down
Select from the beginning of the line: Shift with Home
Select to the end of the line: Shift with End
Select from top of content: Shift with Control with Home
Select to end of content: Shift with Control with End
KeyWord
Save: Control with S
Save as: Shift with Control with S
Create new additional document: Control with N
Open additional document: Control with O
Switch documents: Control with Tab
File info: Control with I
Preview: Control with Q
Spell check: F7 or Control with 7
Find: Control with F
Find previous: Shift with F3 or Shift with Control with 3
Find next: F3 or Control with 3
Toggle reading mode: Control with R
Tab: Tab
Align left: Shift with Control with L
Align center: Shift with Control with C
Align right: Shift with Control with R
Align justify: Shift with Control with J
Bold: Shift with Control with B
Italic: Shift with Control with I
Underline: Shift with Control with U
Normal formatting: Shift with Control with D
Formatting details: Shift with Control with F
Insert Math: Control with M
Unicode Map: Alt with Control with U
Insert page break: Control with Enter
KeyFiles
Mark/Unmark: Alt with Shift with Enter
Mark/Unmark all: Control with A
Info: Control with I
Rename: F2 or Control with 2
Delete: Delete
Copy: Control with C
Cut: Control with X
Paste: Control with V
New folder: Control with N
Search: Control with F
Sort: Shift with Control with V
Where am I: Control with W
Select drive: Control with D
KeyMail
Reply: Control with R
Reply all: Shift with Control with R
Forward: Shift with Control with F
New message: Control with N
Mark a message in the message list: Alt with Shift with Enter
Mark/Unmark all emails: Control with A
Send email: Control with Enter
Refresh to check for new mail: F5 or Control with 5
Delete email: Delete
Save message as draft: Control with S
Search: Control with F
Change email folder: Control with B
Spell check: F7 or Control with 7
VictorReader
Bookshelf menu: Control with B
Go to Option menu: Control with G
Bookmark menu: Control with M
Navigation Level menu: Control with T
Move to previous element: Alt with Control with Left Arrow
Move to next element: Alt with Control with Right Arrow
Move to previous element while playing: Previous thumb key
Move to next element while playing: Next thumb key
Confirm: Enter
Start or Stop playback: Alt with G
Stop playback: Control
Decrease speed: Alt with Control with -
Increase speed: Alt with Control with =
Toggle between playback modes: Shift with Control with M
Undo last navigation: Control with Z
Go to beginning of book: Control with Home
Go to end of book: Control with End
Sleep: Control with S
Rewind: Press and hold Left thumb key while playing
Fast Forward: Press and hold Right thumb key while playing
Info: Control with I
Where am I: Control with W
KeyWeb
Open Web Page: Control with O
Back: Escape
Forward: Shift with Control with F
Home: Control with H
Reload: F5 or Control with 5
Bookmark Current Page: Control with M
Bookmarks: Alt with M
History: Alt with H
Reading Mode: Control with R
Downloads: Control with D
New Tab: Control with N
Tab List: Control with Tab
Find: Control with F
Find next: F3 or Control with 3
Find Previous: Shift with F3 or Shift with Control with 3
Cycle Html Navigation Levels: Control with T
Next Html Element: Alt with Control with Right Arrow
Previous Html Element: Alt with Control with Left Arrow
Top of page: Control with Home
Bottom of page: Control with End
Next block of text: Control with Alt with Down Arrow
Previous block of text: Control with Alt with Up Arrow
KeyWeb menu: Control with W
KeyList
New contact: Control with N
Find contact: Control with F
Edit contact: Control with E
Delete contact: Delete
Save contact: Control with S
Refresh contacts: F5 or Control with 5
KeyPlan
New appointment: Control with N
Edit appointment: Control with E
Save appointment: Control with S
Delete appointment: Delete
Go to date: Control with G
Today: Control with T
Where am I: Control with W
Next day: Control with 1
Previous day: Shift with Control with 1
Next week: Control with 2
Previous week: Shift with Control with 2
Next month: Control with 3
Previous month: Shift with Control with 3
Next year: Control with 4
Previous year: Shift with Control with 4
Refresh appointments: F5 or Control with 5
KeyCalc
Plus: Plus with
Minus: Minus –
Multiplication: Multiplication *
Divided by: Divided by /
Equals: Equals =
Clear: Shift with Control with C
Decimal point: Period
Percent: Percent %
Square root: Shift with Control with S
Factorial: Shift with Control with F
Power: Control with P
Pi: Control with Y
KeyMath
Find: Control with F
Find next: F3 or Control with 3
Find Previous: Shift with F3 or Shift with Control with 3
Preview: Control with Q
Export: Control with E
Save a copy: Control with S
Insert symbol: Control with I
Insert template: Control with K
Braille image viewer: Control with G
Toggle rendering mode: Control with Shift with G
Export graph image: Alt with X
Tactile preview: Control with T
Insert Math from KeyWord: Control with M
6. Using language profiles
The Touch gives you language profiles to work with. A language profile is a collection of settings relating to speech and Braille which control the behaviour of your Touch. You can easily configure the language profiles to your desired options, and you can also switch between the profiles you have set up situations where you want to do so.
For example, a student may read both English and French Word documents. In this case, you would set up your first language profile for English Braille, with your second language profile set up for French Braille. When the student opens a French document, she can switch to the second language profile and read effectively. She can then switch back to the first language profile afterwards.
Note that the selected language profile affects the menus on the Touch, as well as documents in KeyWord and the other KeySoft applications.
Configuring your language profiles
You can configure your language profile to your desired preferences. The language profile consists of the following settings and options:
- Language profile name
- Text To Speech (TTS) engine
- Voice
- Speech rate
- Listen to an example
- Speech Volume
- Additional TTS settings – switch between the HumanWare and Google TTS engines, as well as the speech rate (speed)
- Preferred Braille grade for entry (input / typing)
- Preferred Braille grade for display (reading)
- Computer Braille Table
- Literary Braille Table
To configure an existing language profile, follow these steps:
Use the Braille shortcut Space with O to open the Options Menu. You will be prompted “Options menu”.
Press Space with dot 4 or Space with dot 1 until you reach the Configure Language Profiles option, and now press Enter.
You will be prompted “Select a language profile to configure, xx”, where “xx” is the name of the first language profile in the list.
Press Space with dot 4 or Space with dot 1 until you reach the language profile that you want to configure, and then press Enter.
You will be prompted “Configure language profile. Language profile name, xx”, where “xx” is the current name of the selected language profile.
The list of settings contains the same items for all of your language profiles.
You can navigate the language profile configuration menu using your standard KeySoft navigation commands.
Creating a new language profile
The Touch allows you to have up to 10 language profiles configured.
To create a new language profile, follow these steps:
Use the Braille shortcut Space with O to open the Options Menu. You will be prompted “Options menu”.
Press Space with dot 4 or Space with dot 1 until you reach the Configure Language Profiles option, and now press Enter.
You will be prompted “Select a language profile to configure, xx”, where “xx” is the name of the first language profile in the list. Press Space with dot 4 or Space with dot 1 until you reach the “Add additional language profile” option, and now press Enter.
You will be prompted “Alert profile name. Profile name, OK”. Type the desired name for your new language profile, and then press Enter.
You will then be placed in the list of settings for your new language profile. You can now proceed to configure your language profile using the same method as above described in the section about configuring language profiles.
Switching between language profiles
The first language profile is called the “Primary Language Profile”, and the second language profile is called the “Secondary Language Profile”.
Note: You can rename an existing language profile if desired. When you configure a brand new language profile, you are prompted to type the desired name for the profile.
You can quickly switch between your existing language profiles by using the Braille shortcut Enter with L. When you use this command, you will be placed in a list of your current profiles. Press Space with dot 4 or Space with dot 1 until you reach the desired profile to use, and then press Enter.
Alternatively, you can make use of first letter navigation to move directly to a specific profile in the list, and then press Enter to select it.
Deleting a language profile
You can delete an existing language profile. To do this, follow these steps:
Use the Braille shortcut Space with O to open the Options Menu. You will be prompted “Options menu”.
Press Space with dot 4 or Space with dot 1 until you reach the Configure Language Profiles option, and now press Enter.
You will be prompted “Select a language profile to configure, xx”, where “xx” is the name of the first language profile in the list. Press Space with dot 4 or Space with dot 1 until you reach the language profile that you want to delete, and then press Enter.
You will be prompted “Configure language profile. Language profile name, xx”, where “xx” is the current name of the selected language profile. Type a letter D. You will be prompted “Delete language profile”. Now, press Enter.
You will be prompted “Alert, are you sure you want to delete this language profile? Cancel, OK”. Type a letter O to move to the OK button, and then press Enter.
The selected language profile will now be deleted from your Touch.