Using Brailliant with Screen Readers
1. SETTING-UP YOUR WINDOWS COMPUTER AND SCREEN READER1.1 Brailliant USB driver installation:
1.2 JAWS driver installation
2. USING BRAILLIANT WITH WINDOWS COMPUTERS
2.1 Connecting via the USB port
2.2 Connecting your Brailliant via Bluetooth
3. USING BRILLIANT'S KEYS
4. JAWS COMMAND SUMMARY
4.1 Writing with your Brailliant Braille keyboard
4.2 Basic Commands
4.2.1 Braille navigation
4.2.2 Windows commands
4.2.3 Navigation commands
4.2.4 Reading commands
4.2.5 Cursor commands
4.2.6 Braille commands
4.2.7 Information commands
4.2.8 Edit commands
4.2.9 Internet Explorer commands
4.3 PC keyboard emulation for Brailliant
4.4 Modifier Keys
4.4.1 Function Keys
4.4.2 Modifier commands
5. WINDOW-EYES COMMAND SUMMARY
5.1 Window-Eyes command Summary for the Brailliant
5.1.2 Mouse HOT KEYS
5.1.3 Keyboard HOT KEYS
5.1.4 Window-Eyes Miscellaneous hot keys
5.2 Modifier Keys
5.2.1 Function Keys
5.2.2 Modifier commands
6. APPENDIX
Using Brailliant with Screen Readers
Did you know that you can run a screen reader (such as JAWS, Window-Eyes on your Windows computer) using your Brailliant?
Brailliant offers flexible connectivity options. You can connect your Brailliant through the USB port. It also allows you to enjoy the freedom of wireless Bluetooth connectivity.
1. Setting-up your Windows computer and screen reader
To set-up your computer, you will need to:
- Install the USB driver: Using USB client port requires the installation of a driver on your computer.
- Install the JAWS driver: If you are using JAWS, you will need to install the JAWS driver. If you are using other screen readers, the drivers are already included.
Note: Both drivers can be installed with Windows XP, Windows Vista (32 and 64 bits) and Windows 7 (32 and 64 bits) operating systems.
Both the Brailliant USB driver and the JAWS Brailliant driver are included in the Brailliant Companion CD. You can also download it from our Web site at:
http://www.humanware.com/www.humanware.com/Brailliant_support
1.1 Brailliant USB driver installation:
Follow the instructions below to install the USB driver. Don't connect your Brailliant before installing the driver. Please note that these instructions apply for all Brailliant BI and B models.
- Download the BrailliantBITools.exe file on your PC. Note the location where you downloaded the file.
- Open the file BrailliantBITools.exe.
- Select Install Brailliant BI USB driver or press Alt-U to start the installation. This process will preinstall the driver files on your computer.
- By default, your Brailliant channel is set to Auto. When a USB cable is connected, the unit will work in USB mode.
- Connect the small end of the client USB cable into the micro USB port on the right edge of the Brailliant, just next to the Power button. Plug the standard USB end into a USB port on your PC. You will hear a rising tone indicating that the PC has recognized the connection.
- You will be presented with a Device Driver Installation Wizard window. Select the NEXT button to continue.
- You may be presented with a warning stating that Windows cannot verify the publisher of this driver software. Simply select the "Install this driver software anyway" button.
- Select NEXT when the installation process has run its course.
- After installation has been completed, you will be presented with a completion message. Select FINISH to conclude the installation.
1.2 JAWS driver installation
Follow the instructions below to install the Brailliant driver for JAWS version 10 or later. Please note that these instructions apply for all Brailliant BI and B models.
- Open the file BrailliantBITools.exe
- Select Install Brailliant BI driver for JAWS version 10 or later, or press Alt-J to start the installation.
- A window will appear to inform you that installation will begin shortly.
- To begin installation select NEXT.
- Select INSTALL to start the JAWS driver installation.
- Select YES to use your Brailliant as your default Braille display.
- Select FINISH to conclude the installation process.
- If your JAWS is already running, close it and restart it for changes to take effect.
2. Using Brailliant with Windows computers
2.1 Connecting via the USB port
Once the USB driver is installed, simply connect your Brailliant to your computer using the USB cable. The Brailliant will automatically recognize the connection.
2.2 Connecting your Brailliant via Bluetooth
To use the Brailliant with a screen reader via Bluetooth, you will first need to add the Brailliant as a Braille display within your screen reader.
On the Brailliant
By default, your Brailliant channel is set to Auto. If there is no USB cable connected, the Bluetooth channel communication will be activated.
On the PC
Perform a Bluetooth search. When the Brailliant is displayed in the list of Bluetooth devices, select the Brailliant from the list. When prompted for an authentication code, type the code "1111", and then confirm this.
The device should then pair with the Brailliant and an incoming Bluetooth virtual serial port will be set up on the PC.
You should now check the Properties of the Brailliant connection in your Bluetooth Manager to find out which COM port number has been assigned to the incoming Bluetooth serial port.
Make a note of this number. On the PC, in your screen reader, set the active braille display COM port to use as the relevant Bluetooth serial port COM number.
If using JAWS, you will need to quit and restart it.
3. Using Brilliant's keys
Braille keyboard:
Use the 8-dot Perkins Braille keyboard to enter text. The 8 keys of the Braille Keyboard are located above the Braille display. Some commands are also done using Braille letters in combination with the Space bar. For example Space with the letter M to open the Menu bar. 
Command Keys:
The six command keys are located on each side of the Braille cells, Dots 1-2-3 to the left and Dots 4-5-6 to the right. To do Command T, you have to press on Command keys 2-3-4-5 for the Braille letter T.
Thumb Keys:
The keys facing you are normally operated by your thumbs so we call them "Thumb keys" to differentiate them from the main keyboard keys .Use the Thumb Keys for Braille navigation.
4. JAWS command summary
Below are the command summaries for the Brailliant to be used as refreshable Braille display with JAWS. It includes JAWS commands, Windows commands, reading and navigation commands.
Your Brailliant can also be used to type text into the PC applications or to simulate the PC keyboard.
You can also define your own commands in the keyboard configuration utility of the JAWS options.
4.1 Writing with your Brailliant Braille keyboard
You can use your Brailliant's Braille keyboard to type in computer Braille with JAWS 10 and 11, US Grade 2 Braille is available in JAWS 12.
4.2 Basic Commands
4.2.1 BRAILLE NAVIGATION
| Prior line: | Outer Left Thumb Key Up |
| Move left: | Inner Left Thumb Key Left |
| Move right: | Inner Right Thumb Key Right |
| Next line: | Outer Right Thumb Key Down |
| Move left on current line: | Outer Left Thumb Key Up + Inner Left Thumb Key Left |
| Move right on current line: | Inner Right Thumb Key Right + Outer Right Thumb Key Down |
| Routing cursors: | Route Braille to position of active cursor |
| Active follows Braille: | Outer Left Thumb Key Up + Outer Right Thumb Key Down |
| Braille follows active: | Inner Left Thumb Key Left + Inner Right Thumb Key Right |
4.2.2 WINDOWS COMMANDS
| Start Menu: | Space with Dots 3-4 |
| Menu Bar: | Space with M |
| Application key: | Space with M and Dot 7 |
| Minimize All Apps: | Command D |
| Enter: | Dot 8 |
| Backspace: | Dot 7 |
| Escape: | Space with E |
| Alt-Tab: | Space with T |
| Caps lock toggle: | Space with Dot 7 |
| Open list or combo box: | Space with Dots 1-3-5 |
| Close list or combo box: | Space with Dots 2-4-6 |
4.2.3 NAVIGATION COMMANDS
| Up Arrow: | Space with Dot 1 |
| Down Arrow: | Space with Dot 4 |
| Left Arrow: | Space with Dot 3 |
| Right Arrow: | Space with Dot 6 |
| Home: | Space with Dots 2-3 |
| End: | Space with Dots 5-6 |
| Page-Up: | Space with Dots 1-2 |
| Page-Down: | Space with Dots 4-5 |
| Tab: | Space with Dots 4-6 |
| Shift-Tab: | Space with K |
| Top of file: | Space with L |
| Bottom of file: | Space with Dots 4-5-6 |
| Next document window: | Space with N |
| Previous Document Window: | Space with P |
| Close document window | Space with Dots 2-5-6 |
| Move Braille display to top line of screen: | Command keys 2-3 |
| Move Braille display to bottom line of screen: | Command keys 5-6 |
| Read dialog box in tab order: | Command keys 2-3-4-6 |
4.2.4 READING COMMANDS
| Say character: | Command keys 3-6 |
| Say prior line: | Command key 1 |
| Say line: | Command C |
| Say next line: | Command key 3 |
| Say word: | Command keys 2-5 |
| Say previous word: | Command key 2 |
| Say next Word: | Command key 5 |
| Say all: | Command keys 1-2-3-4-5-6 |
| Toggle speech on and off: | Command U |
| Select a voice profile: | Command V |
4.2.5 CURSOR COMMANDS
| Toggle between the JAWS and PC Cursor: | Command key 4 |
| Route JAWS cursor to PC: | Command I |
| Route Braille to active cursor: | Command key 6 |
4.2.6 BRAILLE COMMANDS
| Braille toggle mode (Line, Structured, Speech History, Attribute): | Space with Dots 2-5 |
| Start Braille Auto Advance: | Command R |
| Increase Braille Auto Advance Speed: | Command keys 3-4-5 |
| Decrease Braille Auto Advance Speed: | Command keys 1-2-6 |
| Change contracted Braille setting: | Command G |
| Contracted Braille toggle in JAWS 11 or earlier: | Space with G |
| Expand current Grade 2 word: | Command W |
| Adjust JAWS options: | Command O |
| Toggle between 6 and 8 dots: | Command keys 2-3-5 |
| Adjust Braille verbosity: | Command B |
4.2.7 INFORMATION COMMANDS
| Keyboard Help: | Command H |
| List task tray icons: | Command keys 2-3-5-6 |
| Hotkey Help: | Command keys 3-5-6 |
| JAWS window: | Command J |
| Start JAWS task list: | Command S |
| Say title of the active window: | Command T |
| Say system time: | Command Z |
4.2.8 EDIT COMMANDS
| Cut to clipboard: | Space with X |
| Copy to clipboard: | Space with C |
| Paste from clipboard: | Space with V |
| Delete: | Space with D |
4.2.9 INTERNET EXPLORER COMMANDS
| Go back: | Command keys 1-2-3-5-6 |
| Go forward: | Command keys 2-3-4-5-6 |
| List links on a webpage: | Command keys 3-4-6 |
| List frames on a webpage: | Command F |
| List headings on a webpage: | Command keys 2-3-6 |
4.3 PC keyboard emulation for Brailliant
Entering text using your Brailliant's keyboard is very straightforward. Typing characters, changing lines, deleting characters, entering uppercase characters, and moving inside the text. JAWS simultaneously updates the Braille display to reflect what you type.
With the help of JAWS, you can enter Braille commands and control your computer using sets of keystrokes.
4.4 Modifier Keys
Modifier keys are used to emulate keystroke combinations that include CTRL, ALT, WINDOWS Key, SHIFT, the JAWS Key and the INSERT key. To make use of modifiers when entering text, follow these instructions:
- 1. Press and hold SPACE with DOT 8 followed by the corresponding modifier keys.
- 2. Once you've entered the modifier, release the keys then press the remaining portion of the keystroke. To enter CTRL+SHIFT+A, for example, you will need to press SPACE with DOTS 3-7-8, release the keys, then press A (DOT 1).
| SHIFT: | SPACE with DOTS 7-8 |
| CTRL: | SPACE with DOTS 3-8 |
| ALT: | SPACE with DOTS 2-8 |
| WINDOWS Key: | SPACE with DOTS 1-8 |
| Function Keys (F1 through F12): | SPACE with DOTS 4-8 |
| JAWS Key: | SPACE with DOTS 5-8 |
| INSERT Key: | SPACE with DOTS 6-8 |
4.4.1 FUNCTION KEYS
To emulate the Function keys (F1 through F12), press SPACE with DOTS 4-8 followed by the letters A through L (representing 1 through 12). If you wish to emulate the F7 key, press SPACE with DOTS 4-8, followed by G (DOTS 1-2-4-5). If you are combining a function key with another, you just need to enter the necessary modifiers while pressing down SPACE with DOTS 4-8. If you wish to emulate INSERT+F3, press SPACE with DOTS 4-5-8, followed by C (DOTS 1-4).
4.4.2 MODIFIER COMMANDS
The following commands can be used in combination with modifier keys:
| Up Arrow: | Space with Dot 1 |
| Down Arrow: | Space with Dot 4 |
| Left Arrow: | Space with Dot 3 |
| Right Arrow: | Space with Dot 6 |
| Home: | Space with Dots 2-3 |
| End: | Space with Dots 5-6 |
| Page-Up: | Space with Dots 1-2 |
| Page-Down: | Space with Dots 4-5 |
| Enter: | Dot 8 |
| Backspace: | Dot 7 |
| Delete: | Space with D |
| Escape: | Space with E |
| Tab: | Space with Dots 4-6 |
| Shift-Tab: | Space with K |
Note: Modifier commands are available in the latest build of JAWS 11 and later.
5. Window-Eyes command summary
Support for the Brailliant as a Braille display is integrated into Window-Eyes. Make sure to update your software to get the latest Brailliant BI driver.
Please find below a list of suggested default Braille keystrokes for the Brailliant that have been included in the Window-Eyes Braille.ini file. Feel free to alter these defaults keystrokes if they do not meet your needs.
5.1 Window-Eyes command Summary for the Brailliant
| Prior Braille Line: | Thumb Key Up |
| Scroll Braille Left: | Thumb Key Left |
| Scroll Braille Right: | Thumb Key Right |
| Next Braille Line: | Thumb Key Down |
| Routing cursors: | Route Braille to position of active cursor |
| To Focus: | Command Key 6 |
| Auto Route Cursor: | Thumb key Up with Thumb Key Down |
5.1.2 MOUSE HOT KEYS
| Mouse Top Left: | Command Keys 1-2 |
| Mouse Top Right: | Command Keys 4-5 |
| Mouse Bottom Left: | Command Keys 2-3 |
| Mouse Bottom Right: | Command Keys 5-6 |
| Mouse To Focus: | Command I |
| Mouse Search: | Command F |
5.1.3 KEYBOARD HOT KEYS
| Backspace: | Dot 7 |
| Enter: | Dot 8 |
| Escape: | Space with E |
| Delete: | Space with D |
| Up-Arrow: | Space with Dot 1 |
| Down-Arrow: | Space with Dot 4 |
| Left Arrow: | Space with Dot 3 |
| Right Arrow: | Space with Dot 6 |
| Home: | Space with Dots 2-3 |
| End: | Space with Dots 5-6 |
| Page-Up: | Space with Dots 1-2 |
| Page-Down: | Space with Dots 4-5 |
| Open list or combo box (Alt-Up Arrow): | Space with O |
| Close list or combo box (Alt-Down Arrow): | Space with Dots 2-4-6 |
| Top of file (Control-Home): | Space with L |
| Bottom of file (Control-End): | Space with Dots 4-5-6 |
| Exit application (Alt-F4): | Command keys 2-5-6 |
| Alt-Tab: | Space with T |
| Shift-Tab: | Space with K |
| Tab: | Space with Dots 4-6 |
| Activate the current application’s menu: | Space with M |
| Activate the contextual menu for the currently selected item: | Space with M with Dot 7 |
| Start Menu: | Space with Dots 3-4 |
| Minimize All Apps (Windows-D): | Command D |
| Windows-Tab: | Command keys 1-2-5-6 |
| Caps Lock Toggle: | Space with Dot 7 |
| Cut to clipboard (Control-X): | Space with X |
| Copy to clipboard (Control-C): | Space with C |
| Paste from clipboard (Control-V): | Space with V |
| Close document window (Control-F4): | Space with Dots 2-5-6 |
| Previous document window (Control-Shift-Tab): | Space with P |
| Next document window (Control-Tab): | Space with N |
5.1.4 WINDOW-EYES MISCELLANEOUS HOT KEYS
| Window-Eyes menu: | W |
| Page Navigation: | Command L |
| Say title of the active window: | Command T |
| Read To End: | Command Keys 1-2-3-4-5-6 |
| Contracted Braille Toggle: | Command G |
| Display mode rotor: | Space with Dots 2-5 |
| Key describer: | Command H |
| Switch language: | Command V |
| Sys Tray: | Command keys 2-3-5-6 |
| Time/Date: | Command Z |
| To Status Line: | Command S |
| WE/Mouse Toggle: | Command Key 4 |
| 6 / 8 Dots Toggle: | Command keys 2-3-5 |
5.2 Modifier Keys
Modifier keys are used to emulate keystroke combinations that include CTRL, ALT, WINDOWS Key, SHIFT and the INSERT key. To make use of modifiers when entering text, follow these instructions:
- Press and hold SPACE with DOT 8 followed by the corresponding modifier keys.
- Once you've entered the modifier, release the keys then press the remaining portion of the keystroke. To enter CTRL+SHIFT+A, for example, you will need to press SPACE with DOTS 3-7-8, release the keys, then press A (DOT 1).
| SHIFT: | Space with Dots 7-8 |
| CTRL: | Space with Dots 3-8 |
| ALT: | Space with Dots 2-8 |
| WINDOWS Key: | Space with Dots 1-8 |
| INSERT Key: | Space with Dots 4-8 |
5.2.1 FUNCTION KEYS
To emulate the Function keys (F1 through F12), press SPACE with DOTS 6-8 with letters A through L (representing 1 through 12). If you wish to emulate the F7 key, press SPACE with DOTS 6-8, with SPACE with DOTS 1-2-4-5 6 8. You can combine function keys after modifier commands, you just need to enter the necessary modifiers before doing the function key. If you wish to emulate INSERT+F3, press SPACE with DOTS 4-8, followed by SPACE with DOTS 1-4-6-8.
5.2.2 MODIFIER COMMANDS
The following commands can be used in combination with modifier keys:
| Up Arrow: | Space with Dot 1 |
| Down Arrow: | Space with Dot 4 |
| Left Arrow: | Space with Dot 3 |
| Right Arrow: | Space with Dot 6 |
| Home: | Space with Dots 2-3 |
| End: | Space with Dots 5-6 |
| Page-Up: | Space with Dots 1-2 |
| Page-Down: | Space with Dots 4-5 |
| Enter: | Dot 8 |
| Backspace: | Dot 7 |
| Delete: | Space with D |
| Escape: | Space with E |
| Tab: | Space with Dots 4-6 |
| Shift-Tab: | Space with K |
6. Appendix
Braille table
Braille alphabet