Orbit Research Orbit Reader 20 User Manual

Orbit Reader 20™ User Guide Version

01.00.57

Features

These are a few of the features the Orbit Reader has to offer.

• 20 eight-dot refreshable braille cells

• Eight braille input keys and Space bar

• Navigation pad with four directional buttons (Up, Down, Left, Right)

and the Select button

• Micro B USB charging port

• SD card slot

• Power button

• Bluetooth® wireless technology

In the Box

Check that all the listed items are in the box you receive. The SD card
should already be inserted into the unit.

• Orbit Reader 20

• Standard-A to Micro-B USB cable

• AC adapter

• SD card with User Guide and content (installed in unit)

• Braille Quick-Start Guide

• Print Quick-Start Guide

Introduction

The Orbit Reader 20 is a portable, refreshable braille display and stand-alone
reader with the following features:

• a line of 20 braille cells with pins that arrange into the required pattern

to accurately represent any six- or eight-dot braille code, in any
language, and for any discipline

• reads the contents of files on an SD (Secure Digital) card for Stand

Alone mode

• remote connectivity to PCs and mobile devices for use with a screen

reader

• simple editing functions

• braille input keys

• contains rechargeable batteries

Documentation Conventions

For consistency and clarity, this documentation uses the following
conventions.

Braille keys are indicated by number. For example, if the documentation
indicates dot 1, it shows: dot 1.

If multiple braille keys are required, the documentation indicates those keys
by showing the numbers separated by a space like this: dots 1 4.

When modifier keys are used, the documentation separates the modifiers
from the rest of the keys with a plus (+) sign like this: Space + dot 1. Recall
that modifiers, like the Shift key on a regular QWERTY keyboard, are keys
you hold down while pressing another key. This modifies the effect of the
pressed key. On a braille keyboard, Space is often used as a modifier to alter
the effect of the input keys.

Key mnemonics are written in capital letters for emphasis, but are typed in
braille lowercase (unless otherwise stated). When one key follows another,
the two keys are shown with a comma between them. For example, the
command Select, M means to press and release the Select key, then press
and release M (dots 1 3 4 simultaneously).

The Up, Down, Right, and Left directional buttons on the navigation pad are
interchangeably referred to as arrows, buttons, arrow buttons, and arrow
keys.

The words Keys and Buttons are used interchangeably.

In the descriptions of each menu option, this documentation indicates the
default setting.

Orientation

Orientation to the positioning of buttons, keys, cells, and slots is important
for understanding how the device operates and how you input and receive
information on the device.

To begin exploration of the Orbit Reader, place the device on a flat surface in
front of you with the row of braille cells closest to you. This is the proper
operational orientation.

As you reach around from the front to the back of the device, from left to
right, there is the Power button (left), an SD card slot (middle), and a Micro
B USB port (right). (Image is reversed in photo.) They are all recessed in an
area in the left half of the back edge. The Power button sticks out enough to
make it easy to identify. The SD card slot has two small bumps directly
below it and the USB port has one bump below it.

The SD card slot is a standard type with spring feedback. The SD card is
inserted with the card connector fingers facing down. To release the card,
press in and remove your finger to allow the card to pop out.

The battery compartment is located on the bottom of the device.

Key Placement and Use

When properly oriented, the braille cells are closest to you. The Panning
keys are at each end of the braille display. See Panning Keys section for
more information.

For orientation purposes, there are three slightly raised tick marks located
above the braille cells. These orientation marks are spaced by every fifth
braille cell. For example, the first tick mark from the left would be between
the fifth and sixth braille cell.

Moving toward the top and away from you, find a row of three keys, with a
wider one in the middle. The wide key is the Space bar. The dot 7 input key
is to the left of the Space Bar, and the dot 8 input key is to the right of the
Space Bar.

As you continue toward the top of the face of the display, there is a
navigation pad in the middle, between the Braille Input keys and Space bar.

The navigation pad contains the four directional arrow buttons (Up, Down,
Left, Right) and the Select button.

The six traditional braille input keys are aligned along the top edge of the
face of the display, dots 1 2 3 on the left and dots 4 5 6 on the right.

In Stand Alone mode, the braille input keys are the file navigation controls.
For example, dots 3 and 6 serve as Page Up and Page Down to move
through a title.

When using the display with a screen reader on a host device, such as an
iPhone, the Braille Input keys can be used to input text or control
functionality of applications and the device, acting as an input method to
your device.

Panning Keys

The Panning keys are two-function rocker keys found at either end of the
braille display. These keys control how you read lines of text: either next or
previous. Pushing on one end of the key results in one action, while pushing
on the opposite end results in the opposite action. To read the next display
of text (panning forward), press the bottom part of the key (down) on either
Panning key. To read the previous display of text (panning backward), press
the top part of the key (up) on either Panning key.

Braille Cells

If you are new to refreshable braille displays, you may not be familiar with
eight-dot braille. It is similar to six-dot braille with two additional dots below
dot 3 and dot 6. These two additional dots are called dot 7 and dot 8, and
they are used to indicate capitalization in the Computer Braille Code
(Computer Braille) or to indicate some attributed text or a cursor. Their
exact use depends on the software you use with the display. Check the
software documentation for exact usage.

Eight-dot Computer Braille is similar to uncontracted braille, except it
features a one-to-one correspondence with the plain text (ASCII) characters.
Computer Braille does not require an additional cell to show a capitalization
indicator. Instead, dot 7 is added to the lowercase version of the letter.

Getting Started

The Orbit Reader 20 has two modes: a Stand Alone mode and a Remote
mode. In Stand Alone mode, the device is a book reader that uses an SD
card as the reading media. In the Remote mode, the device works like other
braille displays and needs to be connected to a computer and a screen
reader. This section explains how to charge, turn the device on and off,
insert the SD card, and enter and exit the menus. Refer to the following
sections for additional support.

Charging the Device

When you receive the Orbit Reader, it may already have a charge; however,
it should be charged fully before or during first use. You can use the device
and charge it at the same time, so this does not hinder your reading time.

To charge the device, use the provided Standard-A to Micro-B USB cable and
the power plug. Insert the small end of the cable into the Orbit Reader's USB
port with the bumps facing down. It should slide in without resistance; do
not force it. Then insert the large end of the cable into a computer USB
connector or the AC adapter provided. Plug the adapter into an AC wall
connector.

If the device is on when you connect the charger, the display shows
"Charger connected." When you unplug the charger, it shows "Charger
unplugged." The charger plug and unplug event indications are briefly
displayed even when the unit is off.

If you have charged the device for 4 or more hours, and it does not power
on, contact 1-866-659-1843 or email [email protected].

Powering On and Off

A square Power (on/off) button is found in a recessed area on the back of
the device. See Orientation section for more information.

To power on the device, press and hold the Power button for 2 seconds.
Orbit Reader flashes the first braille cell to let you know it is coming on.

When you turn the device on, Orbit Reader resumes from the last place of
the last file in use. If this is the first time you are using the device, or if this
is the first time you are inserting a new SD card, Orbit Reader shows the
first file or folder name on the SD card.

If the operating mode of the unit was Bluetooth when last powered off, and
the unit was turned off due to automatic power down event, then the device
turns back on in Bluetooth mode.

The Orbit Reader displays, "No SD card" when no card is inserted in the SD
card slot.

To turn off the device, press and hold the Power button for 2 seconds.

If no keys are pressed for 10 minutes and the device is running on batteries,
the unit automatically powers off to conserve power. If the Orbit Reader is

connected using Bluetooth and there is no activity for 60 minutes, the unit
powers off.

Inserting and Formatting the SD Card

To insert the SD card, find the large slot on the back.

On one of the short sides of the SD card there are some ridges called SD
fingers or teeth. Situate the SD card with the teeth facing down. With the
device in the correct orientation for use, insert the short side with the teeth
into the device. The SD card should go in smoothly until it gets about a
quarter of an inch from being fully in the device. At that point, you feel a
slight resistance. The card slot works like a toaster. Gently push the SD card
in until you hear a click. The card is flush with the rear edge when properly
inserted.

To remove the card, power off the Orbit Reader, then press the card in a
little until it pops out (most of the way) and gently remove it.

Orbit Reader uses standard full-size SD cards from 4 to 32 GB in capacity.
The card must be formatted as Fat32. There is no way to format a card on
the device. Most cards come already formatted; however, you can format
one as Fat32 on a desktop computer for use with the Orbit Reader.

About Menus and File Names

Orbit Reader shows internal menus and file names in eight-dot Computer
Braille. See Braille Cells section for more information about eight-dot
Computer Braille.

For a complete reference to the characters comprising Computer Braille, see
the Appendix C - Computer Braille Chart.

Entering and Exiting Menus

To…

Do this

open the menu

press Select + Up Arrow (Remote and Stand Alone
modes) OR press Space (Stand Alone mode only)

exit the menu

press dot 7

move through the
menu choices

press the Up or Down Arrows

see choices within a
menu option

use the Right and Left Arrows
select a menu item

press Select

Stand Alone Device Operational Mode

The Orbit Reader 20 has two functional modes. One mode is called Stand
Alone mode. The other mode is for use while connected with another device
and is called Remote mode.

Stand Alone mode is the default operational mode and allows the user to
read, edit, and browse files without being connected to another device. An
SD card must be inserted in the Orbit Reader while operating in Stand Alone
mode.

In Stand Alone mode, users read content stored on an SD card in one of two
ways:

• sent by library

• prepared on computer and copied to the device

In Stand Alone mode, the Orbit Reader displays the content of files stored on
an SD card. It does not do any translation or interpretation. You prepare the
files ahead of time on your computer, then store them on the SD card. For
example, if you want to read in UEB, prepare the UEB transcribed title on
your computer and then store it on the card.

Remote mode allows you to connect the Orbit Reader to iPhone®, iPad®,

and Android™ mobile devices, as well as desktop computers. In Remote

mode, Orbit Reader acts as an input and output device for the remotely
connected host via USB or Bluetooth. Users connect the device to a
computer or portable device with a screen reader and then do one of the
following:

• use apps like Kindle, Adobe Digital Editions, or iBooks to read

commercially available titles

• employ any accessible technology for browsing, utilities, and education

The screen reader translates the text into the braille code of choice.

To move back and forth between Stand Alone and Remote modes, use the
following commands:

To switch to Remote mode: press Select + Right Arrow
To switch to Stand Alone mode: press Select + Left Arrow

Stand Alone mode operates in the following ways:

1. Menu

2. File Manager

3. Reader

4. Editor

1. Menu

Orbit Reader 20 provides a menu for setting options, checking battery, and
changing modes of operation.

To open the menu in Stand Alone mode, press Space. The device responds
by showing the first menu option as Battery. Some menu items (like
Battery) show status. Others let you select among a number of choices. For
example, the Arrange Files By item lets you select one of several ways to
arrange how files appear in the file manager. The selected option is
underlined with dots 7 8.

To scroll through the other possibilities, press either the Right or Left Arrow.
To select the option, press Select. Orbit Reader responds by underlining the
word with dots 7 8 to indicate the choice.

To close the menu and return to your work, press dot 7.

To move to another menu item, press the Up or Down Arrow. When you get
to the end of the list of options and press the Down Arrow again, Orbit
Reader moves back to the top menu item. Similarly, when you press the Up
Arrow from the first menu item, Orbit Reader moves to the last item in the
list. This feature allows quick access to the last few menu items. That is why
some options that may be frequently referenced are located near the bottom
of the menu list.

Menu Availability

The menu is available for the Remote and Stand Alone modes. Press Select
+ Up Arrow to open the menu in either mode or press Space for Stand Alone
mode only.

To exit the menu and return to the previous mode, press dot 7.

Menu Options

A few of the Menu options have a default setting (indicated in the list below).
For most of these options, you can toggle back and forth between the
default setting and the alternative by pressing the Right or Left Arrows and
then pressing Select. Selected items are underlined with dots 7 8. Refer to
the specific section for further information.

Battery Status

Sort (Name)

Split Words (Off)

Filter Dot 7 (On)

Wrapping Text (On)

Compress Spaces (On)

Version

Reset Defaults

Serial

Bluetooth (On)

USB (HID)

Emulate (Off)

Cursor Blink (1)

Battery Status

The Battery Status menu item displays the amount of power left in your
battery. It also notes when the unit is charging.

Sort Files

The Sort menu item lets you change the order of the files on the SD card,
using Orbit Reader's built-in File Manager. The categories are Name, Date,
Size, and Last Read. The default setting for Sort is Name. To return to the
File Manager, press dot 7 from Stand Alone mode.

In Remote mode, press Select + Up Arrow. This command takes you to the
Menu. Down Arrow to the Sort Files list item.

If in the File Manager or the Reader, press Space to enter the Menu, then
Down Arrow to Sort Files.
If in the Editor, exit out (Select, E OR Select, Select) and press Space to
enter the Menu. Down Arrow to Sort Files.

Additionally, you may sort the files within the selected category in Ascending
or Descending order. After selecting a category, press the Right or Left
Arrows until you reach either Ascend or Descend in the list and press the
Select button. Orbit Reader arranges the files in the indicated order. The
default setting for this menu item is Ascending (A→Z).

Split Words

The default setting for Split Words is Off. In the default setting, the Reader
tries to put as much content on the display as possible without splitting a
word; however, if you want 20 cells of braille, no matter the content, set
Split Words to On. When Split Words is on, the Reader can show partial
words. When you pan to the next 20 cells of braille, the remainder of that
word appears at the beginning of the line.

Filter Dot 7

The default setting for Filter Dot 7 is On. The Filter Dot 7 menu item lets you
turn off the dot 7 that frequently appears in some BRL and BRF files. The dot
7 is filtered by default, but if you wish to write eight-dot braille, turn this
setting off.

Wrapping Text

The default setting for Wrapping is On. The Wrapping option is Orbit
Reader's way of reflowing files that are already formatted for embossing.
Normally, formatted files contain line-end indicators every 38-40 characters,
which starts a new line. This option eliminates extra spaces, making it easier
to read on a 20-cell display.

Compress Spaces

Carriage returns, blank lines, and tabs represent extra spaces (or white
space) in a document. These spaces take up lots of room and therefore slow
down reading on a braille display. The Compress Spaces option eliminates
blank lines and spaces. This setting is especially useful when reading
formatted text files that may contain many blank lines.

When there are multiple spaces, Orbit Reader can filter them so that only
one space is shown at most by default. The default setting for Compress
Spaces is On.

Software Version

The Version menu item displays the version of the software running on your
device.

Reset Defaults

The Reset Defaults menu item resets all user settings to the factory settings.
To reset to default settings, press the Select button. This action resets
defaults and takes you to the top of the Menu Options list (Battery Status).

Device Serial Number

The Serial Number menu item shows the individualized serial number of the
device you are using. This number may be important for warranty purposes.

Set Bluetooth

The default setting for Bluetooth is On. If the Orbit Reader is paired to a
Bluetooth device, it automatically connects to it again when the Orbit Reader
is next powered on.

Set USB Protocol

The USB menu item selects between the two possible USB protocols: Human
Interface Device (HID) or Serial. The default setting for USB is HID.

Set Pairing Scheme for Bluetooth

The Pair menu item selects a Bluetooth pairing scheme. Orbit Reader uses
the selected scheme when it responds to a Bluetooth pairing request from a
host device.
The appropriate scheme to select depends on your needs.

The three choices are:

1. Just Works

2. Pass Key

3. Confirm Code

• Just Works is the easiest scheme to use. When using this scheme,

Orbit Reader automatically pairs to any device that sends the pair
request. The Just Works Bluetooth pairing scheme is the default.

• Pass Key requires you to type a number on the host to confirm the

pair request. The number Orbit Reader uses is 1234. When you initiate
the request to pair with Orbit Reader, the host device shows an edit
box where you enter this number to successfully pair the two devices.
This scheme is somewhat more secure than Just Works, because the
person requesting the pairing must know the Pass Key number.

• Confirm Code is the most secure pairing scheme. With this scheme,

Orbit Reader responds to pairing requests by showing a random
number on both the Orbit Reader's braille display and on the host
device. To confirm the request, ensure the numbers match and press
Orbit Reader's Select button.

Set Cursor Behaviour

The Cursor Blink option only works when editing in the Edit Box or Editor
mode. The options are determined by the number of seconds between
blinks. The default setting for the Cursor Blink option is 1, which is one
second between blinks. The setting choices are 1, 5, 15, 30, and 60 seconds,
and 0, which sets the cursor to not blink.

2. File Manager

Orbit Reader stores the titles you read on an SD card. Therefore, when using
it as a Reader, an SD card containing the content to read must be inserted.
No SD card is required when using the device in Remote Mode.

File Manager Commands

The commands for managing files and folders are essentially the same. For
example, you can use Space + R to rename either a file or a folder;
however, some commands do not apply to both. Be sure to reference the
File Manager Commands Table if you are unsure of the appropriate
command.

To...

Press

Here's why and/or additional information

Open a file or
folder

dot 8

Pressing Select or dot 8 opens the file or
folder.

Exit a file or
folder

dot 7

Pressing dot 7 in a file or folder backs up one
file or folder respectively. When in root folder,
dot 7 does nothing.

Go to previous
or next file or
folder

Up or
Down
Arrow

Pressing Up or Down Arrow moves to the
previous or next file in the list.

Go back one
folder

dot 7

Dot 7 acts like a "back" key to exit the current
activity. If the user is already in the File
Manager, pressing dot 7 moves focus back one
level.
If you are at the root level, dot 7 does nothing.
If you are in one of the columns of information,
for example size or date, then pressing dot 7
returns to the filename.

Move through
file
information

Left or
Right
Arrow

This command moves you through the file
information by headings. See More About

Moving Through Files section for more

information.

Open the
Menu

Space

Pressing Space opens the menu.

Scroll text

Left or
Right
Panning
buttons

If the file name is longer than the display,
panning left or right displays more of the file
name.

Make a New
File

Space + N
(dots 1 3
4 5)

The New File command starts the Editor mode
with a new file in which to type.

Make a New
Folder

Space + O
(dots 1 3

5)

The New Folder command opens the Edit Box
where you may type the name of the new
folder.

Delete a file or
folder

Space + D
(dots 1 4

This action deletes the currently selected file(s)
or folder(s). Only empty folders can be

5)

deleted.

Rename a file
or folder

Space + R
(dots 1 2
3 5)

The Rename File command allows you to
change the name of a file or folder. To use it,
press the Rename command. Orbit Reader
responds with an Edit Box containing the
original file or folder name. Edit the name or
type a new one and press dot 8.

Cut a file

Space + X
(dots 1 3
4 6)

This action cuts the currently selected file(s)
from their location and places it(them) on the
clipboard to be used with the paste command.

Copy a file

Space + C
(dots 1 4)

The Copy File command makes a copy of the
currently selected file(s) and places it(them)
on the clipboard to be used with the paste
command.

Paste a file

Space + V
(dots 1 2
3 6)

This action pastes the file(s) or folder(s) that
are currently on the clipboard into the current
location in the File Manager. If no file or folder
is on the clipboard, no action is taken.

Mark a file

Space + M
(dots 1 3

4)

When moving multiple files, use the Mark File
command to mark each individual file before
using Cut, Copy, or Delete. To Mark a file,
arrow to it and press Space + M.
To clear a marked file, press Space + M again.
File Manager indicates marked files by raising
dots 7 and 8 of the first letter of the file name.

Protect or
unprotect a
file

Space + P
(dots 1 2
3 4)

To protect a file from accidental changes,
arrow to the file and press Space + P. To
remove the protected status, select the file and
press Space + P again. To determine if a file is
Protected, arrow Right or Left to the Protected
heading.

Edit the
current file

Space + E
(dots 1 5)

When editing the current file, the Orbit Reader
switches to an Edit mode, which is indicated by
a cursor at the point of input. The cursor is at
the first character shown on the display when
you pressed the edit command. As you type,
everything is saved to the file.

Go to Last Edit
File

Space +
dots 1 2 4
6

Using this command reopens the last file you
edited and returns the cursor to its last
position in that file.
The Edit Last File command is useful for taking
notes on what you read. Use the command to
quickly switch back to the Editor. Then close
the Editor to return to the title you are reading.
This command has no effect if you are already
editing a file.

More About Moving Through Files

When moving through the list of files, Orbit Reader shows the first 20
characters of the file name. The user may scroll to the rest of the
information about the file, such as the rest of a long file name, its size, and
date, by using the Panning keys to move the display window through the
rest of the contents on that line of the list of file names.

Each item on the file list includes the following items:

• File name and extension

• Current position in the file in number of characters

• Size in kb (kilobytes)

• Last modified date

• Protected or Unprotected

Pressing Left or Right Arrow moves to the previous or next column heading
(file information). If on Position when entering the file, upon exiting the file
the File Manager returns the user to the Position information.

File Movement Commands

To...

Press

Here's why and/or additional

information

Move to first file

Press
Space +
dots 1 2 3

Pressing Space + dots 1 2 3 moves the File
Manager selection to the first file in the
current folder.

Move to last file

Press
Space +
dots 4 5 6

Pressing Space + dots 4 5 6 moves the File
Manager selection to the last file in the
current folder.

Incrementally

Type the

To find a file, quickly type the first few

search file list

file name
quickly

letters of the file's name. File Manager
highlights the first file matching the letters
you typed.

File Errors

When copying or pasting a file that results in another file with the same
name, File Manager adds an extension to indicate the new file is a copy. For
example: if you copy book.brf to a folder that already contains book.brf, the
new file becomes book1.brf and the original book.brf remains unchanged.

If the SD card runs out of space before a file operation completes, File
Manager shows, "Error copying file xxx" where xxx is the file's name.

File Progress

When copying large numbers of files, or large files that can take some time,
File Manager displays progress messages during the copy operation.

If copying a file that takes more than five seconds, File Manager displays,
"Copying xxx (yy%)" where xxx is the name of the file and yy is the
percentage complete. This percentage is updated at least every 10% of the
progress.

File Types

Braille files may contain any kind of braille, either six- or eight-dot, in any
language and for any topic. You create these files on a computer with a
translation software package, such as Duxbury or LibLouis, or you create
them in the Editor on the Orbit Reader.

Supported File Types

EXT

Type

Explanation

BRF

Translated, formatted braille

displays exact representation

BRL

Translated, unformatted braille

displays all text

TXT

Text

displays eight-dot Computer Braille

In addition to the supported file types, Orbit Reader shows the contents of
any file. Be aware that some files do not contain readable content. This

feature is useful, however, to examine files that do contain readable text
even if it is not a supported file type.

Orbit Reader does not translate or interpret any file. It simply displays the
contents of a file in braille. So, if you put a plain text file onto the SD card,
Orbit Reader displays that file as it was written. Similarly, if you put a BRF
file on the SD card, no matter the language or code, Orbit Reader accurately
shows its contents. To use Word or PDF files, you must first translate them
on a desktop computer, then send the translated file to the SD card.

Preparing Files

To prepare files for placement on the Orbit Reader, follow these guidelines:

• Determine the translation type

• Translate the file

• Place the file onto the SD card or use Mass Storage Mode to copy from

your desktop computer

To copy files to the SD card, remove the card from the Orbit Reader and
place into a card reader on your computer, or connect the USB cable from
the Orbit Reader to your Computer and activate Mass Storage Mode on the
Orbit Reader by either pressing Space + dots 5 7 or selecting Mass Storage
Mode from the USB option in the menu. When in Mass Storage Mode, Orbit
Reader shows up as a drive on the computer. While in Mass Storage Mode,
you cannot use other functions on the Orbit Reader.

3. Reader

The Orbit Reader 20 is designed to be a stand-alone reader. Placing BRF,
BRL, or TXT content (see File Types section) on an inserted SD card turns it
into an on-the-go braille book reader. When first powered on, the Orbit
Reader displays the contents of the first file on the SD card. To get to the file
list, press dot 7. Once a file is selected (Up or Down Arrow and dot 8), the
file opens and can be easily read using the Left and Right Panning keys.
There are many other functions in reading mode such as Find, Power Move,
Bookmarks, and even a menu to set preferences. The following sections
describe commands and settings that can be used while reading.

Note: In Stand Alone mode, the Orbit Reader displays the content of files
stored on an SD card. It does not do any translation or interpretation.

When you turn the device on, Orbit Reader resumes from the last place of
the last file in use. For first-time use, it displays the first file or folder on the
SD card. Press dot 7 to close the file and display the File Manager, which

shows a list of the files on the SD card. Press Select or dot 8 to open a file or
folder. If there is no SD card inserted, "No SD card" is displayed.

When you reach the end of a file, "End of file" is displayed by the Reader.
Similarly, if you are at the beginning of the file, "Start of file" is displayed.

Reader Commands

While in Stand Alone mode, the following commands are available.

To...

Press

Here's why and/or additional

information

Go to Previous
or Next display

use the
Panning
buttons

See Panning Keys section for more
information.

Go to Previous
or Next
Character

press Left
or Right
Arrows

If the user presses Right Arrow, the next
letter appears on the right side of the
display.
To conform to traditional braille display
navigation commands, the Reader also
supports Space + dot 3 and Space + dot 6.

Go to Previous
or Next Word

press
Space +
Left or
Right
Arrows

If the user presses Space + Right Arrow,
the next word appears on the right side of
the display.
The Reader also supports Space + dot 2 or

5.

Go to Previous
or Next
Paragraph

press Up or
Down
Arrows

Pressing the Previous or Next Paragraph
command moves to the previous or next
carriage return in the file.
Also works with Space + dot 1 or 4.

Go to Start of
paragraph

Space +
dot 7 +
Left Arrow

To place your cursor at the start of a
paragraph, press the Space + dot 7 + Left
Arrow.

Go to End of the
Paragraph

Space +
dot 7 +
Right
Arrow

To place your cursor at the end of a
paragraph, press the Space + dot 7 + Right
Arrow.

Go to Previous

press dot 3

Pressing dot 3 or dot 6 moves back or

or Next Page

or dot 6

forward in the file to the next page marker
(form
feed) or 1000 characters, whichever comes
first.

Go to Top or
Bottom of a file

press dot 1
or dot 4

Pressing dot 1 moves to the top of a file;
pressing dot 4 moves to the bottom of a file.
(For compatibility with other devices, Space
+ dots 1 2 3 moves to the top and Space +
dots 4 5 6 moves to the bottom of a file.)

Exit File or Menu

press dot 7

If reading a file, pressing dot 7 returns you
to the File Manager. If exiting the Menu,
Orbit Reader returns you to your previous
location.

Open the Menu

press
Space bar

Pressing the Space bar opens the Menu.

Set or Clear a
Bookmark

press
Space + M

In addition to the automatic bookmark
placed when you close a file, Orbit Reader
lets you set additional bookmarks.
Reader displays the message "Bookmark
added" or "Bookmark cleared" if there was
already a bookmark at that position.

Go to Previous
or Next
Bookmark

press dot 2
or dot 5

The Reader responds by moving the cursor
to the bookmarked position. The
bookmarked location appears as the first
character on the display.
If there are no marks in the indicated
direction, "No more bookmarks" is
displayed.

Power
Move/Search
Forward and/or
Back

press dots
8 2 or dots
8 5

See Power Move Forward and Back section
for more information.

Find Braille

press
Space + F
(dots 1 2

4)

Pressing Space + F opens a blank input field
(Edit Box) with a cursor. This allows the
user to perform a search in a specific braille
format by typing the text in the same braille
format. See Edit Box and Find Braille
sections for more information.

Find Braille
(Previous or
Next)

press dots
8 3 or dots
8 6

Pressing dots 8 3 repeats a previous search
backwards from the point in the file where
you are. Pressing dots 8 6 searches forward
again.
If there is no text in the Find Edit buffer, the
Reader uses the text at the cursor. For more
about finding text, see Find Braille section
for more information.

Edit Last File

Press
Space +
dots 1 2 4
6

Opens the editor on the last file you had
edited.

Power Move Forward and Back

Orbit Reader's power move commands provide a quick means of
moving/searching through large sections of a file to find a known location in
the document. A power move operates by using boundaries and moving
50% between them with each press of the key command. In essence, by
using a power move to search within a file, you are drilling down to the
information using a binary command. When you press dots 8 2 or dots 8 5,
the Reader moves in the following ways:

On the first press, the cursor moves half way between the current position
and the start (dots 8 2) or end (dots 8 5) of the file, which act as the
boundaries for the power search.

Subsequent presses treat the moved-from position as the new boundary in
that direction. So, if you are at the beginning of the file (or 0%) when you
press the dots 8 5, the Reader moves the cursor to half way between 0%
and 100%. You are now at 50%, and it becomes one of the boundaries. The
initial boundary is at the original position of 0%. Therefore, if you press dots
8 2, you move half way between 50% and 0% to end at 25%. Or, if you
press the dots 8 5, you move half way between 50% and 100% to end at
75%.

Each time you press contiguous dots 8 2 or dots 8 5 keys, the Reader shows
the percentage in the first few cells of the display line and fills the rest with
the text at that position. This continues until you press something other than
dots 8 2 or 8 5 or a Panning key. See Panning Keys section for more
information.

Find Braille

To find specific braille text, use the Find command (Space + F). Orbit Reader
responds by opening a blank input field (see Edit Box section) with a cursor,
which is indicated by dots 7 and 8. Unlike the Power Move (see this section),
which searches by known location of text, the Find command searches the
entire file for instances of the braille text you enter in the input field. If you
had searched for something previously, that text appears in the Edit Box
with your cursor at the end.

To perform a search, type the braille text you wish to find, then press dots 8
to start the search. To search forward, towards the end of the file, press
dots 8 6. To search backward, towards the beginning of the file, press dots 8

3.

If you are searching for text in a contracted braille file, you must type the
text you want to search for in contracted braille.

If you are searching in a plain text file, you must type the text you want to
search for in Computer Braille. See Appendix C - Computer Braille Chart for
the Computer Braille Chart.

The Reader accepts search terms up to 255 characters long. Searches are
generally not case sensitive. A search for the word "animal" results in finding
both lowercase and uppercase versions of that word (animal/Animal);
however, if you want to find words with upper case letters specifically, type
the text you wish to find with the capitalization included. For example, a
search for the capitalized word "Animal" gives the results for "Animal"
(capitalized), but not "animal" (lowercase).

Additionally, searches match both whole and partial words. Searching for
"an" finds "an" (whole) and "man" (partial). To restrict searches to whole
words, add a space at the beginning and end of the word. The Reader
matches the space with any non-printing character such as spaces, tabs, and
line feeds.

Read the section on Edit Box for editing commands and navigation
functionality.

When you search files, the Reader moves the file reading position to the
next occurrence of the searched for text and displays it at the beginning of
the display line. If it cannot find the text, the Orbit Reader displays "Not
found" and leaves your file reading position where it was before the search.
If searching through a larger document, the Orbit Reader displays "Busy"
while conducting the search.

To repeat a search moving forward toward the end of the file, press dots 8

6.

To repeat the search moving back toward the beginning of the file, press
dots 8 3.

Edit Box

Orbit Reader presents a text dialog or input field called an Edit Box in some
instances. These instances include finding text and renaming a file. The Edit
Box permits only one line of text.

To open an Edit Box, press Space + F to begin a search or press Space + R
to rename a file. Once in the Edit Box, insert text by typing the desired
braille text and then use the Edit Box commands to navigate. The Edit Box
displays a blinking cursor (dots 7 8) to indicate where you input the text you
are searching for or editing.

When Orbit Reader shows an edit box, it often provides default text, such as
a file name or a previously entered search term. This text is selected (as
indicated by the dot 7 8 combination added to each letter.) To remove the
selected text, type a letter or press the Backspace key. To edit the existing
text, press one of the arrow keys to remove the selection.

Edit Box Commands

To...

Press

Here's why and/or additional information

Move Left or
Right One
Letter

Left or
Right
Arrow

Pressing the letter movement commands moves
the cursor in the indicated direction. When the
cursor reaches the end of the edit box, it stops-­it can move no further.

Backspace

dot 7

The Backspace key dot 7, deletes the letter
immediately left of the cursor. Use Backspace
when you make a typing mistake or to remove
small amounts of text.

Accept typed
text

dot 8

In this instance, pressing dot 8 acts as an
Enter/OK key.

Close the Edit
Box

Select

To close the edit box, use the Close command.
In single line controls, Close throws away what
you typed. In multiple line controls, all text is
automatically saved.

4. Editor

In addition to serving as a tool for reading braille, Orbit Reader offers the
ability to write and edit text.

This feature allows you to create/edit new or existing files on the SD card.

While you are in the Editor mode, the cursor (dots 7 8) notes the current
position. The default setting for the cursor is 1 second. The blinking of the
cursor can be turned off from the Menu. See Set Cursor Behaviour section
for more information.

Once you exit from the Editor mode (Select, E OR Select, Select), the cursor
disappears, returning you to the Reader in the file you were editing.

If you are exiting from a new file, the editor automatically names the file
with the first 20 characters in the file. If a file already exists with that name,
the Editor appends a number to it until it produces a unique name. To
rename a file or to add an extension to the file name, highlight the file name
in File Manager, and use the Rename command. If there are Computer
Braille characters that cannot be used in a filename, such as a forward slash
(/) or an asterisk (*), the characters are replaced with an underscore (_).
Once you exit, the new file name in the File Manager is selected. If you wish
to rename the file, use the rename command (Space + R). If you want to
give the file a specific name, write that name as the first line in the file.

To insert text, type or paste the text at the cursor. The Editor adds the typed
or pasted text until it reaches the edit size limit, which is approximately
50,000 characters or about 50K of space. You can insert any text into an
open file using the Braille keys (dot 1 to dot 6).

There are three ways to edit a file. Each of these three commands is
available both from the Reader and the File Manager.

1. Create New File: Space + N

2. Edit current file: Space + E

3. Switch to last edited file: Space + dots 1 2 4 6

Context Menu

The Context menu is how you control the Editor. It allows you to find text,
set marks, or exit.

Press Select to open the Context menu. There are two ways to make a
selection from the Context menu after it is open.

1. If you know the braille short cut for the command (the braille letter

associated with the function), press that letter.

2. If you do not know the braille short cut, press the Up or Down Arrow

key to scroll to your selection and press Select.

Function

Braille Short Cut

Exit

E

Mark

M

Copy

C

Paste

V

Cut

X

You can also press Select twice to quickly exit the Editor. The first press
opens the Context menu; the next press selects the first option, Exit, in the
menu.

Editor Commands

To ...

Press

Here's why and/or additional information

Add a new
line (Enter)

dot 8

Pressing dot 8 adds a new line (enters a
carriage return) at the end of a paragraph and
places the editing cursor in the first cell of the
next paragraph.

Delete a
character

dot 7

Pressing dot 7 deletes the character to the left
of the editing cursor.

Exit Editor

Select, E
OR Select,
Select

When you close a file, Editor saves and returns
back to the Reader or File Manager, depending
on your starting location. It automatically saves
your work.
If you opened the file from File Manager, File
Manager makes the new file the current item in
the list.
If you edited an existing file, Reader moves the
reading position to the place where the cursor
was.

Editor Navigation Commands

To ...

Press

Here's why and/or additional information

Go to next or
previous
character

Left or
Right
Arrow

Pressing Left or Right Arrow moves the cursor to
the previous or next character.

Go to next or
previous
word

Space +
Left or
Right
Arrow

Pressing Space + Left or Right Arrow moves the
cursor to the start of the previous or next
grouping of letters and digits.

Previous or
next display

Pan up or
down

Pressing up or down on the Panning rocker keys
allows you to move to the previous or next
display of braille. If you press the bottom part of
the rocker key, the display pans forward. If you
press the top of the rocker key, the display pans
backward. The editing cursor is placed at the
first cell. See Panning Keys section for more
information.

Previous or
next
paragraph

Up or
Down
Arrow

Pressing the Up or Down Arrow moves the
editing cursor to the start of the previous or next
paragraph. If the start of the previous or next
paragraph is not on the display the display pans
the start of the previous or next paragraph to
the first cell on the display. The editing cursor is
placed at the first cell.

Start or end
of paragraph

Space +
dot 7 +
Left or
Right
Arrow

Pressing Space + dot 7 + Left or Right Arrow
moves the cursor to the start or end of the
current paragraph. If the start or end is not on
the current display the display pans the start or
end to the first cell of the display. The editing
cursor is placed at the first cell.

Previous or
next page

Space +
dot 7 +
Up or
Down
Arrow

Pressing Space + dot 7 + Up or Down Arrow
moves the cursor to the previous or next page.
If the first character of the previous or next page
is not on the current display the display pans the
first character of the previous or next page so
that it is located in the first cell with the editing
cursor.

Go to top or
end of
document

Long
press Up
or Down
Arrow

Long pressing Up or Down Arrow moves the
cursor to the top or bottom of the document.

Editor Block Text Commands

The Editor block operations depend on a selection. The selection is the text
between the cursor and the mark.

To ...

Press

Here's why and/or additional information

Set or
clear
Mark

Select,
M

The editor indicates a mark by raising both dots 7 and 8
on the character where the mark occurs. To set or clear a
mark in the file, press the Mark command. If there was
already a mark at the cursor, the editor shows "Mark
cleared" on the display and removes the mark. If there
was not a mark, it shows "Mark set" and adds a mark.

Copy

Select,
C

The copy command places the selected text onto the
clipboard for later use in this or another file.

Paste

Select,
V

To paste the contents of the clipboard before the cursor,
use the Paste command.

Cut

Select,
X

To remove the selected text from the document and place
it onto the clipboard, use the Cut command. If you want
to put that text somewhere else, move to the desired
position, then use the Paste command.

Remote Device Operational Mode

In addition to using Orbit Reader as a portable reading tool and editor, it
connects with host devices (i.e., computers, phones, and tablets) to provide
braille input and output to that device. The host device must be running
software that supports braille.

- For Windows PCs - JAWS®, Window-Eyes, System Access, and NVDA

- For Mac® computers and iOS® devices - VoiceOver

- For Android devices - BrailleBack and TalkBack

When you use Orbit Reader as a display for other hosts, the screen reader
on that host device provides the translation and other braille settings.
Consult the documentation for your screen reader.

The only hotkeys used with Remote mode that are not sent to the remote
device are:

• Pressing Select + Up Arrow opens the Orbit Reader Menus.

• Pressing Select + Left Arrow returns Orbit Reader to Stand Alone

mode.

• Pressing Select + Right Arrow returns Orbit Reader to Remote mode.

• Pressing Select + Down Arrow brings up an Edit box where you can

type and submit up to 255 characters of text to the remote device.
Press dot 8 to send the text and exit the Edit Box.

Bluetooth Connectivity

Command

Keys

Connect via Bluetooth

Space + dots 4 7

Bluetooth is a wireless connection method supported by many devices to
allow a similar setup between different kinds of devices including braille
displays. In Orbit Reader's default configuration, when the user turns on the
device, it is ready to pair or to connect via Bluetooth, if it has already been
paired with a host.

If the Orbit Reader is already connected with the USB cable that came with
the unit, Orbit Reader uses the connection to the host as the braille
interface. This connection also charges the battery and provides a file
transfer mechanism.

If the device is paired with a Bluetooth host, and that host is running access
software connected to the Orbit Reader, it switches from the USB connection
(if one existed) and makes the Bluetooth interface active.

If there is no access software requesting services via the Bluetooth or USB
connection, or the user switches to Stand Alone mode, Orbit Reader returns
to the last location in Stand Alone mode.

The Orbit Reader has a low-power standby or sleep mode that activates after
10 minutes of no activity. When connected by Bluetooth, Orbit Reader goes
into standby mode after 10 minutes and continues to try to reconnect for 1

hour. If the connection is not reestablished after an hour, Orbit Reader
powers off.

If you wish to turn the Bluetooth option on or off, open the Menu by pressing
Space in Stand Alone mode, or Select + Up button in Remote mode. Once in
the Menu, Up or Down Arrow to the Bluetooth option. To toggle the option,
press the Right or Left Arrow buttons and then press the Select button.
Selected items are underlined with dots 7 and 8.

The only reason to turn the Bluetooth option off is to conserve power when
the device is not going to be used to connect to other devices.

The hot key to quickly switch to Bluetooth when the Orbit Reader is
connected using the supplied USB cable is Space + dots 4 7. The default is
to switch to Bluetooth automatically, but if you choose to switch to USB, the
hot key can be used to switch back.

Consult the documentation for the screen reader of choice for details about
host connection instructions and which commands to use for that screen
reader.

USB Connectivity

Command

Keys

Connect via HID

Space + dots 2 7

Connect via Serial

Space + dots 3 7

Transfer files

Space + dots 5 7

Orbit Reader comes with a USB cable. When connecting with the cable,
insert the small end into the Orbit Reader with the bumps facing down, and
insert the large end into the remote device. When connected, the Orbit
Reader communicates using three possible protocols: Serial, HID. or Mass
Storage. When connected to either a computer or wall plug, the Orbit Reader
is charged, which makes USB a good way to connect when the battery is
low.

In default configuration, if the USB is connected to the remote device, and it
also has a Bluetooth connection with another device, the Orbit Reader
switches to the Bluetooth connection. To keep this from happening,
Bluetooth can be turned off from the Menu or you can switch back to USB
mode by pressing one of the hot keys.

Consult the documentation for the screen reader of choice for details about
which protocol (Serial or HID) and commands to use for that screen reader.

iOS Devices (Version 10.0 or later) SB Connectivity

Connecting Orbit Reader to an iOS device provides both braille feedback and
the ability to type and control the device with the Orbit Reader keyboard and
directional buttons.

In default configuration, the Orbit Reader is ready to pair with iOS with
Bluetooth. If Bluetooth has been turned off, it can be turned on in the Menu
or by pressing Space + dots 4 7 on the Orbit Reader.

Next, on the iOS device go to
Settings>General>Accessibility>VoiceOver>Braille and look for the name of
the unit in the list of possible braille displays. It shows up as Orbit Reader
plus the last four digits of the serial number.

Activate the Orbit Reader 20 device in the list to initiate pairing. iOS shows
you a dialog with a security code to confirm you want to pair with the Orbit
Reader. Check to make sure that the security code on the display matches
the code in the iOS security dialog. If the codes match, confirm this in the
dialog on the iOS device.

Once you pair the unit, iOS should start sending braille to the Orbit Reader,
and you can use the Orbit Reader input and navigation keys to control your
iOS device.

iOS Commands

iOS Navigation Commands

Function

Keys

Move to previous item

Space + dot 1

Move to next item

Space + dot 4

Pan braille left

Space + dot 2

Pan braille right

Space + dot 5

Move to the first element

Space + dots 1 2 3

Move to the last element

Space + dots 4 5 6

Scroll right one page

Space + dots 1 3 5

Scroll left one page

Space + dots 2 4 6

Move to the status bar

Space + S (dots 2 3 4)

Select previous rotor setting

Space + dots 2 3

Select next rotor setting

Space + dots 5 6

Move to previous item using rotor setting

Space + dot 3

Move to next item using rotor setting

Space + dot 6

Launch the Task Switcher

Space + dots 1 2 5 twice quickly

Scroll up one page

Space + dots 3 4 5 6

Scroll down one page

Space + dots 1 4 5 6

Go to Notification Center

Space + dots 4 6

Go to Control Center

Space + dots 2 5

iOS Reading Commands

Function

Keys

Read all starting at selected item

Space + R

Read all, starting from the top

Space + dots 2 4 5 6

Pause or continue speech

Space + P

Announce page number or rows displayed

Space + dots 3 4

iOS General Commands

Function

Keys

Activate the Back button if present

Space + B (dots 1

2)

Activate the Delete key

Space + dot 7 or D

Activate the Return key

Space + E or dot 8

Switch between contracted and uncontracted braille

Space + dots 1 2 4
5

Activate the Home button (twice quickly to launch the
task switcher)

Space + H (dots 1
2 5)

Toggle speech on and off

Space + M

Activate the Tab key

Space + T (dots 2 3
4 5)

Select text

Space + dots 3 5 6

Unselect text

Space + dots 2 3 6

Volume up

Space + dots 3 4 5

Volume down

Space + dots 1 2 6

Toggle screen curtain on/off

Space + dots 1 2 3
4 5 6

Select all

Space + dots 2 3 5
6

Cut

Space + X

Copy

Space + C

Paste

Space + V

Undo typing

Space + dots 1 3 5
6

Redo typing

Space + dots 2 3 4
6

Activate Eject key

Space + dots 1 4 6

Toggle announcement history

Space + dots 1 3 4
5

iOS iPad Commands

Function

Keys

Move to previous container

Space + dots 1 7

Move to next container

Space + dots 4 7

Mac Computers

When connecting Orbit Reader to a Mac, there are two possible methods.
One is to connect using the USB cable that came in the box. The second is to
use Bluetooth for a wireless connection.

Connecting Mac with USB

The simplest way to connect the Orbit Reader to a Mac is to connect using a
USB Standard-A to Micro-B cable. First, switch Orbit Reader to Serial mode
by picking Serial in the USB option in the menu. Next, run VoiceOver by
pressing the Apple CMD key + F5. Then, attach the small end of the USB
cable to Orbit Reader 20 with the bumps facing down and the big end to the
Mac. VoiceOver automatically recognizes and starts using the display.

Connecting Mac with Bluetooth

In default configuration, the Orbit Reader is ready to pair with Mac through
Bluetooth. If Bluetooth has been turned off, it can be turned on in the Menu
or by pressing Space + dots 4 7 on the Orbit Reader.

To pair Orbit Reader with a Mac:

1. When VoiceOver is on, open VoiceOver Utility by pressing VO-F8.

2. Click the Braille category, click Displays, and then click the Add (+)

button.

3. Select Orbit Reader in the list. VoiceOver filters the devices it detects

to list only the Bluetooth braille displays that are within range of your
computer and that appear to match a VoiceOver braille display driver.

4. Click the Orbit Reader device in the list to initiate pairing. Mac shows

you a dialog with a security code to confirm you want to pair with the
Orbit Reader 20.

5. Check that the security code on the Orbit Reader display matches the

code shown in the Mac security dialog. If the codes match, confirm this
in the dialog on the Mac.

If the Orbit Reader does not work with VoiceOver, it is likely that you are not
using the latest Mac OS. Check for updates.

Controlling Orbit Reader from Mac

To control how VoiceOver treats the display, follow these steps:

1. Open the VoiceOver Utility by pressing Command + F8 while

VoiceOver is running.

2. Scroll down to the Braille option.

3. Select the Braille Display tab.

To turn on contracted braille, check the Contracted Braille box.

For the Mac documentation on connecting and using braille displays, see
Apple's VoiceOver Info Guide.

Android Devices

In default configuration, the Orbit Reader is ready to pair with Android with
Bluetooth.

Step 1: Turn on Bluetooth.
If Bluetooth has been turned off, it can be turned on in the Menu or by
pressing Space + dots 7 4.

Step 2: Turn on the Android device.
To use the display with Android, turn it on before you unlock the phone.
Android and BrailleBack make a connection sound to indicate successful
communication.

Step 3: Check for support.
Step 4: Switch to emulation mode if necessary.
Step 5: Set up Android device.

To set up your Android device, follow the Install and enable BrailleBack
instructions found on the Google™ Android Accessibility Help webpage.

Input and Output Text With BrailleBack

To input text with your braille keyboard, first enable the keyboard in your
Android settings under Language and Input. If you try to use the keyboard
before completing this step, you receive a prompt to change your settings.

To edit a text field, focus and activate the text field. You can then use the Up
and Down Arrow keys to move in the text field. When editing text,
BrailleBack switches to 8-dot braille known as Computer Braille. (See Braille

Cells section for more information.) Currently, BrailleBack does not support

any other braille as input.

By default, Android is set to display English Computer Braille.

To set BrailleBack to display English (UEB) - grade 2 braille, follow the steps
below:

1. Press H to open the Home screen.

2. Arrow to, and select

Apps>Settings>Accessibility>BrailleBack>Settings.

3. Arrow through this screen of items to "Braille type" and select.

o Android generates a dialog screen which indicates the type of

braille being displayed and provides two choices: Literary braille
or Computer Braille.

o Computer Braille is checked by default.

4. Arrow to "Literary braille" and select to check this item.

o When you check "Literary braille," you are returned to the

BrailleBack Settings screen.

5. Arrow to "Literary braille table" and select.

o Another dialog screen opens with a selection of output

translation tables.

6. Select English (UEB) - grade 2.

o You are returned to the BrailleBack Settings screen.

BrailleBack Commands

Function

Keys

Back

Space + B

Home

Space + H

BrailleBack help

Space + dots 1 2 3

Notifications

Space + N

Recent Apps

Space + R

Enter (in Edit field)

Space + dot 8

Backspace (in Edit field)

Space + dot 7

Windows PCs

Before connecting Orbit Reader with a PC, you must first decide how you
wish to connect: Bluetooth or USB. This is a personal preference. USB
charges the device as you use it, so it is a good choice when your battery is
low. Bluetooth does not use wires, so it is a good choice when you are on
the go.

Connecting Windows with USB

Normally, modern screen readers support the HID protocol, which means
you do not have to install any drivers to use Orbit Reader with a PC screen
reader. If your screen reader does not support HID, switch to Serial mode on
the Orbit Reader with the hot key or selecting Serial from the USB option in
the menu.

For Windows versions 7 and up, the serial interface requires the installation
of two drivers: one for the USB and one to make the USB port appear like a
COM port. The only exception is Windows XP. Because it is Serial only, it can
just be plugged in. The second driver is required because many screen
reading programs handle braille displays like a serial device. The COM port
assignment driver shows the assigned port number used to communicate
with the display. Take a note of the COM port number now for later use. If
you need to look it up at a later time, go to Device Manager while the
display is connected and look in the section for Ports: COM and LPT. One of
the COM ports is assigned to Orbit Reader 20. You need to use that number
when you set up your screen reader.

Once the display is connected to the device you wish to use, configure the
software to use Orbit Reader.

Connecting Windows with Bluetooth

When connecting the Orbit Reader with Bluetooth, follow these steps:

1. On the PC, perform a Bluetooth search.

2. Select the Orbit Reader from the list of Bluetooth devices.

3. Compare the code shown in the Bluetooth dialog on the Windows PC

with the code shown on your display. If they are the same, press Yes.
If the code does not match, select No and try the next Orbit Reader in
the list. The purpose of this procedure is to allow for more than one
Orbit Reader device to be paired in the same room at the same time
without pairing the wrong device.

The device pairs with the Orbit Reader and an incoming Bluetooth virtual
serial port is set up on the PC.

Next, check the Ports list in the Windows Device Manager to find the COM
port number assigned to the incoming Bluetooth serial port. Make a note of
this number.

In your screen reader on the PC, set the active Braille display COM port to
use as the relevant Bluetooth serial port COM number.

NonVisual Desktop Access (NVDA) (Version 2016.3 or
later)

If you have NVDA installed on your PC, it may automatically recognize the
Orbit Reader, depending on the settings. If NVDA is not recognizing the
display, go to the NVDA Preferences menu and select Braille Settings from
the list. From the braille display drop-down menu, select
"Baum/Humanware/APH/Orbit Displays" and click OK.

If Orbit Reader 20 is not one of the displays shown in the Braille Display list,
upgrade NVDA to the newest version and repeat the process.

NVDA turns on braille output when it is configured for the display. To turn off
braille support, select No Braille from the Braille Display options in the Braille
Settings menu.

NVDA Commands

Function

Keys

Scroll braille display back

Space + dot 2

Scroll braille display forward

Space + dot 5

Move braille display to previous line

Space + dot 1

Move braille display to next line

Space + dot 3

For displays that have a joystick:

Function

Key

Up Arrow key

up

Down Arrow key

down

Left Arrow key

left

Right Arrow key

right

Enter key

select

JAWS

If you use the JAWS screen reader and it is already installed, the Orbit
Reader setup program installs drivers to make the braille display and JAWS
work together. If you have not already installed JAWS, install it first, then
run the Orbit Reader setup program.

Start JAWS, and open its main screen. For JAWS versions 11 or later, select
the Braille item in the Options menu. Select Orbit Reader 20 from the braille
display list.

JAWS turns on braille output when you configure it for the display. To turn
off braille support, select No Display from the Options/Braille menu.

Note: For a longer description of any of the following commands, turn JAWS
keyboard Help on by pressing Insert + 1 and type the command. Quickly
type the command twice to get an even longer description. Press Insert + 1
again to exit JAWS keyboard Help mode.

Jaws Commands

Jaws Reading Commands

Function

Key(s)

Move display to the left

Left Arrow

Move display to the right

Right Arrow

Move display up one line

Up Arrow

Move display down one line

Down Arrow

Pan left one braille window

Left Advance Bar

Pan right one braille window

Right Advance Bar

Top of active window

Select + dots 1 2 3

Bottom of active window

Select + dots 4 5 6

Route braille to active cursor

R

Say current line

Space + dots 1 4

Say current word

Space + dots 2 5

Say current character

Space + dots 3 6

Jaws Navigation Commands

Function

Keys

Previous document window

Space + dots 1 3

Next document window

Space + dots 4 6

Beginning of file

Space + dots 1 2 3

End of file

Space + dots 4 5 6

Page Up

Space + dots 1 2 3 4 5

Page Down

Space + dots 1 2 4 5 6

Home

Space + dots 1 2 3 4

End

Space + dots 1 4 5 6

Up Arrow

Space + dot 1

Down Arrow

Space + dot 4

Previous word

Space + dot 2

Next word

Space + dot 5

Previous character

Space + dot 3

Next character

Space + dot 6

Jaws Editing Commands

Function

Keys

Backspace (acts as shift key when typing braille
characters)

Space + dot 7
Enter

Space + dot 8

Tab

Space + dots 4 5

Shift + Tab

Space + dots 1 2

Delete current character

Space + D

Select all

Space + dots 1 8

Select to top of document

Space + dots 1 2 3 7 8

Select to bottom of document

Space + dots 4 5 6 7 8

Select previous page

Space + dots 1 2 3 4 5
7 8

Select next page

Space + dots 1 2 4 5 6
7 8

Select to beginning of line

Space + dots 1 2 3 4 7
8

Select to end of line

Space + dots 1 4 5 6 7
8

Select previous line

Space + dots 1 7 8

Select next line

Space + dots 4 7 8

Select previous word

Space + dots 2 7 8

Select next word

Space + dots 5 7 8

Select previous character

Space + dots 3 7 8

Select next character

Space + dots 6 7 8

Copy to clipboard

Space + dots 1 4 8

Cut to clipboard

Space + dots 1 3 4 6 8

Paste clipboard

Space + dots 1 2 3 6 8

Undo

Space + dots 1 3 5 6 8

Jaws Windows Commands

Function

Keys

Start menu

Space + dots 1 3 4 7 8

Toggle menu bar

Space + M

Escape

Space + dots 1 3 5 6

Alt Tab

Space + T

Minimize all applications

Space + dots 1 4 5 7 8

Jaws General Commands

Function

Keys

Toggle keyboard help

Space + dots 1 4 5 6

Toggle type keys mode

Space + dots 1 2 3 4 5 6

JAWS cursor

Select + J

PC cursor

Select + P

Route JAWS cursor to PC cursor

Select + dots 1 4

Say all to bottom

Space + dots 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Toggle grade 2 translation

Space + G (dots 1 2 4 5)

Toggle grade 2 translation of current word

Select + W (dots 2 4 5 6)

Display last flash message

Select, F

JAWS find

Space + F

JAWS find next

Space + dots 2 5 7 8

JAWS find previous

Space + dots 2 5 7 8

Toggle active cursor follows braille

Select + dot 1

Toggle braille follows active cursor

Select + dot 4

Cycle through braille modes

Select + M

Display six-dot braille

Select + dots 2 3 5

Display eight-dot braille

Select + dots 2 3 6

Toggle cursor shape

Select + dots 1 4 6

Restrict braille cursor

Select + R

Toggle characters and attributes

Select + dots 1 6

Braille colour marking

Select + dots 1 4

Select attributes to be displayed

Select + dots 1 3

Set 8 characters per space

Space + dots 2 3 6

Set unlimited characters per space

Space + dots 1 3 6

Toggle 8/unlimited characters per space

Select + dots 1 3 4 6

Cycle table reading options

Select + T

Cycle table header options

Select + H

Graphics labeler

Select + G

Adjust braille options

Select + B

Adjust JAWS options

Select + dots 1 2 3 6

JAWS window

Space + J

Run JAWS Manager

Space + dots 2 3 7 8

List of links on page

Space + dots 2 3 5 6 7 8

Show current time

Space + dots 2 3 4 5 7 8

Show script file name

Select + dots 1 2 3 4 5

Quit JAWS

Space + dots 2 5 6 7 8

Jaws Special Key Commands

Function

Keys

Ctrl + A - Ctrl + Z

dot 8 + any letter

F1 - F10

dot 7 + Computer Braille number 1 - 0 (0 = F10)

Ctrl + F1 - Ctrl + F10

dot 8 + Computer Braille number 1 - 0

System Access

To connect Orbit Reader 20 to System Access, the device must be connected
by a Standard-A to Micro-B USB cable and set in HID protocol mode.

1. Press Space to open menu.

2. Arrow Down to the USB selection.

3. Arrow Right or Left to select HID.

4. Press select.

5. Press dot 7 to return to the last location.

Another way to quickly switch to HID mode is to use the short cut keys
Space + dots 2 7.

After running System Access in HID mode, connect the USB cable and wait
up to 30 seconds. System Access announces when Orbit Reader 20 is
connected.

Window-Eyes

To connect to Window-Eyes using USB, the Orbit Reader USB protocol must
be set to Serial. To set it to Serial, press Space to open the menu and arrow

down to USB. Once on the USB menu item, press the Right or Left Arrow
keys to select Serial and then press Select. Pressing dot 7 exits the menu.

To select a display, open the Braille Display option in the Window-Eyes File
menu. There is no driver for Window-Eyes for versions prior to 7.1;
however, you may use Orbit Reader by selecting any Baum display with
input keys. The Vario Connect and the Braille Connect are two that work.
Select the display and set the COM port number established when
connecting to a Windows PC.

Key Lock Command

The Key Lock command prevents accidental key presses. The command is to
hold dots 7 8 for two seconds or more. Pressing and holding these same
keys again unlocks the keys. You can also unlock the keys by turning the
device off and back on again.

System Alerts

System alerts, such as "Battery low" are indicated by a periodic cycling of
the eight dots in the last cell of the device. Any information in that cell is
displayed again after the notification.

Alerts are seen by invoking the Menu or the Editor Context Menu. Pressing
Select causes the next alert to appear, if there are any more. The alert is
removed from the alert list once it has been displayed.

If no more alerts are in the list, the first Menu or Editor Context Menu item
appears. Pressing dot 7 clears all pending alerts and puts you back at the
first Menu or Editor Context Menu item.

If the alert message length is longer than 20 characters, the user can
navigate through the message using the Panning buttons. If you are already
in the Menu or Editor Context Menu when an alert happens, you can review
the alert by pressing the Space key.

Reboot the Device

The unit can be rebooted by pressing the lower Right Panning key + dot 8.
There is no indication of the reset event. The unit is in power off condition
after reset and needs to be powered on before it can be used.

Device Upgrade Procedure

There are two parts to the upgrade: 1) downloading the software and 2)
upgrading the Orbit Reader 20. Each part of the upgrade is explained in the
following two sections of this document. Read each section carefully before
proceeding.

Download the Software

To implement this release, you need a PC running Microsoft® Windows XP or
later. Click on the Orbit Reader 20 firmware file to download the necessary
software.

When download is complete, follow these steps:

1. Open the folder on your computer where the firmware file was

downloaded.

2. Right click on the file and choose "Extract all" OR select the file by

arrowing to it, press the application key and choose "Extract all" from
the Context menu.

3. Follow the dialog steps to extract it to a folder of your choice.

When finished, your chosen folder should contain a folder named after the
version of the release, for example, OR20_XX.XX.XX. Make a note of the
location of this folder for use in the next section of this document.

Install the Software

The following are required to perform the upgrade to the Orbit Reader 20:

• Orbit Reader 20 Unit

• Standard-A to Micro-B USB cable

• A PC running Windows XP or later

• Orbit Reader 20 Upgrade Utility file found in the Orbit Reader 20 folder

(see Download the Software section).

• Orbit Reader 20 release bin file found in the Orbit Reader 20 folder

(see Download the Software section).

To upgrade the firmware, follow these steps:

1. Make sure the Orbit Reader is turned off.

2. Connect the Orbit Reader to the PC using the USB cable.

3. In the Release folder on your PC, run the Orbit Reader 20 Firmware
Upgrade Utility. If you receive an error message, see Troubleshooting

section. The utility shows message “Orbit Reader 20 is connected” in device
status field. It also shows the message “Do you want to upgrade the
device?” in the message field at the bottom of the dialog.

4. Press and hold down the Right Panning forward button + dot 5, then
press and hold dot 8.

5. Release dot 8 first, then release the Right Panning button and dot 5. This
switches the Orbit reader 20 into Upgrade mode. You should hear a tone on
your PC.

6. The utility shows the device serial number and the software version of the
device at top right corner of the window. If the serial number is blank,
repeat steps 4 and 5.

7. Activate the Browse button found in the dialog.

8. Browse and select the firmware bin file from your PC. The file is in the
folder you unzipped previously.

9. Once file is selected, the dialog shows the software version of the selected
file.

10. Activate the Upgrade button.

11. The utility starts upgrading the device.

12. Do not unplug the cable. Wait for the message “Device upgrade has
been completed” on the upgrade utility or until the Orbit Reader reboots and

shuts down.

13. The Orbit Reader is upgraded. Turn on to start using the device.

To check for successful upgrade of the device, press Space to open the Orbit
Reader Menu and arrow to "Version" in the list. The version number of the
firmware release should match the number on the display.

Troubleshooting

If the upgrade utility shows the error message below, please download C++
Redistributable and install on the PC.

Error message: The application has failed to start because its side-by-side
configuration is incorrect. Please see the application event log or use the
command-line sxstrace.exe tool for more detail.

If Orbit Reader does not come on or seems to freeze, use these steps:

1. Plug in power to ensure the battery is charged. Use the supplied AC

wall connector and cable to obtain the most reliable power source. Let
the unit charge for at least a few hours.

2. Hold the Power Button for at least two seconds. If the unit is on, it

should turn off. If it is off, it should come on.

3. Remove the SD card, then hold the Power button for two seconds. If

the card was the cause of the problem, the unit should come on.

4. Unplug Power, then hold the Power Button for at least two seconds.

5. Hold the Power Button for at least 10 seconds.

6. Press the Reset command (press Space + dot 5 + Right Panning key).

Try the Power button again.

7. Finally, remove the battery. Leave it out for a few minutes, reconnect

it, then try the steps again.

Battery Use and Replacement

Orbit Reader includes a rechargeable Lithium-ion 2200mAh capacity battery.
It fully charges in about three hours under optimal conditions. When you
plug in the cable, "Battery plugged in" is briefly displayed. Once charged,
"Battery charged" is displayed. A full battery charge lasts approximately
three days of typical use. Check the battery level in the menu.

The battery in Orbit Reader should last several years. Gradually, the battery
begins holding its charge for less and less time. When the amount of time
the battery holds a charge becomes inconvenient, it is time for replacement.

To replace the battery, follow these steps:

1. Obtain a replacement battery. Use only the battery designed for Orbit

Reader 20.

2. Remove the battery door screws.

3. Remove the battery door.

4. Carefully unplug the connector. Do not pull on the wire. Use the

connector instead.

5. Insert the new battery.

6. Replace the cover and screws.

Accessories Information

Orbit Reader 20 has two holes on the lower-back corners of the device, one
on each corner. The holes are there to provide a means to attach a strap to
the device with the use of key rings. The key rings can be 10-40mm in
diameter and up to 3mm in thickness. The strap and key rings are not
included with the purchase of the Orbit Reader 20.

General Specifications

Dimensions
(WxHxD)

6.61 x 1.4 x 4.41 inch (168 x 3.56 x 112 cm)
Weight

0.99 lbs (450 grams)

Braille Cells

20 eight-dot refreshable braille cells; Refresh rate < 1
sec

Braille Input Keys

8-key Perkins style keypad, with space bar
High-quality scissors-type keys

Additional Keys

Power on/off button
4-way cursor keys and select key
2 pan keys, rocker type

Supported File
Formats

.txt, .brl, .brf
(reads other files as well, but output may not be
meaningful)

OS Support

Windows: NVDA, JAWS, Windows-Eyes, Supernova
Mac OS X: Voiceover
iOS: Voiceover
Android: Brailleback

Interfaces and
Ports

1x Micro B USB port, USB 2.0, for host interface,
firmware upgrade and battery charging
Bluetooth 2.1, Class 2

Flash Media Slot

1x SD card (4GB to 32GB capacity)

Battery

User-replaceable rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery;
2200mAH

Battery Life

3 days of typical use

Charging Method

PC charger: Charge over USB Port – 5V, 500mA Max
Wall charger: Charge over USB Port – 5V, 1000mA
Max; USB BC1.2 compliant charger required

Environmental
Conditions

Operational:
Temperature: 5° C to 45° C
Humidity: 10% - 70% relative humidity

Storage:
Temperature: -15° C to 70° C
Humidity: 5% - 90% relative humidity

Appendix A - Proper Trademark Notice
and Attribution

Android™ and Google™ are trademarks of Google Inc.

Apple®, iPad®, iPhone®, iPod®, and Mac® are registered trademarks or
service marks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.

Bluetooth® is a registered trademark of Bluetooth SIG, Inc.

iOS® is a registered trademark of Cisco in the U.S. and other countries and
is used under license by Apple Inc.

JAWS® is a registered trademark of Freedom Scientific, Inc.

Microsoft® and Windows® are registered trademarks of Microsoft
Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries.

Orbit Reader 20 is a trademark of Orbit Research.

Appendix B - Warranty Info

Hardware Limited Warranty

The Orbit Braille Reader 20 is under warranty for a period of one year from
the date of purchase by the original purchaser and covers manufacturer's
defects under normal use. Product modification, general wear and tear or
damage due to negligence are not covered by the warranty.

Appendix C - Computer Braille Chart

ASCII Code

Character

Dot Combination

33

!

2-3-4-6

34

"

5

35

#

3-4-5-6

36

$

1-2-4-6

37

%

1-4-6

38

&

1-2-3-4-6

39

'

3

40

(

1-2-3-5-6

41

)

2-3-4-5-6

42

*

1-6

43

+

3-4-6

44

,

6

45

-

3-6

46

.

4-6

47

/

3-4

48

0

3-5-6

49

1

2

50

2

2-3

51

3

2-5

52

4

2-5-6

53

5

2-6

54

6

2-3-5

55

7

2-3-5-6

56

8

2-3-6

57

9

3-5

58

:

1-5-6

59

;

5-6

60

<

1-2-6

61

=

1-2-3-4-5-6

62

>

3-4-5

63

?

1-4-5-6

64

@

4-7

65

A

1-7

66

B

1-2-7

67

C

1-4-7

68

D

1-4-5-7

69

E

1-5-7

70

F

1-2-4-7

71

G

1-2-4-5-7

72

H

1-2-5-7

73

I

2-4-7

74

J

2-4-5-7

75

K

1-3-7

76

L

1-2-3-7

77

M

1-3-4-7

78

N

1-3-4-5-7

79

O

1-3-5-7

80

P

1-2-3-4-7

81

Q

1-2-3-4-5-7

82

R

1-2-3-5-7

83

S

2-3-4-7

84

T

2-3-4-5-7

85

U

1-3-6-7

86

V

1-2-3-6-7

87

W

2-4-5-6-7

88

X

1-3-4-6-7

89

Y

1-3-4-5-6-7

90

Z

1-3-5-6-7

91

[

2-4-6

92

\

1-2-5-6

93

]

1-2-4-5-6

94

^

4-5

95

_

4-5-6

96

`

4

97

a

1

98

b

1-2

99

c

1-4

100

d

1-4-5

101

e

1-5

102

f

1-2-4

103

g

1-2-4-5

104

h

1-2-5

105

i

2-4

106

j

2-4-5

107

k

1-3

108

l

1-2-3

109

m

1-3-4

110

n

1-3-4-5

111

o

1-3-5

112

p

1-2-3-4

113

q

1-2-3-4-5

114

r

1-2-3-5

115

s

2-3-4

116

t

2-3-4-5

117

u

1-3-6

118

v

1-2-3-6

119

w

2-4-5-6

120

x

1-3-4-6

121

y

1-3-4-5-6

122

z

1-3-5-6

123

{

2-4-6-7

124

|

1-2-5-6-7

125

}

1-2-4-5-6-7

126

~

4-5-7