BrailleSense
Polaris MINI
User Manual
ENGLISH MANUAL
for Software Version 1.0
SELVAS Healthcare, Inc.
155, Sinseong-ro, Yuseong-gu,
Daejeon, Korea 34109
Phone: +82-42-879-3000
Fax: +82-42-864-4462
Email: hims@himsintl.com
Website: www.himsintl.com
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Safety Precautions
For your safety and protection of the BrailleSense Polaris MINI, please
read and abide by the following safety precautions.
1.The input voltage of the AC adapter is 100V - 240V, and the output is
DC 5V / 2A.
2.When the BrailleSense Polaris MINI is shipped, the battery may be
packaged separate from the unit to avoid damage. When you use the
BrailleSense Polaris MINI for the first time, you may need to open the
package, remove the battery, and insert it into the battery slot at the
underside of the unit. (See section 1, introduction, for more details on
inserting the battery.) It is possible that the dealer or distributor from
whom you purchased the BrailleSense Polaris MINI has already done
this for you. The battery may not be fully charged when it is shipped.
Before you use the BrailleSense Polaris MINI, you should ensure the
battery is fully charged.
3.When you use the BrailleSense Polaris MINI with the battery for the first
time, the battery status may not be displayed accurately. To avoid this,
leave the BrailleSense Polaris MINI connected to the AC adapter for
about four hours with the unit turned on. If you want to use the
BrailleSense Polaris MINI immediately, you may use it while it is
charging.
4.If you want or need to remove the battery from the unit, power the unit
off, and then remove the battery. If the unit is connected to AC power,
before re-inserting the battery in to the unit, make certain that the
power is off.
There is a risk of explosion if the battery is replaced by an incorrect
type. Please make certain to use only battery packs produced
specifically for the BrailleSense Polaris MINI by SELVAS Healthcare.
Please dispose of used batteries according to the instructions.
5.If the usage time is less than 50% as compared to the stated battery
run time in the product specifications, even after a full charge, it is
recommended that you replace the battery.
6.It is recommended to remove and store the battery separate from the
product during long periods of disuse.
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7.If you drill into or disassemble the product or battery using a sharp point,
it may cause electric shock, explosion or fire.
8.When you are using the BrailleSense Polaris MINI on battery power,
the status of the remaining battery power is announced when the
battery charge is low. When the battery’s charge falls below 15 percent,
connect the AC adapter to the unit for recharging. If the remaining
battery charge drops to five percent, and the unit is not connected to
the AC adapter, the BrailleSense Polaris MINI goes in to Sleep mode
one minute after the announcement of the battery’s status. At 2%, the
unit shuts down to preserve settings, etc. The amount of battery life
per charge varies depending on the options you have set and the
number and type of tasks you are running.
9.Your BrailleSense Polaris MINI needs to be handled with care. The
BrailleSense Polaris MINI is a very delicate machine. Please handle
the unit in a proper, careful manner. The BrailleSense Polaris MINI is
very sensitive to dust. Make sure to keep it away from dusty
environments.
10.The Braille cells are very sensitive, intricate parts. If the Braille cells
are not working properly due to the presence of dust or for any other
reason, please contact our repair center, or the dealer from whom you
purchased the BrailleSense Polaris MINI for support.
11.You should register your BrailleSense Polaris MINI in order to ensure
further maintenance, service, and upgrade information. In the US,
please visit www.hims-inc.com, to register your information. If you
have any trouble when registering your information, please contact the
dealer from whom you purchased your BrailleSense Polaris MINI for
help. International customers should contact their regional dealer for
information about product registration.
12.Do not disassemble the BrailleSense Polaris MINI yourself. Do not
have anyone else who is not authorized by HIMS take apart the
BrailleSense Polaris MINI. If an unqualified person disassembles the
unit, serious damage may occur. If an unauthorized person
disassembles the unit, it is excluded from any free maintenance, and
the warranty becomes void. If any liquid or external force damages the
unit, it may also be excluded from free maintenance, even if the
damage occurs during the warranty period. The BrailleSense Polaris
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MINI contains a Liquid Contact Indicator sticker that will change color
if the unit comes in contact with water or other liquids. This indicator
will not activate under humid or other conditions that fall within the
product’s normal environmental requirements.
13.Do not leave your BrailleSense Polaris MINI in closed, high
temperature environments such as inside a car on a hot summer day,
as the battery may be damaged or catch fire. Please do
not let your BrailleSense Polaris MINI remain in such
environments for long periods of time.
14.To prevent possible damage to your hearing, do not
listen to audio at high volume levels for long periods.
15.This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits
for a Class B digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules.
These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against
harmful interference in a residential installation.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions.
1)This device may not cause harmful interference, and
2)This device must accept any interference received, including
interference that may cause undesired operation.
This equipment can generate, use and radiate radio frequency energy
and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may
cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there
is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular
installation.
If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television
reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and
on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or
more of the following measures:
- Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
- Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
- Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that
to which the receiver is connected.
- Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
FCC RF Radiation Exposure Statement:
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This equipment complies with FCC RF radiation exposure limits set
forth for an uncontrolled environment. This transmitter must not be colocated or operating in conjunction with any other antenna or
transmitter. Changes or modifications not expressly approved by
SELVAS Healthcare may void your authority to operate the equipment
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Congratulations on the purchase of your BrailleSense Polaris MINI! The
BrailleSense Polaris MINI is capable of doing everything that an ordinary
tablet can do, and more – all without the need for a screen!
I. Your BrailleSense Polaris MINI packing box should
contain the following items:
1) BrailleSense Polaris MINI
2) Battery
3) Carrying Case
4) AC adapter
5) USB C Cable
6) Earbuds
7) Braille Commands Summary
II. How to use this manual
In this manual you will see references to hot keys and shortcut keys.
These keys refer to ways to access menus and functions quickly by using
a combination of keystrokes. Please note that not all hot keys and shortcut
keys will work from every location on the BrailleSense Polaris MINI. Some
hot keys and shortcut keys are program specific, thus, they require that
you be within a specific program for them to work.
Shortcut keys refer to keystrokes used to quickly activate a function from
within a menu. Hot keys refer to keys that will activate a function
regardless of where you are within the program. When functions are
described in this manual, shortcut keys are shown in parentheses, and
hot keys are shown in quotes.
This user manual notes how to press hot keys and shortcut keys in the
following manner: Keys that are to be pressed at the same time are
separated by a - (dash). When you see “Space-b (dots 1-2),” this means
that you should press “Space” and dots 1 and 2 simultaneously.
If you are unable to find a solution to a problem within the manual, or if
you need assistance with the BrailleSense Polaris MINI, please email us
at support@himsintl.com. You may also visit us on the web at
www.himsintl.com; or, you can call us at +82 42 864 4460.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................... 18
1.1 What is the BrailleSense Polaris MINI? ................................................................ 18
1.2 Hardware ................................................................................................................ 19
1.2.1 The Top Panel .................................................................................................. 19
1.2.2 The Right Panel ................................ ................................ ............................... 20
1.2.3 The Left Panel .................................................................................................. 20
1.2.4 The Front Panel ............................................................................................... 21
1.2.5 The Bottom Face ............................................................................................. 22
1.3 Hardware Specifications ....................................................................................... 23
1.4 Memory on the BrailleSense Polaris MINI ........................................................... 24
2. BASIC FUNCTIONS OF THE BRAILLESENSE POLARIS MINI ............................. 25
2.1 How to Enter Commands ...................................................................................... 25
2.1.1 Basic Alerts and Messages ............................................................................ 25
2.2 Menu Concepts ...................................................................................................... 26
2.2.1 Control Symbols .............................................................................................. 30
2.3 Using the Function Keys ....................................................................................... 35
2.4 The Power Adapter and the Battery Pack ............................................................ 36
2.5 Controlling the Volume, Speed, and Pitch of the TTS ........................................ 37
2.6 Using Speech and Braille ...................................................................................... 38
2.7 Entering Text ................................ ................................ ................................ .......... 38
2.8 Multi Tasking ................................ ................................ ................................ .......... 39
2.9 Switching Media Modes ........................................................................................ 41
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2.10 Switching Key Lock ............................................................................................. 42
2.11 One-Handed Mode ............................................................................................... 42
2.12 Using Typing Mode .............................................................................................. 43
3. CUSTOMIZING YOUR NOTETAKER ....................................................................... 45
3.1 Set Time and Date .................................................................................................. 45
3.2 Setup Internet ......................................................................................................... 48
3.2.1 Setup Wireless LAN ........................................................................................ 48
3.2.2 LAN Setup ........................................................................................................ 52
3.3 Bluetooth Manager ................................................................................................ 53
3.3.1 Bluetooth Device List ...................................................................................... 54
3.3.2 Bluetooth Service List .................................................................................... 56
3.4 Backup/Restore Polaris Settings.......................................................................... 58
3.5 Change Device Name ............................................................................................ 60
3.6 Quick Start Guide................................................................................................... 61
3.7 Password Protection ............................................................................................. 61
3.7.1 Setting and Modifying Passwords ................................................................. 62
3.7.2 Password Configuration ................................................................................. 63
3.7.3 Reset Password to Factory Defaults ............................................................. 63
3.8 Initialize Polaris Options ....................................................................................... 64
3.9 Voice Options ......................................................................................................... 64
3.10 Polaris Global Options ........................................................................................ 65
3.10.1 Global Options in Detail ................................................................................ 67
3.11 Android Backup & Reset ................................ ..................................................... 72
3.12 Android System Settings .................................................................................... 72
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4. FILE MANAGER ................................ ................................ ....................................... 74
4.1 Overview ................................................................................................................. 74
4.1.1 Navigating the File List ................................................................................... 75
4.1.2 Selecting Folders and Files ............................................................................ 76
4.2 Working with Files and Folders ............................................................................ 77
4.2.1 Entering and Exiting Folders.......................................................................... 77
4.2.2 Ejecting USB Drives and SD Cards ............................................................... 78
4.3 The File Menu ......................................................................................................... 78
4.4 The Edit Menu ........................................................................................................ 80
4.5 The View Menu ....................................................................................................... 81
4.6 Using the Address Window .................................................................................. 81
5. WORD PROCESSOR ............................................................................................... 83
5.1 File Menu ................................................................................................................ 83
5.2 Edit Menu ................................................................................................................ 85
5.3 Insert Menu ............................................................................................................. 86
5.4 Go to Menu ............................................................................................................. 87
5.5 Read Menu .............................................................................................................. 88
5.6 Layout Menu ........................................................................................................... 89
5.7 Miscellaneous Functions ...................................................................................... 89
6. E-MAIL ...................................................................................................................... 91
6.1 Executing E-mail .................................................................................................... 91
6.2 Setting Up an Account .......................................................................................... 92
6.3 Managing Accounts ............................................................................................... 97
6.4 Receiving E-mail .................................................................................................... 99
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6.5 Reading Messages................................................................................................. 99
6.6 Writing E-mail ....................................................................................................... 102
6.6.1 Attaching a File .............................................................................................. 104
6.6.2 Saving E-mail to the Outbox......................................................................... 104
6.7 Navigating Accounts and Mailboxes .................................................................. 105
6.7.1 Managing Mailboxes ..................................................................................... 106
6.7.2 Copying and Moving to Mailboxes .............................................................. 107
6.8 Advanced Message Features .............................................................................. 108
6.8.1 Reply and Reply All ....................................................................................... 108
6.8.2 Forwarding a Message ................................ .................................................. 109
6.8.3 Saving an E-mail ............................................................................................ 109
6.8.4 Finding Messages ......................................................................................... 110
6.8.5 Move to Next Unread Message..................................................................... 111
6.9 Using the Tools Menu .......................................................................................... 111
6.9.1 Set Path ................................ ................................ .......................................... 111
6.9.2 Set Options .................................................................................................... 112
6.9.3 Spam Settings ............................................................................................... 113
7. MEDIA ..................................................................................................................... 116
7.1 Media Player ......................................................................................................... 116
7.1.1 Using the Media Buttons .............................................................................. 116
7.1.2 Media Player Layout ...................................................................................... 118
7.1.3 The File Menu ................................................................................................ 120
7.1.4 The Play Menu ............................................................................................... 121
7.1.5 Making Recordings ....................................................................................... 122
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7.1.6 The Position Menu ........................................................................................ 122
7.1.7 The Mark Menu ................................................................ .............................. 122
7.1.8 The Settings Menu ........................................................................................ 123
7.2 FM Radio ............................................................................................................... 123
7.2.1 Listening to FM Radio via the Internal Speakers ........................................ 124
7.2.2 Frequency Control ........................................................................................ 124
7.2.3 Adding and Navigating Presets ................................................................... 125
7.2.4 Recording from the FM Radio ................................................................ ...... 126
7.2.5 Additional Features ....................................................................................... 128
7.3 DAISY Player ........................................................................................................ 128
7.3.1 Arrangement of the DAISY Player ................................................................ 129
7.3.2 The File Menu ................................................................................................ 131
7.3.3 The Document Menu ..................................................................................... 131
7.3.4 The Mark Menu ................................................................ .............................. 132
7.3.5 The Headings Menu ...................................................................................... 132
7.3.6 The Memo Menu ............................................................................................ 133
8. ORGANIZER. .......................................................................................................... 134
8.1 Address Manager ................................................................................................. 134
8.1.1 Adding an Address ....................................................................................... 135
8.1.2 Setting Add Address Fields.......................................................................... 136
8.1.3 Searching For an Address ............................................................................ 136
8.1.4 Setting Searching Address Fields ............................................................... 137
8.1.5 Backing up and Restoring the Address List ............................................... 138
8.1.6 Importing from CSV ...................................................................................... 139
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8.1.7 Exporting to CSV ........................................................................................... 140
8.1.8 Editing, Saving, and Deleting Addresses .................................................... 140
8.1.9 Syncing Contacts .......................................................................................... 141
8.2 Schedule Manager ............................................................................................... 142
8.2.1 Adding an Appointment ................................................................................ 143
8.2.2 Setting a Recurring Appointment ................................................................ 145
8.2.3 Search Appointments ................................................................................... 147
8.2.4 Editing, Saving, and Deleting Appointments .............................................. 148
8.2.5 Backing up and Restoring Your Appointments .......................................... 150
8.2.6 Multiple Accounts and Syncing ................................................................... 151
8.2.7 Setting Alarm Options .................................................................................. 152
9. WEB TOOLS .......................................................................................................... 154
9.1 Web Browser ........................................................................................................ 154
9.1.1 The File Menu ................................................................................................ 155
9.1.2 The Edit Menu ................................................................................................ 155
9.1.3 The Go To Menu ............................................................................................ 156
9.1.4 The Read Menu .............................................................................................. 157
9.1.5 The Favorites Menu ....................................................................................... 157
9.1.6 Options ........................................................................................................... 157
9.1.7 Navigating Page Elements ........................................................................... 158
9.1.8 Table Navigation ............................................................................................ 160
9.1.9 Playback of Streaming Audio Files .............................................................. 162
10. EXTRAS ................................................................................................................ 164
10.1 Excel Viewer ....................................................................................................... 164
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10.1.1 General Navigation ...................................................................................... 164
10.1.2 The File Menu .............................................................................................. 166
10.1.3 The Edit Menu .............................................................................................. 166
10.1.4 The Go To Menu .......................................................................................... 167
10.1.5 The Read Menu ............................................................................................ 167
10.1.6 The View Menu ............................................................................................ 168
10.2 Online DAISY ...................................................................................................... 169
10.3 Sense Dictionary ................................................................................................ 170
11. UTILITIES ............................................................................................................. 172
11.1 Calculator ........................................................................................................... 172
11.1.1 General Functions ....................................................................................... 173
11.1.2 Fractional Arithmetic .................................................................................. 174
11.1.3 Memory Functions ...................................................................................... 174
11.1.4 Sine Functions ............................................................................................. 176
11.1.5 Cosine Functions ........................................................................................ 176
11.1.6 Tangent Functions ...................................................................................... 177
11.1.7 Logarithm Functions ................................ ................................................... 177
11.1.8 Convert Unit ................................................................................................. 177
11.1.9 Copy to Clipboard ....................................................................................... 179
11.1.10 Return Formula .......................................................................................... 180
11.1.11 Option Settings .......................................................................................... 180
11.2 Display Compass Heading ................................................................................ 181
11.2.1 Options of Gyrocompass ........................................................................... 181
11.3 Display Time and Date ....................................................................................... 182
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11.4 Wake up Alarm ................................................................................................... 182
11.5 Stopwatch ........................................................................................................... 184
11.6 Terminal for Screen Reader .............................................................................. 185
11.6.1 Terminal Clipboard ...................................................................................... 186
11.7 Display Network Status ..................................................................................... 188
11.8 Display Power Status ........................................................................................ 188
11.9 Format ................................................................................................................. 189
11.10 Set Sleep Timer ................................................................................................ 190
11.11 Upgrading Polaris MINI Firmware ................................................................... 190
11.11.1 Upgrading the Polaris MINI Firmware Using the Internet ...................... 192
11.11.2 Upgrading the Polaris MINI Firmware from a Disk ................................. 193
12. INSTALLING AND USING NATIVE ANDROID APPS ......................................... 195
13. USING THE HELP MENU ..................................................................................... 199
14. TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE ............................................................................. 201
14.1 The BrailleSense Polaris MINI Will Not Turn On ............................................. 201
14.2 The Voice Cannot Be Heard .............................................................................. 201
14.3 The Voice is Too Fast to Understand ............................................................... 201
14.4 The Voice Pitch Is Too Low or Too High to Understand ................................ 202
14.5 You Don't Know Where You Are ....................................................................... 202
14.6 No Internet Connection ..................................................................................... 202
14.7 E-mail .................................................................................................................. 202
14.8 The Braille display Does Not Display Braille ................................................... 203
14.9 The BrailleSense Polaris MINI Does Not Speak when using Play store or Android
Apps 203
14.10 The BrailleSense Menus are Not Displayed or Spoken ................................ 203
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14.11 The BrailleSense Polaris MINI Does Not Respond ........................................ 204
14.12 USB or SD Files Seem to Contain 0 Bytes ..................................................... 205
15. COMMAND SUMMARY ........................................................................................ 206
15.1 Common Combination Keys ............................................................................. 206
15.2 Quick Launch Commands ................................................................................. 208
15.3 File Manager ....................................................................................................... 210
15.3.1 Navigation Keys for the File and Menu List .............................................. 210
15.3.2 Navigation Keys for the File List ................................................................ 210
15.3.3 Selection Commands .................................................................................. 211
15.3.4 File Menu Commands ................................................................................. 211
15.3.5 Edit Menu Commands ................................................................................. 211
15.3.6 View Menu Commands ............................................................................... 212
15.4 Word Processor ................................................................................................. 212
15.4.1 File Menu Commands ................................................................................. 212
15.4.2 Edit Menu Commands ................................................................................. 213
15.4.3 Insert Menu Commands .............................................................................. 213
15.4.4 Go To Commands ....................................................................................... 213
15.4.5 Read Commands ......................................................................................... 214
15.4.6 Layout Commands ...................................................................................... 215
15.4.7 Miscellaneous Hot Keys ............................................................................. 215
15.5 E-mail .................................................................................................................. 216
15.5.1 Hot Keys for the Inbox ................................................................................ 216
15.5.2 Hot keys for Sending E-mail ....................................................................... 217
15.5.3 Hot Keys for Reading/Writing an E-mail Message .................................... 217
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15.6 Media ................................................................................................................... 218
15.6.1 Media Player ................................................................................................ 218
15.6.2 FM Radio ...................................................................................................... 221
15.6.3 DAISY Player ................................................................................................ 222
15.7 Organizer ............................................................................................................ 224
15.7.1 Address Manager ........................................................................................ 224
15.7.2 Schedule Manager ....................................................................................... 225
15.8 Web tools ............................................................................................................ 226
15.8.1 Web Browser ............................................................................................... 226
15.9 Extras .................................................................................................................. 229
15.9.1 Excel Viewer ................................................................................................ 229
15.9.2 Online DAISY ............................................................................................... 232
15.10 Utilities .............................................................................................................. 232
15.10.1 Calculator ................................................................................................... 232
15.10.2 Display Compass Heading ....................................................................... 233
15.10.3 Stopwatch .................................................................................................. 234
15.10.4 Terminal for Screen Reader ...................................................................... 234
15.11 Settings ................................................................ ................................ ............. 234
15.11.1 Setting Time and Date ............................................................................... 234
15.11.2 Bluetooth Manager .................................................................................... 235
15.11.3 Backup/Restore Personalized Settings ................................................... 235
15.11.4 Password Protection. ................................................................................ 236
15.12 Screen Reader Commands ............................................................................. 236
15.12.1 Moving Focus ............................................................................................ 236
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15.12.2 When Editing Text ..................................................................................... 237
15.12.3 Media Key Functions when in "App Mode" ............................................. 238
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1. Introduction
1.1 What is the BrailleSense Polaris MINI?
The BrailleSense Polaris MINI is a Braille note taker developed and manufactured
by HIMS, for people who are blind and visually impaired. The BrailleSense Polaris
MINI has a variety of powerful capabilities, including the following.
1. Read TXT, BRF, RTF, PDF, EPUB, and Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint
files. Take notes or create formatted documents and e-mails.
2. Play media, DAISY books, and FM Radio and YouTube videos.
3. Organize your Appointments and contacts, and synchronize them with your
Google account.
4. Perform scientific calculations, set alarms and explore the Lunar and solar
calendars.
5. Use the BrailleSense Polaris MINI as a USB or Bluetooth Braille display with a
compatible screen reader, such as JAWS, NVDA, SuperNova, System Access,
VoiceOver for Mac and iOS and TalkBack for Android.
6. Use the built-in GPS sensor and digital compass to navigate independently
without the need for external devices.
7. Download and install 3rd party applications from the Google Play Store.
8. Utilize Google Services such as Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Classroom
via our included screen reader, specially customized for these applications.
9. Obtain information and perform functions using your voice with the included
Google Assistant, or third party voice assistants like Amazon Alexa.
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1.2 Hardware
To get the most from your BrailleSense Polaris MINI, it is important to become
oriented to the buttons and ports as well as learning their functions. This section
will orient you to your Polaris MINI.
Place the Polaris MINI on a desk or table top with the Braille display nearest you.
1.2.1 The Top Panel
On the top face of the BrailleSense Polaris MINI is located a 9 key Perkins-style
keyboard, consisting of Braille dots 1:6, "SPACE", "BACKSPACE", and "ENTER".
On the same row as the Space bar are Control and Alt, as well as 4 rectangular
function keys. Moving from left to right, the row contains F1, F2, Control, Space,
Alt, F3 and F4.
Below the keyboard is a 20 cell Braille display. Above the Braille display, there
are cursor routing buttons corresponding to each of the 20 Braille cells. When you
are editing documents, you can use these keys to route your cursor to the
character of the corresponding Braille cell. The cursor routing keys also serve as
shortcut keys for navigating lists and groups of fields in certain places on the unit.
A dot is placed on each 5th cursor routing button for easier orientation.
On each side of the Braille display are two capsule shaped keys. These are the
"UP" and "DOWN" scroll keys. The scroll keys are used to scroll the Braille display
through menus, fields, lists or text. You can use the scroll keys to scroll by display
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length, paragraph, line, sentence, or character. You can set the left and right sets
of scroll keys independently in the "Global Options". (See chapter 3.)
1.2.2 The Right Panel
Toward the front of the right panel of the BrailleSense Polaris MINI is the USB C
port. This port can be used for transferring data, charging the unit, and connecting
to a computer as a USB Braille display.
Nearer the back of the device is a Micro HDMI port. Use this port to connect to an
HDMI monitor with a Micro HDMI cable, or with a full-sized HDMI to Micro adapter.
1.2.3 The Left Panel
Near the front of the unit on the left panel are 2 small buttons for raising and
lowering the master volume of the unit. Use the button nearer the front to decrease
the volume, and the button behind it to increase it.
Behind the volume buttons are located 2 small, round jacks. The one nearest the
front is the stereo headphone jack, and the one nearer the rear of the unit is the
stereo microphone jack for connecting a stereo microphone or line level recording
source.
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1.2.4 The Front Panel
On the far left of the front panel is located a 3-position slide switch. This is the key
"Lock" switch. This switch is explained in more detail in section 2.11 of this
manual.
To the right of it is another 3-position slide switch. This is the "Media Mode" switch,
and determines which type of content the front panel buttons control. This switch
is explained in more detail in the next chapter.
To the right of the "Media Mode" switch, are five buttons, with a dot on the center
one. These buttons control media and DAISY playback as well as providing
shortcut keys for other areas of the unit when they are set to Application Mode.
As explained above, the type of content controlled by these buttons depends on
the position of the "Media Mode" switch. These five buttons are explained further
in subsequent chapters of this manual.
To the right of the media buttons is the Power button. To turn on the unit, press
and hold this button until you hear a beep and feel a vibration. The first time you
power on the unit, it will take some time to boot up.
Once the unit boots, you can press the Power button quickly to put the unit in
standby "screen off" mode. This is similar to locking the screen on a phone or
tablet. Press it quickly again to unlock it and return to the position at which you
entered Screen off Mode. Press and hold the Power button to completely power
down the system.
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1.2.5 The Bottom Face
The underside of the unit contains the battery compartment, speaker and the
camera.
The battery contains a rounded edge along one of the sides of its length. This
rounded edge should be placed alongside the back edge of the unit's casing. To
insert the battery, align the side tabs of the battery pack with the side walls of the
battery compartment. Roll the battery forward until it clicks in to place.
locate the 2 switches on the underside of the unit near the left and right ends.
Using your left hand, click the left-most switch to the left when the battery is
inserted to lock it in to place. When you want to remove the battery, Click this
switch to the right to unlock it. Near the right end, is a second, spring-loaded
switch. Hold this switch to the left to release the battery, then roll the battery away
from the unit.
On the inside wall of the battery compartment is a micro SD card slot for additional
storage. Press the Micro SD card in to the slot until you feel it click in to place. To
release it, gently press in on the card and release. The card will pop out enough
for you to grasp it with your fingers and remove it.
The 13 megapixel camera is located near the center of the underside of the unit.
Applications for OCR and photo capture can be downloaded from the Google Play
Store. For best results, hold the Polaris MINI 9 to 12 inches above the paper, with
the unit centered above the text.
Finally, below the label for the serial number, you’ll find a rectangular speaker
grill for the mono speaker.
Congratulations! You are now familiar with the basic functions of the buttons and
ports of the BrailleSense Polaris MINI. The rest of the manual discusses each
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function in greater detail to help you maximize the potential of your BrailleSense
Polaris MINI.
1.3 Hardware Specifications
1. Operating system: Android Lollipop 5.1.1
2. Internal storage: 64GB.
3. RAM: 3GB.
4. CPU: 2.1 GHz SAMSUNG Exynos 7420
5. Battery: Lithium Ion (detachable), 3400mAh.
6. Battery running time: 12 to 13 hours (with Braille and TTS, internal speaker at
mid volume)
7. Keyboard: 9 key Perkins-Style Braille keyboard, Control and Alt, 4 function
keys, 20 cursor routing keys, 4 scroll buttons.
8. Additional buttons and switches: key lock switch, Media Mode switch, 5 media
buttons.
9. Braille display: 20 refreshable Braille cells.
10. Visual display: Micro HDMI, Miracast
11. Wireless: 802.11 b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Dual-band (2.4GHz and 5.0 GHz), Wi-
Fi Direct; Bluetooth 4.2.
12. Sensors: GPS, RTC, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope
13. Camera: 13 MP SAMSUNG Camera
14. Interface: 1 USB C data and charging port, 1 micro SD card slot
15. Sound: Internal mono speaker, stereo headphone jack.
16. Voice recording: Internal stereo microphones, external stereo microphone
jack, headset microphone.
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17. Vibrate motor: installed.
1.4 Memory on the BrailleSense Polaris MINI
The BrailleSense Polaris MINI has 3GB of RAM (random access memory) and
64GB of flash memory. The RAM is memory reserved for running programs. RAM
is a temporary storage area for any program files that are running or any currently
open documents. The data in the RAM area disappears if your battery depletes,
and the AC adapter is not connected. The RAM data also disappears when
BrailleSense Polaris MINI reboots for any reason. This means, if you have an
open document which you have not saved, the unsaved data disappears.
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2. Basic Functions of the BrailleSense Polaris MINI
2.1 How to Enter Commands
The commands used to operate the Polaris MINI are comprised of various
combinations of the Braille and function keys. In this user manual, the "-" (dash)
is used to indicate that keys should be pressed simultaneously. For example,
"Space-Z" indicates that the user should press "space" and Z at the same time.
This manual also contains expressions like "Space-2-4-6". This means that the
spacebar with dots 2, 4, and 6 should be pressed and released simultaneously.
In a menu or dialog, when your cursor is placed on your desired command, you
can execute most commands by pressing "Enter". To cancel a function or close a
program or menu, and return to your previous location, press "Space-Z".
Note: In Android applications, “Space-Z” serves as the “Back” button. You
can also use “Space-E” or “F4” as the Android “Back” button, used to move
back one screen, or exit your current function or application.
2.1.1 Basic Alerts and Messages
There are instances where the Polaris MINI alerts you to events for which you
have asked it to notify you. For example, by default, the Polaris MINI checks the
Schedule Manager when you power on, and notifies you of any appointments
scheduled for that day. When you are notified of an appointment, you can interact
with the Schedule Manager as you normally would. To exit the Schedule
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Manager, press "Space-Z" or "Space-E" and you are returned to your previous
location.
Other Polaris MINI system messages are displayed and spoken, and
automatically disappear when any key is pressed, or after a set number of
seconds. For example, when you connect the AC adapter to the Polaris MINI, the
Polaris MINI speaks the message "AC adapter connected." When you disconnect
it, the Polaris MINI says, "AC adaptor disconnected."
You will also hear alerts from the Android system and applications. You can
review Android notifications by pressing “Space-1-2-3-4-5-6”, and can delete most
notifications using “Space-D”. Press Enter on the notification to open the
associated program. You can control how various notifications and alerts are
handled in the Global options. (See Chapter 3)
2.2 Menu Concepts
Menus on the Polaris MINI provide you with a list of programs, actions, or options
from which you can select. If a menu item has a sub menu, selecting it brings up
another list of choices.
When using a program on the Polaris MINI, press "Space-M" or F2 to bring up its
menu. Press the "Up" scroll key or "Space-1" to move to the previous item, and
press the "Down" scroll key or "Space-4" to move to the next item.
To move to the first item in the menu, press "Space-1-2-3." To move to the last
item in the menu, press "Space-4-5-6." When placed on the first item of a sub
menu, pressing "Backspace" returns you to the upper Menu. To repeat the current
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item, press "Space-R". To open a sub menu or execute the current item, press
“Enter”.
You can also quickly jump to and execute a menu item by pressing its shortcut
key, usually the first letter of the item name. Often menu items can also be
executed instantly, directly from your current position in the program, with a
hotkey.
Shortcut keys are displayed in parentheses following the menu names. Hotkeys
generally consist of a modifier such as "Enter," "Space," or "Backspace", pressed
simultaneously with a letter or dot combination. These are displayed following the
shortcut keys.
For example, if you are in the Word Processor, and press "Space-M" or "F2," then
press "Enter" on "File," you hear "New (n) Enter-n". The word "New" is the menu
option. YOU would press the letter N to jump to "New" from within the "File" menu.
Press "Enter-n" to access the "New" document command from anywhere in the
Word Processor. The n is the shortcut key and "Enter-n" is the hotkey. It is
important to note that some hotkey commands are global, thus will work from
anywhere on the unit, and some are program specific. For example, if you want
to activate the "new document" option in the Word Processor. You cannot press
"Enter-n" from the "Program" menu to activate this option. You must be in the
Word Processor for "Enter-n" to activate the "new document" command.
However, if you wish to activate the "display time and Date" option in the "Utilities"
menu, this can be done from anywhere on the unit using "Space-T" as this is a
global hot key.
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Let's begin going through the various menus. First, turn the unit on as explained
in chapter 1. Now, bring up the "Program" menu by pressing "F1". The "Program"
menu is the main menu of the Polaris MINI. You can access all of the
programming, option settings, utilities, and help from this menu, as well as the
Play Store and installed Android apps.
The "Program" menu consists of 3 programs: File Manager, Word Processor, and
E-mail; then 7 sub menus: Media, Organizer, Web Tools, Extras, Utilities,
Settings, and Help. Finally, at the bottom of the menu are the Play Store, and All
Apps, which brings up a list of all native Android applications installed on the unit.
The first item in the "Program" menu is "File Manager". If "Space-4" is pressed,
the next menu item is displayed and spoken. Pressing "Space-4" repeatedly,
continues your navigational progress down the list of items in the "Program"
menu. When you reach the bottom of the list, the "All Apps" menu item is
displayed as it is the last item in the "Program" menu.
You could also jump quickly to the "All Apps" menu item by pressing "Space-4-5-
6" when "File Manager" is displayed. Press "Space-1-2-3," and the Polaris MINI
jumps back to the top. Press "Enter" on an item you want to execute or open. If
you are in a submenu, and wish to return to the main "Program" menu, press
"Space-E" or F4.
The "Media" menu contains the "Media Player", "FM Radio" and "DAISY Player".
The "Organizer" menu contains the "Address Manager" and "Schedule Manager".
The "Web Tools" menu currently contains only the "Web Browser".
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The "Extras" menu contains the optional "Sense Dictionary", "Excel Viewer" and
"Online DAISY".
The "Utilities" menu contains the "Calculator", "Display time and Date", "Display
Compass Heading", "Wake Up Alarm", "Stopwatch", "Terminal for Screen
reader", "Display Network Status", "Display Power status", "Format", "Sleep
Timer" and "Upgrade BrailleSense Firmware".
The "Settings" menu contains "Set Time and Date", "Setup Internet", "Bluetooth
Manager", "Backup/Restore Settings", "Change device Name", “Quick Start
Guide”, "Password Protection", "Initialize Polaris Options”, “Voice options”,
"Polaris Global Options", “Android Backup and reset” and “Android System
Settings”.
The "Help" menu contains the various sections of the User Manual as well as an
"Information" section containing general information about your BrailleSense,
such as firmware version, device name, copyright and service information, and
Mac address.
The "Play Store" item opens the Google Play Store where you can search for and
download native Android apps.
Finally, the "All Apps" menu displays a list of all native Android apps installed on
the unit. When the unit ships, this list contains stock Android apps and other
Google basics like Docs, Sheets and Slides.
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For more information on a specific program, please see the section of this user
manual related to that program. For information on using Android apps, see
chapter 12.
The "F1" command for accessing the "Program" menu is an example of a global
hotkey. This means that pressing the "F1" key takes you to the "Program" menu
immediately from anywhere on the Polaris MINI.
There are also global quick launch commands for most Polaris MINI programs,
usually comprised of either F1 or F3 and a letter or dot combination. These quick
launch commands immediately launch their associated application from
anywhere on the Polaris MINI. See section 15.2 for a complete list of the quick
launch commands.
2.2.1 Control Symbols
The BrailleSense Polaris MINI uses several control symbols to note the type of
information being displayed: examples are list items, menus, and edit boxes.
These symbols can appear "Before" or "After" the text, or the appearance of this
information may be set to "off", determined by the "Control information" setting in
the "Global Options". For example, if "Control information" is set to "before", and
you bring up the Word Processor's program menu, The BrailleSense displays,
"MN File (f) pull down".
Note: In the Web Browser, the control symbols are displayed even if the
"Control information" is set to "off".
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The following table shows the types of controls and the symbols that are used to
indicate them.
Name
Symbol
Comments
Menu
MN
A menu that has submenus.
Menu item
MI
A menu that does not have a sub menu.
List item
LI
An item that is part of a list.
Edit box
EB
After this symbol, the edit box name is displayed. You can find the edit box after
the edit box name. In the web browser, the symbol "EB" may be followed by an
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edit box without an edit box name. Edit boxes that begin with the symbol "EB" are
one line.
(Ex: "EB Last name: (cursor)" in the address manager program or "EB (cursor)"
Multi edit box
MEB
This indicates a multi line edit box.
(Ex: "MEB Subject: (cursor)" in the e-mail program)
Computer edit box
CE
An edit box requiring ASCII Braille input.
(Ex: "CE To:" in the Email program)
Combo box
CB
Indicates a combo box in which you can choose an item by pressing the up scroll
button or the down scroll button.
(Ex: "CB Type:" in the "Open dialog box" of the Word Processor)
Edit combo box
ECB
Choose the desired item by pressing the up or down scroll button, or by directly
typing in the item name.
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(Ex: "ECB File name: (cursor) was in the "Open dialog box" of the word processor
program)
Prompt button
PB
PB follows any question in which you have to choose "Yes" or "No." You can
toggle between "Yes" and "No" by pressing "Space" or "Backspace" button.
(Ex: When you exit from the word processor, "PB Save: Yes")
Static box
ST
ST indicates the current status.
(Ex: "ST noname.hbl/insert mode/write" in the word processor program)
Link
LN
Indicates a link on a web page.
Anchor
ANC
Indicates an anchor on a web page.
Radio button
RB
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Indicates a radio button, cycle among items using up scroll button, down scroll
button, space, or Backspace.
(Ex: "RB Attribute: Write" in the "Information dialog box" of the file manager)
Radio button select
SRB
Indicates the currently selected radio button in the web browser
Radio button unselect
URB
It indicates the radio button is not selected.
Check box check
SCHB
Indicates the check box is selected.
Check box uncheck
UCHB
Indicates the check box is not selected.
Note: Links, anchors, and radio buttons are controls that are only used in
the Web Browser.
The symbols enable you to understand what type of input control or menu you are
working with. For example, if "MN," "MI," or "LI" are displayed, you know you can
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move from one item to the previous and next items by pressing the "Up" and
"Down" scroll keys. If "ECB," "EB," "CB," or "MEB" are displayed, you know you
are in an input area where you must type the. If "BT" is displayed, you can press
"Enter" to activate the "button".
2.3 Using the Function Keys
There are four function keys on the Polaris MINI. You can use these function keys
to open the menus, cancel tasks, and move to other items.
The "F1" key opens the Polaris MINI "Program" menu from anywhere on the unit,
and is used in combination with other keys to open various Polaris MINI programs.
From within Polaris MINI programs, the "F2" key opens the program specific
menu, similar to pressing “Alt” in Windows.
Note: you may also use "Space-M" to perform this function.
The "F3" key functions as "Tab ("Space-4-5")". "Space-F3" serves as "Shift-Tab
("Space-1-2")". F3 is also used together with other keys to open Polaris MINI
programs.
The "F4" key functions like the "Escape" key on a PC. You can also use "Space-
E". Please note that "Escape" does not exit a program, as does "Space-Z" but
rather, exits menus, dialogs, or prompt boxes. It also serves as the Back button
in native Android apps.
You can use the function keys in combination to perform various other tasks.
Pressing "F1" and "F2" at the same time functions as "Page Up". Pressing the
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"F3" and "F4" keys together serves as "Page Down". "F1" and "F4" together opens
the task list. Pressing the "F2" and "F3" keys together cycles through the running
programs; similar to pressing "alt-tab" on your PC. The Task List and task
switching are explained in greater detail in section 2.9.
The keys to the left and right of the spacebar are referred to as Control and Alt.
This is because, in native Android applications, these keys function as Control
and Alt on a QWERTY keyboard so that you may take advantage of native
Android keyboard shortcuts when they are present. In BrailleSense specific
applications, these keys operate similarly to "Space-1" and "Space-4" and provide
an alternative method for scrolling through menus and lists.
2.4 The Power Adapter and the Battery Pack
To check the battery power status, press "Space-1-6." The unit displays the
following 2 items:
1. Battery power level: expressed as a percentage of the remaining battery power
compared to a full charge.
2. Power source (battery or USB power)
If the battery power level drops under 15 percent, the Polaris MINI displays the
battery status on the Braille display, and it announces that the battery has less
than 15 percent of its power remaining. If the battery power level falls below five
percent, the Polaris MINI gives you a warning indicating that your battery power
level is under five percent, and the Polaris MINI will be automatically put to sleep
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in one minute, unless you connect it to a power supply. When the level reaches 2
percent, the unit automatically shuts down.
When the Polaris MINI is shipped, the battery pack is not installed. This is done
to prevent damage during shipping. When you insert the battery in to the Polaris
MINI for the first time, the unit may display an inaccurate battery power level.
Before using the Polaris MINI for the first time, please charge the battery for at
least 3 hours. You may use the unit during the initial charge, however, it is
recommended if you do, that the unit remain connected to AC power for at least
3 hours to fully charge the battery.
When you remove the battery from the Polaris MINI, make sure your unit is turned
off; especially when the USB power adapter is not connected. If you remove the
battery while the unit is on and power is not connected, you will lose all data stored
in RAM, including open documents, emails, and contacts or appointments that
have not been backed up.
Polaris MINI can be charged via a USB C cable. It is compatible with Qualcomm
quick chargers for more rapid charging.
2.5 Controlling the Volume, Speed, and Pitch of the TTS
Press "Backspace-F4" to increase the voice volume. Press "Backspace-F1" to
decrease the voice volume. Press "Space-F4" to increase the speech rate. Press
"Space-F1" to decrease the speech rate. Press "Enter-F4" to raise the pitch and
"Enter-F1" to lower it.
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When you press any of the above key combinations, the Polaris MINI announces
the status of its volume, rate, or pitch. The changes in the characteristics of the
voice remain in effect until you change them again, or a hard reset is performed
either manually or due to lack of power to the unit for an extended period of time.
Note: the volume of the voice is controlled independent of the Main Volume
on the unit, thus, you can adjust it above or below the volume of the system
sounds, media playback, etc using the Voice volume control described
above. You can control the "Main Volume" of the unit using "Backspace-
Space-F1" to lower it and "Backspace-Space-F4" to raise it. You can also
use the Volume Up and Volume Down buttons on the left side of the Polaris
MINI to control master volume.
2.6 Using Speech and Braille
When using the Polaris MINI, you can choose to read using Braille only or speech
only. You can also use both Braille and speech simultaneously. However, you
cannot turn off both Braille and speech as you would have no method of receiving
information from the Polaris MINI. Use "Backspace-F2" to toggle the speech on
and off. Press "Backspace-F3" to toggle the Braille on and off. You can also
control these settings in the Global options.
2.7 Entering Text
In a document, "edit box" or "multi edit box" on the Polaris MINI, you can enter
either grade 1 or grade 2 Braille. By default, the unit uses UEB Braille, and you
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are free to use UEB, even when writing e-mail or Web addresses. However, if
using the traditional US Braille code, some areas of the unit, such as the "to" field
of the E-mail program, contain a "computer edit box" requiring you to enter text in
computer Braille.
To enter a capital letter in computer Braille, use the upper case indicator (Space-
U" before the letter you want capitalized. For example, if you want to enter H in a
computer edit box, press "Space-U" then H. If you press "Space-U" twice, caps
lock is turned on. Press "Space-U" again to turn off caps lock.
You can also press "Space-Backspace" simultaneously with the letter to capitalize
it. To input the "at sign," you may either use "Space-U" followed by dot 4, or
"Space-Backspace-dot 4".
To enter numbers in contracted or uncontracted Braille, use the "number sign
followed by the number. However, when using computer Braille, you use no
number sign and must enter numbers as "dropped" numbers (Nemeth numbers).
2.8 Multi-Tasking
Polaris MINI can run many tasks at once. For example, you can work with the
Word Processor while listening to music, and place calculations into a document
at the same time. To do this, open the Media Player and play a music file. While
the audio is playing, press the "F1" key to bring up the "Program" menu and launch
the Word Processor.
If you try to run a program that is currently running, The Polaris MINI does not
open a new instance of the program, but rather, returns you to the instance of the
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program that is already running. For example, while working with a document
called "Notes" you decide to execute the "File Manager." Next, you navigate to a
document called "journal" in the file list and press "Enter." The Word Processor
does not load a second time, but rather, "journal" is opened in the same instance
of the Word Processor in which "notes" is already loaded. You can switch among
multiple open documents in a single instance of the Word Processor with F3 and
Space-F3. Switching documents is explained in more detail in section 5.
To switch between currently running programs press "F1-F4" to open the Task
List. The Task List shows all the currently running programs in list form. To return
to any application, simply navigate to it and press "Enter". To force closing of an
application in this list, press "Space-D". To close all applications, press “F3” to tab
to the “Close All” button, and press “Enter”.
If you have pressed "F1" to bring up the "Program" menu, or "F1-F4" to open the
Task List and you decide not to access a different application, you can press
"escape" ("Space-e" or "F4") to return to your previous location on the unit.
You can use "F2-F3" to immediately cycle among all running programs without
opening the Task List. This is similar to using "alt-tab" on your PC. If you are
running three programs and are in the second program, pressing "F2" and "F3"
moves you to the third program. If you press "F2-F3" again, you are placed in the
first program.
In the above case, if you were to press "Space-Z" to close the currently open
program, you are then placed in the previous program. However, if there is only
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one program running, pressing "Space-Z" closes the program and places you in
the "Program" menu.
2.9 Switching Media Modes
The media buttons on the front panel perform different functions according to the
location of the "Media Mode" switch.
If you slide the "Media Mode" switch to the left-most position, the Polaris MINI
announces, "application mode" and the media buttons control operation of the
current application. If you place the "Media Mode" switch in the center position,
the Polaris MINI says, "DAISY mode" and the media buttons control playback of
DAISY content. If you slide the "Media Mode" switch to the right-most position,
the Polaris MINI announces, "media mode" and the media buttons control media
playback.
It is very important to pay attention to the position of the "Media Mode" switch to
achieve desired operation of the media buttons. For example, if you are using the
Media Player, if the "Media Mode" switch is placed in the center position, the
media buttons on the front panel control operation of the DAISY Player, even
though your focus is in the Media Player. More detailed explanations of the
functions of the Media buttons is given in the Mobile Screen Reader, DAISY
Player, and Media Player sections in this manual.
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2.10 Switching Key Lock
You can disable the keys on the Polaris MINI to prevent the accidental pressing
of keys using the key "Lock" switch on the front panel.
When the key "Lock" switch is placed in the left-most position, Polaris MINI
announces, "all keys locked". This means all keys on the unit are disabled
including the on/off switch. If the key "Lock" switch is placed in the center position,
Polaris MINI says, "top panel locked". This means you can continue to use the
buttons and switches on the front panel (media mode switch, media buttons and
on/off switch), however, you cannot use any of the keys on the top face of the
unit. If the key "Lock" switch is placed in the right-most position, Polaris MINI
announces, "unlocked". This indicates all keys are operational.
To lock and unlock only the keys on the front media panel, press the "Back" and
"Forward" media buttons simultaneously. The unit announces "Media keys
locked". If you press the keys again, the unit announces "Media keys unlocked",
and the media buttons are again operational.
2.11 One-Handed Mode
Polaris MINI provides a One-handed mode for users restricted to the use of one
hand for Braille input. To toggle One-handed mode on/off, press “Backspace-1-2-
3”. You can also turn One-handed mode on or off in the "Global Options" dialog.
When One-handed mode is on, use the following methods to input text:
1. To type a character, press the dots in any combination or order. When you have
pressed all dots, press "Space" to complete the entry of the character. For
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example, if you want to type "h," you press "dot 1" and "dot 2" separately or
together and then press "dot 5." Finally, press "Space".
2. To press a command that includes "Space," press "Space" both before and
after the dot combination. For example, to press "Space-o (dots 1-3-5)," press
"Space" then press "dot 1", "dot 3" and "dot 5" separately or together in any order.
Then press "Space" again.
3. To press a command that includes "Backspace" or "Enter," press "Backspace"
or "Enter" before the dot combination. Then press keys that make up the dot
combination. Finally press "Space". For example, to press "Enter-l (dots 1-2-3)",
press "Enter", and then press "dots 1-2-3." then, press "Space".
4. To press "Space," "Backspace" and "Enter", press the key twice. For example,
to press "Space" to create a space between words, press "Space" twice.
The operation of the scroll keys, function keys, and media buttons remains the
same as in normal mode.
If One-handed mode is on, the Polaris MINI announces this each time it is
powered on, as well as how to return to normal operation.
2.12 Using Typing Mode
While you are typing in a document, you may wish to turn off the navigation
keystrokes, especially if you type very fast as you may accidentally navigate when
you intend to enter text. To turn on "Typing Mode", press "Backspace-Enter-C"
from within a document. "Start typing mode" is announced and displayed.
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When using "Typing Mode", if you press "Space-dot 4", instead of moving to the
next line, the "Space" and "Dot 4" are entered into the document.
To cancel "Typing Mode", Press "Backspace-Enter-C" once again. "End typing
mode" is announced and displayed. After "Typing Mode" is canceled, navigation
commands return to normal operation.
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3. Customizing your Notetaker
When you receive your notetaker, one of the first things you will want to do is to
configure it to act the way you want it to. The "Settings" menu allows you to
configure and customize your notetaker to meet your specific needs and
preferences.
To open the "Settings" menu, press "F1" to bring up the main menu. Press
"Space-4" until you reach "Settings" and press "Enter". Or, just press S from the
main menu to quickly jump to and open the "Settings" menu.
The "Settings" menu contains the following items: "Set Time and Date", "Setup
Internet", "Bluetooth Manager", "Backup/Restore Polaris MINI Settings", "Change
Device Name", "Quick Start Guide", "Password Protection", "Initialize Polaris MINI
Options", “Voice options”, "Polaris MINI Global Options", “Android Backup &
Reset” and “Android System Settings”. The following sections discuss each of
these items in detail.
3.1 Set Time and Date
To set the Polaris MINI's internal clock, press "Enter" on "Set Time and Date" in
the "Settings" menu. Or press T to open the "set time and date" dialog from the
menu. You can launch the "Set Time and Date" dialog from anywhere on the unit
by pressing "F3-T".
The set time and date is a dialog, consisting of the following: "Time zone", "Time
format", "Time", "Date Format", "Date", "Synchronize with time server", a
46
"Confirm" button, and a "Cancel" button. You can move among these items by
pressing “F3” or “Space-F3”.
When you activate "Set Time and Date", "Time zone?" appears followed by the
default time zone. You can choose your desired time zone by navigating to it using
"Space-1" or "Space-4" or by typing the first letter of the time zone. Once done,
move to the next item using "F3".
The next item is "Time format", the options for which are 12 hour and 24 hour
time. You can toggle between the two using "Space-1" or "Space-4".
The next item is "Time". When typing the time, separate the hour and minute using
a space or a colon.
If you select 12 hour clock in the "Time format", A.M. or P.M. is displayed after the
hour and minute. In the 12 hour clock, you can toggle A.M. it P.M. by pressing
"Space-X".
Tab to "Date format". You can choose to display the date in either the "short" or
"long" format. The short format displays the date numerically, while the long
format displays the Month spelled out and shows the date as it would appear in
literary form. Toggle between the two using "Space-1" and "Space-4".
The next item is "Date". Type the "Date" month, date, and year as mm/dd/yyyy.
Use 2 digits for the month, 2 digits for the day, and 4 digits for the year, separating
them by a space or a slash.
The next item is "Synchronize with time server", used to synchronize time and
date with a time server on the Internet. This function is extremely useful when the
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date and time of Polaris MINI is faster or slower than the current time. To execute
this function, your Polaris MINI must be connected to the Internet. When
connected, press "Enter" on the "Synchronize with time server" button. After
synchronization, it displays the synchronized time in the "Time" edit combo box.
The synchronized date is also displayed in the "Date" edit combo box.
If you do not wish to enter date and time information directly, you can navigate
using the following commands:
When setting time:
Move forward 1 hour: Space-4
Move back 1 hour: Space-1
Move forward 10 minutes: Space-5
Move back 10 minutes: Space-2
Move forward 1 minute: Space-6
Move back 1 minute: Space-3
When setting date:
Move to the next day: Space-6
Move to the previous day: Space-3
Move to the next week: Space-5
Move to the previous week: Space-2
Move to the next month: Space-4
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Move to the previous month: Space-1
Move to the next year: Space-5-6
Move to the previous year: Space-2-3
When you have completed entering all of the information, press "Enter" to save
your settings, or "Tab to "Confirm" and press "Enter", and you are returned to the
"Settings" menu.
3.2 Setup Internet
The "Setup internet" function is used to configure your Polaris MINI to use a LAN
or Wireless connection to access the Internet.
Note: to use a LAN connection, you will need a USB to Ethernet adapter.
To activate "Setup internet", press "Enter" on "Setup internet" in the "Settings"
menu, or press "I". You can open the "Setup Internet" menu from anywhere on
the unit by pressing "F3-I".
3.2.1 Setup Wireless LAN
Before setting up a Wireless LAN connection, be sure wireless is turned on in the
"Global Options" dialog. You can toggle wireless on and off from anywhere on the
Polaris MINI using "Backspace-1-4-5-6". In addition, when you choose this option,
if Wireless is not turned on, BrailleSense automatically activates Wireless LAN.
To connect to a wireless network, navigate to the "Wireless LAN" option in the
connection types list under "Setup Internet" and press "Enter".
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The "Wireless LAN" dialog consists of the "access points" list, "Advanced" button,
"Options" button and "Close" button. You can move among these controls by
pressing "F3" or "Space-F3". If wireless is not turned on, the "access points" list
displays "no items".
When wireless is on, this list shows the wireless "access points" (networks) in
range of your notetaker. The "Access points" list displays the "access point name",
"encryption", and "sensitivity" of each item. (Ex: linksys, encryption: WEP,
sensitivity: good.) If there is more than one access point in the list, you can move
among them by pressing "Space-1" or "Space-4". Move to the "access point" to
which you want to connect, and press "Enter". If the access point has no
encryption, the Polaris MINI announces, "Connecting to (access point name)". If
connection is successful, the connecting sound is heard. If the network is
encrypted and requires a network key, when you press "Enter" on the access
point, the "Network key" edit box is displayed. Type the network key in computer
Braille in the edit box and press "Enter". If your settings are correct, the unit says,
"Completed setting profile" and the connecting sound is heard.
The "Advanced" dialog is used to modify an existing profile, manually add a new
profile, or check the settings of an existing profile. Pressing "Enter" on the
"advanced" button, while wireless LAN is turned on, displays a list of the wireless
profiles saved on the Polaris MINI.
The "Advanced" dialog has 5 controls: the "profile list", "Connect" button, "Add"
common dialog button, "Remove" button, "Properties" common dialog button, and
"Close" button. You can navigate among these controls by pressing "F3" or
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"Space-F3". Navigate the items in the Profile list using "Space-1" and "space-4".
Press "Enter" to activate one of the buttons.
Use the "Add" button: to manually add a profile, specifically where an SSID is
hidden, and thus does not appear in the "access points" list. The "Add" dialog"
contains 10 controls.
1) "Setup IP: Automatic" combo box: You can switch between automatic and
manual by pressing "Space-4" or "Space-1". If you select "Manual", you must
enter your IP address, subnet mask, gateway IP address, and DNS IP address.
You can move among these computer edit boxes by pressing "Space-4" or
"Space-1". Press "tab (Space-4-5)" to move to the next control.
2) "Network name (SSID)" computer edit box: Type the network ID in the computer
edit box.
3) "Network mode" combo box: You can select among "Infrastructure", and
"802.11 ad-hoc" mode by pressing "Space-1" or "Space-4".
4) "Network authentication mode" combo box: Select among "Open", "Shared",
"WPA-PSK", and "WPA2-PSK" by pressing "Space-1" or "Space-4".
5) "Data encryption" combo box: Select the data encryption method by pressing
"Space-1" or "Space-4". If you select "Open" or "Shared" in network authentication
mode, you can choose among "Disable" and "WEP". And if you select "WPA-
PSK" or "WPA2-PSK" in network authentication mode, either "AES" or "TKIP" can
be selected in the "Data encryption" combo box.
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6) "The key is provided automatically" check box: If the "access point" does not
provide a key for users automatically, uncheck this check box by pressing
"Space". The default is checked.
7) "Network key" computer edit box: This is a computer edit box to type the
network key if the key is not provided automatically.
8) "Key index" edit box: This is an edit box to type the key number of the wireless
access point that matches the network key input.
9) "Confirm" button: Pressing this button applies the changes.
10) "Cancel" button: You can select this button to cancel the setup.
Things to note:
1) If "Data encryption" has been set as "disabled", press "F3" and you are
taken directly to the "Confirm" button.
2) "Network key" and "Key index" is displayed only if you uncheck "The key
is provided automatically".
To delete a profile item in the profile list, select the profile item you wish to delete,
and press R or "Tab" to the "Remove" button and press "Enter".
To get information about a selected profile item in the profile list, "Tab" to the
"Properties" button and press "Enter". In the "Properties" dialog, you can
reconfirm or modify the information for each profile.
To exit the "Advance" dialog, press "Space-E" or "Space-Z".
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The "Options" dialog allows you to set how the Polaris MINI scans for and detects
wireless networks. The "Scanning Always Available" option allows you to choose
whether Polaris MINI auto scans for available networks, even when you don't
open the Setup Internet dialog. The "Wi-Fi Frequency Band" determines what Wi-
Fi networks are detected and used. Choose from "Auto", "5GHz" and "2.1GHz".
Use "Space" to adjust the options in the dialog, and press "Enter" to save your
settings.
3.2.2 LAN Setup
Before attempting to set up a LAN connection, connect one end of a LAN cable
to the Polaris MINI via a USB to Ethernet adapter, and the other to a router or
direct LAN connection to the Internet. ?. From the list of connection options in "Set
up Internet", navigate to "LAN" and press "Enter".
"Setup IP: Automatic" is displayed. If your service provider does not require you
to use a static IP address, simply press "Enter" on this option for automatic setup.
For the automatic setup, your host server should provide DHCP service (Dynamic
Host Configuration Protocol).
To set up your IP configuration manually, move to "Manual" by pressing "Space-
1", and press "Enter". The following settings are displayed: "IP", "Subnet mask",
"Gateway", and "Primary DNS". These settings require specific numeric
addresses. Please contact your Internet service provider for the correct
addresses. Use computer Braille to type the information for each setting, using
"Space-1" and "Space-4" to move among the settings. When you have entered
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the information for each item, press "Enter" to save the settings. The unit
announces, "Setting completed". And you are returned to "Setup internet". Your
Internet connection should be active.
3.3 Bluetooth Manager
The Polaris MINI is Bluetooth capable, or rather, you can connect the Polaris MINI
to various devices such as keyboards, printers, audio devices, and other
computers without the need for cables. You can also use Bluetooth to transfer
files, or to connect the Polaris MINI as a Braille display with a compatible screen
reader. Bluetooth is the latest in wireless technology and enables wireless
connectivity via a Personal Area Network (PAN). Unlike a traditional Wireless
Local Area Network (WLAN), these networks are limited to approximately 30 feet
or less. Bluetooth enables users to exchange various types of information over
this wireless connection.
You can toggle Bluetooth on/off from anywhere on the unit using "Backspace-
dots-3-4-5-6".
To access the Bluetooth Manager from the program menu, navigate to the
"Settings" menu, and press "Enter. Then, navigate to "Bluetooth Manager", and
press "Enter". You can also press "F3-B" to launch the Bluetooth Manager from
anywhere on the unit.
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3.3.1 Bluetooth Device List
When the Bluetooth Manager is activated, you are placed in a dialog with 2 items:
a paired devices list, and a "Search" button to scan for available devices. For
example, if you have a computer with Bluetooth enabled nearby, the Polaris MINI
attempts to find it. It may take 30 to 40 seconds to discover all of the Bluetooth
devices in range. The Polaris MINI announces and displays, "Scanning for
devices. Please wait...” Full cells are filled in on the Braille display to indicate
scanning progress.
When a Bluetooth device is detected, the Polaris MINI announces "found
(Bluetooth device name)".
Note: while the Polaris MINI is scanning for Bluetooth devices, it cannot
respond to key presses. In addition, you may not cancel the scan once it
has begun, but must wait for its completion before the Polaris MINI returns
to normal operation.
When the scanning process completes, you are placed in the Bluetooth Device
List. If the Polaris MINI has found other Bluetooth devices in range, they are
displayed as "device name (untrusted (or trusted)) xx/yy" where xx is the number
at which the device appears in the list, and yy is the total number of devices.
"Trusted" indicates that the service has been authenticated, "untrusted" indicates
the service has not been authenticated.
If there are no other Bluetooth devices in range, the Polaris MINI announces, "no
items". You can press "Space-1" or "Space-4" to move through the list. To select
a device from the list, press "Enter" on the device name.
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If the Bluetooth device is trusted, settings for connecting the device are
automatically saved in the Polaris MINI. If you want to delete this information,
press "Space-D" on the Bluetooth device name in the list. The Polaris MINI
announces, "Device settings removed". Removal of the settings applies only to
the current device.
From the Bluetooth Device List, you can access the menu by pressing "F2". The
"Bluetooth Device List menu" contains "Rescan For Devices", "Delete Pair
Information", "Options" and "Exit". You can navigate among the menu items using
"Space-1" or "Space-4".
The first menu item is "Rescan For Device". This option initiates a new scan for
other Bluetooth devices. To activate this item, press "Enter" on "Rescan for
Devices" in the menu. Or you can activate it directly from the list by pressing
"Enter-R".
The next menu item is "Delete Pair Information". This item allows you to remove
the connection settings for the current device. To activate this item, press "Enter"
on "Delete Pair Information" from the menu, or press “Space-D" to activate it from
the Device List.
The "Options" item lets you determine if the Polaris MINI is discoverable to other
Bluetooth devices. Press "Space" to check or uncheck the option.
The final item in the Bluetooth Device List menu is "Exit". This option exits the
Bluetooth Manager program. To activate this item, press "Enter" on "Exit" from
within the menu, or exit the program any time by pressing "Space-Z".
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3.3.2 Bluetooth Service List
When you locate a Bluetooth device to which you'd like to connect, press "Space-
1" or "Space-4" to navigate to the device in the Bluetooth Device List, and press
"Enter" on the device name. The unit announces, "Scanning for services. Please
wait...” Please note The Polaris MINI does not respond to key presses during the
scanning process.
The Polaris MINI supports the following Bluetooth services: FTP, Serial port, USB
port, and headset. To access any of these functions, be sure that the remote
Bluetooth device is in Discoverable mode, and that the service you wish to access
is enabled on that device. It is possible to have certain services enabled on your
remote Bluetooth device, while disabling others. The Polaris MINI only sees and
displays services which are enabled on your remote device, even if others are
available.
When the Polaris MINI has found all of the available services, the services are
displayed in a list in the following format: "service name xx/yy" where xx is the
number at which the service appears in the list, and yy is the total number of
available services. You can move through the available services by pressing
"Space-1" or "Space-4". Press "Backspace" to return to the Bluetooth Device List.
From the Bluetooth Service List, you can access the menu by pressing "Space-
M" or by pressing "F2". The "Bluetooth Service List menu" contains "Open FTP",
"Disconnect" and "Exit". You can navigate the menu items using "Space-1" or
"Space-4".
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The "Open FTP" menu item allows you to quickly open a direct FTP connection
with a remote Bluetooth device without accessing the Device and Service lists.
However, you must have connected the FTP service previously for the Polaris
MINI to allow you to transfer files. If you have not connected the FTP service, and
you activate this function, the unit announces, "FTP service disconnected".
You can access "Open FTP” by pressing "Enter" on it from within the menu, or by
pressing "Enter-T" directly from the Bluetooth Service List. The Polaris MINI says,
"Connecting service". Detailed information on connecting various service types is
covered later in this chapter.
The "Disconnect" menu item allows you to disconnect services with other
Bluetooth devices. You can access this item by pressing "Enter" on "disconnect"
from within the menu. Or you can activate it directly from the Bluetooth Service
List by pressing "Enter-D".
If there are no services connected and you activate this function, the unit says,
"There is no service connected".
3.3.2.1 Connecting a Service
To authenticate a service and connect to it, press "Enter" on the service. The
Polaris MINI announces, "Connecting service". You are then prompted for a "PIN
code:" You must use ASCII characters when you type the pin code. This edit box
only appears when you have not previously connected to a service, and a pin
code is required by the device. You can exit the edit box or delete text you have
typed by pressing "Space-Z" and you are returned to the Bluetooth Service List.
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When you finish typing the pin code, press "Enter". The unit announces, "Please
wait for authentication". If the remote device is setup correctly, and has not been
set up to allow this device to always connect, the remote device also asks for a
pin code. Please be sure to enter the same pin code on both devices. If the remote
Bluetooth device pin code matches the pin code on the Polaris MINI, the service
should authenticate. If connection is successful, the unit announces, "PIN code
authentication accepted".
You are then prompted, "Please wait. Access permission". If the remote Bluetooth
device does not give access permission, the unit says, "Connection failed", and
you are returned to the Bluetooth Services List. If the remote Bluetooth device
gives you access permission, the Polaris MINI says "Connection succeeded". If
the connection succeeds, "Connected" is displayed after the service in the
Bluetooth Service List. Some services may be connected without inputting a pin
code depending on the Remote Bluetooth device settings.
3.4 Backup/Restore Polaris Settings
If you hard reset your Polaris or initialize the Polaris Options, the main option
settings and settings for each program are initialized to the default values. If you
have created a backup of your settings, you can restore the option settings after
the hard reset.
You can run this utility by pressing K from the "Settings" menu. You can also
launch the "Backup/Restore Polaris Settings" dialog from anywhere on the unit by
pressing "F3-K".
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The "backup/restore" dialog contains: the "program option check box list", a
"Select all" button, a "Backup" button, a "Restore" button, and a "Cancel" button.
You can move among the check boxes in the "program option check box list", by
pressing "Space-1" or "Space-4". You can move among the controls in the dialog
by pressing "F3" or "Space-F3".
The "program option check box list" contains "Options settings", "File manager
options", "Word processor options", "E-mail Options", "Media Player options",
"Radio Options", "DAISY Player options", "Address manager options", "Schedule
manager options", "Web browser options", “Excel Viewer Options", "Wake Up
Alarm Options" and “Bluetooth manager options".
In this list, move to the program options you want to backup or restore and check
the item by pressing "Space". You can uncheck a checked item by pressing
"Space" again. To select all of the program options in the list, press "Enter" on the
"Select all" button.
After selecting all the options you want to backup or restore, press "Enter" on the
"Backup" or "Restore" button, or press "Enter-B" to backup or "Enter-R" to restore.
If you select the "Backup" button, you are prompted to select a path for storing
the backup file. You can accept the default path, or choose an alternative.
Navigate to the folder in which to store the backup files using normal file/folder
navigation commands. Select the folder or drive in which to store the backup by
pressing "Space", and press "Enter" to start the backup process. If you select the
"Restore" button, you are prompted for the path from which to restore backup
files. Again, use normal file and folder navigation to select the folder containing
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your backup files. If you select a folder in which there is no backup, you receive a
message indicating there is no backup option file. To restore your settings, select
the folder containing the backup files by pressing "Space", then press "Enter" to
initiate the restore process.
3.5 Change Device Name
The "Change device Name" function allows you to change the Bluetooth/network
name of your unit. By default, the BrailleSense is named something like "Polaris
MINI035". You may wish to give it a more personalized name in order to identify
it more easily when pairing with another device.
You can access the "Change device Name" dialog by navigating to the "Settings"
menu, then to "Change Device Name". You can also launch the "Change device
Name" dialog from anywhere on the unit by pressing "Backspace-Enter-E".
The "Change device Name' dialog consists of 3 controls: a "Device Name" edit
box, a "Confirm" button, and a "Cancel" button. Use "F3" and "Space-F3" to move
among the controls.
To change your device name, type a new name in the edit box and press "Enter".
Or, after typing the new name, tab to "confirm" and press "Enter". If you decide
you do not wish to change your device name, tab to the "Cancel" button and press
"Enter", or press "Space-E" or "Space-Z".
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3.6 Quick Start Guide
The Quick Start Guide runs a getting started wizard that introduces you to Polaris
MINI and its functions, and lets you set basic preferences. This guide
automatically launches the first time you start your unit. You can relaunch it at any
time by selecting the “Quick Start Guide” option in the “Settings” menu.
When you press “Enter” on this option, you are asked, “Would you like to reboot
your system and launch the Quick Start Guide?”. Press “Enter” for Yes, or
navigate to ‘No’ with “Space-4” and press “Enter” to cancel this operation.
Note: when you launch the Quick Start Guide, all options are initialized to
factory defaults, so that they can be reset using this wizard.
3.7 Password Protection
The Password Protection item allows you to set a password that must be entered
when the unit is powered on, comes out of Sleep Mode, is upgraded, or the disk
is formatted.
WARNING!! It is imperative that you create a password that you can easily
remember, or that you store in another location for easy retrieval! Due to Android
security safeguards, we are not able to send unlock codes as has been the case
with older BrailleSense models. If you set a password using this function, or using
the Android system settings, and you are not able to remember or retrieve it, it will
be necessary to send the unit to HIMS/SELVAS for unlocking, during which, all
data will be lost. As remembering and retrieving personal passwords is the
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responsibility of the customer, any costs associated with transporting and/or
unlocking the unit are also the responsibility of the user.
To open the "Password Protection" settings, from the Main menu, navigate to
"Settings" and press "Enter". Press A to jump to and open "Password Protection".
You can open "Password Protection" from anywhere on the unit by pressing "F3-
N".
The "Password Protection" dialog consists of 4 items: "set/modify Password"
dialog, "Password Configuration" dialog, "Set Password to factory defaults", and
a "Close" button. Use "F3" or "Space-F3” to move among the controls in the
dialog.
3.7.1 Setting and Modifying Passwords
When you open the "Password Protection" program, you are placed on the "Set
Password" option. Press "Enter" to open the "Set Password" dialog. The "Set
Password" dialog consists of 4 controls: "Password" edit box, "Retype Password"
edit box, "Confirm" button and a "Cancel" button".
Type the password you wish to use into the "Password" edit box. Tab to the "Re-
type Password" edit box, and type it again. To save the password, press "Enter",
or Tab to "Confirm" and press "Enter". To cancel saving the password, press
"Space-Z", or Tab to the "Cancel" button and press "Enter".
When a password is saved, the "Set Password" option is replaced with "Modify
Password". Once you have entered a password, you can modify in very much the
same manner. The "Modify Password" dialog consists of all the same controls,
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except you must type your current password, before you can type a new one.
Once you have typed your current password, then the new password, you must
re-type the new password. Press "Enter" on the "Confirm" button to save the new
password, or "Enter" on the "Cancel" button to cancel the modification.
3.7.2 Password Configuration
The "Password Configuration" dialog allows you to define when you are prompted
to enter the password. When you press "Enter" to open the "Password
Configuration" dialog, you are prompted to enter your password to gain access to
this configuration. Type your password, and press "Enter".
The password configuration settings consist of 4 radio buttons: "Prompt for
password on boot", "Prompt for password when in Sleep Mode", "Prompt for
password when formatting" and "Prompt for password when upgrading." Use
"Space-1" and "Space-4" to toggle these buttons between "Yes" and "no". When
you have chosen your options, press "Enter" on the "Confirm" button to save your
settings. If you want to cancel the configuration, press "Enter" on the "Cancel"
button.
3.7.3 Reset Password to Factory Defaults
Use this option to reset the password configuration and return your unit to its
factory state of no password protection.
When you press "Enter" to open this option, you are prompted, "Do you want to
initialize the password settings?". Use "Space-1" and "Space-4" to choose
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between "yes" and "No". If you choose "yes", you are prompted for your current
password. Type it, and press "Enter". The unit announces, "Password settings
have been initialized" and you are placed on the "Set Password" option.
3.8 Initialize Polaris Options
You can use the "Initialize Polaris Options" item to restore the BrailleSense Polaris
MINI to the factory default settings.
To launch this function, navigate to it in the "Settings" menu, and press "Enter",
or press C.
You are prompted, "Do you want to initialize options?" Use "Space" to choose
"Yes" or "No". Choosing "Yes" initiates the factory reset process. Choosing "No"
cancels the function and returns you to the "Settings" menu. You can also perform
this function by holding the Forward Media key while pressing the Power Button.
Once you see “HIMS” displayed on the Braille display, you can release the
Forward key.
3.9 Voice Options
This dialog allows you to install and set alternative Vocalizer Expressive TTS
voices. Available voice downloads are available via the “Download” option in this
menu. To download and install directly from the Polaris MINI, choose the
“Download” button, and use “Space-1” and “Space-4” to choose the voice you
want and press “Enter”. The correct folder will be auto created, and the language
pack will automatically be placed there.
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You can also download voices manually via the HIMS website.
When you have downloaded the language pack files, create a folder on your
flashdisk called “TTSDATA”, and copy the files in to it.
Once done, open the “Settings” menu, and press “V” to open the Voice options
dialog. This dialog contains a voices list, a “Download” button, an “Install” button”,
and Confirm and Cancel buttons. Use “F3” and “Space-F3” to move among the
controls.
Press “Enter” on the “Install” button to install any language packs available in the
“TTSDATA” folder. When voices are installed, an ‘Uninstall” button also appears
in the dialog.
When you have installed your voices, use “Space-1” and “Space-4” in the Voices
list to choose your voice, and press “Enter”. Your speech should automatically
begin outputting using the voice you chose.
You can open the Voice options dialog quickly at any time by pressing “F3-V”.
You are placed in the Voices list, from which you can easily choose a different
speaking voice.
3.10 Polaris Global Options
The "Global Options" on the Polaris MINI is a large dialog box for controlling many
preferences/settings. Open the "Polaris MINI Global Options" from the main
menu, by pressing S to open the “Settings” menu, then "O" for the "Global
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Options". You can also open "Global Options" from anywhere on the notetaker by
pressing "Space-O".
The "Global Options" dialog is organized into groups, making it easy to jump to a
particular section in the long list of settings. You can navigate among the groups
with "page down ("Space-3-4-5" or "F3-F4")" or "page up ("Space-1-2-6" or "F1-
F2")". When you navigate to a group, you are placed at the position where that
group of options begins.
You can navigate among the individual options using "Space-1" and "Space-4" or
using the scroll keys. You can also use shortcut keys to quickly move to specific
items.
Note: Often, the same shortcut key is used for multiple options. Thus, the
first press of the shortcut key moves the focus to the first setting that
matches; pressing the key again moves to the next setting that matches. If
there are no more settings matching the shortcut, the Polaris MINI wraps
around to the first match.
Many of the Global Options also have global hotkeys, allowing you to adjust these
settings from anywhere on the unit.
You can toggle an option on or off or cycle through the available values of a setting
with the "space" and "Backspace" keys. To save your changes, press "Enter" or
tab to the "Confirm" button and press "Enter". Polaris MINI says, "Saved options,"
and you are returned to your previous position on the notetaker. To cancel without
saving changes, press the "F4" key, "Space-E" or "Space-Z".
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3.10.1 Global Options in Detail
The "Global Options" dialog contains the following settings. For each setting, the
shortcut key appears in parentheses, and the hotkey, if available, is shown in
quotes.
1) Braille display: (B). "Backspace-F3". Toggles the Braille display On/Off.
2) Braille Cursor: (C). "F4-Up Scroll". Defines how the Braille cursor appears on
the Braille display: "Always Up", "Blinking" or "Off". Note the cursor appears as
dots-7-8 in most situations. When selecting text, it notes the end of the selection
with blinking dots-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8.
3) Eight Dot Mode: (E). "F4-Up Scroll". Toggles Eight Dot Mode on/off for ASCII
text entry.
4) View/input Braille Grade: (G). "Space-G". Lets you choose what grade of Braille
you want to use when viewing/entering text: Uncontracted Braille, Contracted
Braille, or Computer Braille.
5) Braille Code: (C). "Backspace-Enter-B". Defines the rules by which Braille is
translated to text and vice versa: "US", "UK", "UEB", or one of several foreign
language Braille codes. When foreign language codes are set, you can read and
write Braille according to that language's Braille rules. The Braille language also
affects lists, combo boxes, and edit boxes. Prompts, menus, buttons and static
boxes remain in English.
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6) Message Display Time: (M). defines how the Polaris MINI deals with system
messages: ignore, stand by until you press a key, or, display for from 1 to 10
seconds before disappearing.
7) Voice: (V). "Backspace-F2". Toggles the voice output On/Off.
8) Punctuation Level: (P). Use this setting to choose how you want the Polaris
MINI to read punctuation marks and symbols: "All", "Off", "Punctuation," or
"Symbols".
9) Keyboard Echo: (K). Defines how Polaris MINI speaks as you type: "On with
characters and words," "On with characters," "On with words," or "Off".
10) Capitalization alert: (U). Choose how the Polaris MINI alerts you that a
character is capitalized, either when typing or when navigating a document or edit
box by character: "Off", "Say cap," or "Pitch".
11) Numbers: (N). Defines how Polaris MINI speaks numbers: when set to "On",
Polaris MINI speaks numbers, and when set to "Off", it speaks digits.
12) Voice Volume: (L). "Backspace-F1 and Backspace-F4". Raises or lowers the
volume of the text-to-speech.
13) Voice Rate: (R). "Space-F1 and Space-F4". Controls the rate of the speech.
14) Voice Pitch: (T). "Enter-F1 and Enter-F4". Adjusts the pitch of the Polaris MINI
voice.
15) Main Volume: (V). "Backspace-SPACE-F1 and Backspace-Space-F4", or the
Volume Up and Down buttons. Controls the master volume of the unit, including
system sounds, audio and speech.
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16) Scroll Voice: (S). Choose whether you want the Polaris MINI to speak while
using the scroll buttons as you read.
17) Audio alerts: (A). Choose whether the Polaris MINI alerts you to various
events using audio signals, vibration signals, both, or no signal.
18) Battery Alerts: (B). Choose how you are alerted when your battery is low:
"Message", "Beep", "Final Message" or "Final Beep".
19) Play Power On/Off Sound: (P). Choose whether you hear a sound when you
turn on/off the Polaris MINI.
20) Left Scroll Buttons: (L). Define the operation of the left scroll buttons: "Scroll
display", "Move by line", "Move by character", "Move by paragraph" and "Move by
sentence".
21) Right Scroll Buttons: (R). Define the operation of the Right Scroll buttons with
the same options as above.
22) Skip Empty Lines: (E). Choose to have the Polaris MINI alert you to a blank
line by announcing "Blank" or skip empty lines.
23) Control Information: (I). Define where information is announced regarding the
type of control on which you are currently located, a list item, menu, combo box,
etc. Choose from Before, After and Off.
24) Hide passwords: (P). Choose whether the characters of a password are
hidden as you type them.
25) Hot Key Information: (H). Defines how hot key information is announced:
"Letters," "Dot patterns," or "Off".
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26) Announce shortcut keys: (S). Lets you choose whether the Polaris MINI
speaks the menu shortcut key for a function as you encounter it.
27) Sleep Mode: (P). Set Polaris MINI to save power by automatically shutting
down after a certain period of time: "On", "Off", or "Message". (Only active when
using battery power.)
28) Sleep Mode Kick In: (K). Use this option to set the time of inactivity before
entering SLEEP Mode: 10 minutes, 20 minutes, or 30 minutes.
29) Check Today's Schedule: (S). Set the Polaris MINI to check today's schedule
for appointments each time you turn it on.
30) One-Handed Mode: (H). This option allows users with only the use of one
hand to use the Polaris MINI in a specific mode adapted for that purpose. For
detailed information about one-handed mode, refer to section 2.14.
31) Enable Spell-check: (C). You may wish to disable spellcheck in educational
situations where a student needs to be tested on spelling, etc.
Note: If "Enable Spellcheck" is turned off, Automatic Spellcheck cannot be
used.
32) Automatic spell-check: (C). Set whether the Polaris MINI automatically checks
spelling as you type in "multi line edit boxes" in programs such as the Schedule
Manager, Address Manager, E-mail messages, the Word Processor, etc. If the
option is "On", and you enter a misspelled word, Polaris MINI emits a beep sound
to indicate the misspelling.
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33) Default Document Type: (Q). Set the default document type for new
documents you create using the word processor: “DOCX document”, "Sense
document", "Braille document,", "DOC document" or "Text document".
34) Automatically synchronize with time server: (T). Using this feature, you can
ensure the accuracy of the time on the Polaris MINI by synchronizing with an
atomic clock when Polaris MINI is connected to the Internet.
35) Time Announcement: (T). Set the Polaris MINI to announce the time every 5
minutes, every 10 minutes, 30 minutes or every hour.
36) Progress indicator: (P). Defines how the progress of opening a document,
copying files or opening a webpage is indicated: "Silent," (no progress indication)
"Beep," (continuous beeps while the task is performed) and "Message" (progress
is shown as a percentage).
37) Bluetooth: (B). "Backspace-3-4-5-6". Toggles Bluetooth On/Off.
38) Wireless LAN: (W). "Backspace-1-4-5-6". Toggles Wireless LAN On/Off.
39) Screen Reader Hints: (H). Set whether to receive spoken hints about how to
interact with the screen reader as you navigate the controls of 3rd party programs:
"On/Off".
40) Screen Reader Control Information: (I). Determines whether the screen
reader speaks the type of control or field as you navigate 3rd party applications:
"On/Off".
41) Notification alerts: (N). Set whether you receive push notifications from
Android applications.
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42) Enable Braille in standby Mode: (N). Set whether status messages are shown
in Braille while in Sleep Mode.
3.11 Android Backup & Reset
The “Android Backup & Reset” option opens the Restore and Reset options found
in the Android System Settings in a more convenient location. Here, you can set
options for backing up and restoring information related to your Android
applications and accounts, and you can factory reset your device. WARNING!
Performing a factory Reset in the “Android Backup & Reset” menu erases all
personal data, including files, account information, installed applications, etc. This
is also a long and involved process and should not be undertaken before
consulting with tech support staff, as you will need special instructions to complete
it properly.
3.12 Android System Settings
The “Android System Settings” is the final item in the “Settings” menu. You can
launch it from anywhere using “F3-E”.
This option opens the standard Android “Settings” dialog found on stock Android
phones and tablets. While many settings are duplicated in the Polaris MINI
interface, the “Android System Settings” contains a standard Android interface,
and must be navigated in the same manner as Android applications. Use “F3”,
and “Space-F3” to move among objects on a screen. Use “Backspace-Space-1”
and Backspace-Space-4” to adjust slider controls. Please see chapter 12 on the
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Mobile Screen Reader, and chapter 15, Commands Summary, for more complete
information on navigating the Android interface.
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4. File Manager
4.1 Overview
The functionality and structure of the "File Manager" on the Polaris MINI are
similar to "Windows Explorer" on a PC. To run the "File Manager", press F from
the "Program" menu or press "Enter" when your cursor is placed on "File
Manager". You can launch the "File Manager" from anywhere on the unit by
pressing "F1-F". Close the "File Manager" by pressing "Space-Z".
The "File Manager" contains 2 basic areas: an "address window" and the content
list. You can navigate between them using "F3" and "Space-F3". When you first
open the "File Manager", you are placed in the drive list. By default, you are placed
on the internal "flashdisk". If an SD card or USB drive is connected, it also appears
in the list. You can use "Space-1" or "Space-4" or the scroll buttons to navigate
the items in the drive list. Press "Enter" on the drive you want to open. The Polaris
MINI then displays the list of the files/folders on that drive.
The "address window" contains the path of the current directory or file.
The "File Manager" contains both menus and hot keys, allowing you to easily
activate items in the program with a single keystroke as well as to access
functions through the menus for commands you have not memorized. You can
bring up the menus by pressing "Space-M" or "F2". For the purposes of the
directions in this chapter and the rest of this manual, we will use F2. However,
either keystroke will perform this function.
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Use Space-1" and Space-4" to navigate among the available menus. To open a
menu, press "Enter". Again, use "Space-1" or "Space-4" to navigate among the
items in a menu, and press "Enter" to execute a menu item.
The File Manager also contains dialogs. You can navigate among the controls in
a dialog box by using the equivalents of "Tab" on a PC. You can use "F3" or
"Space-4-5" for "Tab" and "Space-F3" or "Space-1-2" for "Shift-Tab". For the
purposes of instructions in this manual, we will use "F3" and Space-F3", or you
will be directed to "Tab" or "Shift-Tab".
4.1.1 Navigating the File List
The "File Manager" contains two kinds of lists: the "file list" and the "menu list", or
rather, the list of items contained in the "File Manager" menu. The menus in the
Polaris MINI wrap. This means, when you reach the end of the list of items in a
menu, the Polaris MINI automatically brings you back to the top of the list when
you press "Space-4". However, when you reach the end of a "file list," the Polaris
MINI remains at the end of the list, even if you press "Space-4". The following is
a list of the keystrokes used for navigating lists:
Note: the following keystrokes can be used to navigate any list on the
Polaris MINI.
1. Move to previous item: (Space-1) or up scroll button
2. Move to next item: (Space-4) or down scroll button
3. Move to the beginning of a list: Space-1-2-3
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4. Move to the end of a list: Space-4-5-6
The following keystrokes are valid only in a "file list".
1. Jump to folder or file list: Space-5-6
2. Move between file list and address window: (Space-4-5 or F3) / (Space-1-2 or
Space-F3)
3. Enter the selected folder or open the selected file: Enter
4. Move back a level in the folder structure: Backspace
5. Jump to the drive list: Space-1-2-5-6
6. Move to the previous group of 20 items: Page up (space 1-2-6 or F1-F2)
7. Move to the next group of 20 items: Page down (space 3-4-5 or F3-F4)
8. Jump to a file or folder by pressing the first character of the folder or file name.
You must use ASCII characters.
4.1.2 Selecting Folders and Files
1. Select individual items "Space": * is displayed in front of the item to denote its
selection. Pressing "Space" again on the selected folder or file cancels the
selection.
2. Continuous selection "Enter-b": This selects all of the items from the point
where this command is executed to the item where the cursor is located. * appears
in front of the selected items.
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3. Select all "Enter-a": This selects all the files and folders in the current list. You
can toggle selection and de-selection of items by pressing "Space". When the
"Select All" command is executed, the Polaris MINI says the number of selected
files, and * appears in front of the selected files on the Braille display.
4.2 Working with Files and Folders
When viewing the contents of a drive or folder, the items in quotation marks are
folders, and the items without quotation marks are files.
The items in the list are followed by numbers, such as 1/5 or 2/5. The numbers
following the items indicate an item's placement in the list and the total number of
items in the list. For example, "database 1/5," indicates "database" is the first
folder in a list containing five items.
4.2.1 Entering and Exiting Folders
There are several ways to open a folder.
1. Bring up the menu by pressing "F2". Select the "Open" option from the list and
press "Enter".
2. Press the hot key "Enter-O" to activate the "Open" command and open the
desired folder.
3. Finally, as described above, you can simply press "Enter" on the selected
folder.
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To exit the current folder, use the "Backspace" key. You are returned to the
previous level in the folder structure.
4.2.2 Ejecting USB Drives and SD Cards
The Android operating system requires that drives are ejected properly before
removing them. If not done, re-inserting them in to the Polaris MINI or connecting
to other mobile devices or computers may result in all files appearing as though
they have no data, or have a size of 0 bytes. Before disconnecting a USB drive or
SD card, press “Backspace-Enter-U” or “Backspace-Enter-3-6” to it
from the system. If your drive is showing files with no data, please re-insert it in to
the Polaris MINI, and press the Unmount key to eject it properly, and the data
should, be visible once again.
4.3 The File Menu
To open the "File" menu, press "F2" to bring up the menu, and press "Enter" on
"File". Use normal list commands to navigate to your desired option and press
"Enter".
The Polaris MINI supports the following file formats:
1. Document files: hbl, brl, txt, brf, rtf, doc/docx, XLS/XLSX, PPT/PPTX, PDF and
unprotected EPUB.
2. Web formats: url, and html.
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3. Media formats: ac3, asf, asx, m3u, mp2, mp3, MP4, ogg, pls, wav, wax, wma,
wmv and flac.
4. DAISY formats: DAISY 2.0, 3.0, BookShare.
5. programs: APK. Press “Enter” to install.
The menu contains the following items. Shortcuts are placed in parentheses, and
hotkeys are in quotes.
1) Open: (O) "Enter-O". Opens the selected file in the associated application for
its file type.
2) Open New Word Processor: (W) "Backspace-W". Appears only for supported
document files. Launches a second instance of the Word Processor instead of
opening the file in a currently open Word Processor.
3) Open With: (E) "Enter-E". Allows you to choose a compatible application with
which to open the selected file.
4) Zip (Z) "Enter-Z". Compresses the current file or folder.
5) Unzip (U) "Enter-U". Appears only for compressed files, extracts the current
file.
6) Send To: (S) "Enter-S". Lets you send the current file or folder to a different
location.
7) Rename (R) "Enter-R". Rename the current file or folder.
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8) New Document: (N) "Enter-N". Create a new document using DOCX, DOC,
TXT, BRL, or HBL.
9) New Folder: (F) "Enter-F". Creates a new folder.
10) File Conversion: (T) "Enter-T". Converts selected document files to TXT, BRL,
or HBLIND.
11) Find File: (F) "Space-F". Search the current drive or folder for a specific file
by name.
12) Find Text: (F) "Backspace-F". Search Word, Text, and Braille files on the
current drive or folder for specific text strings.
13) Merge Files: (M) "Enter-M". Select 2 or more text or Braille files to merge
together.
14) Split Files: (P) "Enter-P". Split text or Braille files by paragraph or word count,
by size, or into a certain number of files of equal size.
15) Information: (I) "Enter-I". Provides basic properties of the current file or folder.
16) Exit: (Z) "Space-Z". Closes the File Manager.
4.4 The Edit Menu
The Edit Menu contains the following items:
1) Copy: (C) "Enter-C". Copies the selected files or folders to the clipboard.
2) Cut: (X) "Enter-X". Cuts the selected files or folders to the clipboard.
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3) Paste: (V) "Enter-V". Pastes the files or folders on the clipboard to the current
location.
4) Delete: (D) "Space-D". Deletes the selected files or folders.
5) Select All: (A) "Enter-A". Selects all the files and folders in the current list.
4.5 The View Menu
The View Menu contains the following options:
1) Sort Files By: (G) "Enter-G". Determines in what order files and folders are
displayed.
2) Set File Info: (L) "Enter-L". Determines what information is displayed about
each file or folder in the list.
3) Display Only Files of Type: (W) "Enter-W". Filters files by file type.
4) Hide System Folders: (H) "Enter-H". Hides Android system folders that do not
contain user content. These are hidden by default.
4.6 Using the Address Window
This edit box lets you type the direct path of the file name you want to open. This
window also contains the history list for easily accessing recently opened files or
directories.
When you are in a file or folder list, you can press "tab (Space-4-5)" to navigate
to the address window. The Polaris MINI displays the current path including the
current drive name, such as "flashdisk/download/". The address window is only
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visible when you are in a file or folder list. When you are in the drive list, the
address window is not available.
You can edit the text by relocating the cursor with a cursor routing key, the Polaris
MINI inserts the text at the cursor location. If you know the exact path and file
name, you can type in the path and file name to open the file with the appropriate
application. For example, if you type in "flashdisk/download" in the address
window and press "Enter," the Polaris MINI displays the list of the files in the
download folder. If you type "flashdisk/My Documents/sample.txt" in the address
window, and press "Enter," the Polaris MINI loads the Word Processor, and opens
the file "sample.txt".
Use "Space-1" or "Space-4" in the Address Window to review the history list (a
list of file and folder paths you have recently opened). To open a file in the history
list, press "Enter". The file opens with the appropriate application. (See section
4.2.3).
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5. Word Processor
You can launch the "Word Processor" in a couple of ways:
Press "F1" to open the main "Program" menu. Navigate to "Word Processor"
using "Space-4" and press "Enter". You can also press W from the main menu to
quickly jump to and open the "Word Processor.
You can launch the "Word Processor" from anywhere on the unit by pressing "F1-
W".
When you launch the Word Processor on the Polaris MINI, it places you in a new,
blank document. You can activate all the functions of the Word Processor via the
Word Processor menu or by using hot keys. The menu in the Word Processor
consists of File, Edit, Go To, Read, and Layout. To access these menus, press
"Space-M" or "F2". Select a menu item using "Space-1" or "Space-4", and press
"Enter". Or, you can press "Space-M or "F2" followed by the shortcut for the
corresponding menu item.
Use "Space-1" and "Space-4" or the Up and Down scroll keys to navigate menus,
settings or file lists. Use "Space-4-5" and "Space-1-2" or "F3" and "Space-F3" to
tab among controls in a dialog.
Press "Enter" to execute an item.
5.1 File Menu
The File menu contains the following options:
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1) Open New Word Processor: (W) "Backspace-N". Opens a second instance of
the Word Processor to more easily switch between documents.
2) New: (N). Creates a new document, by default named "noname". Choose the
default document type in the Global Options. You can create a DOCX, DOC, TXT,
BRL or HBL document.
3) Open: (O) "Enter-O". Opens an existing file. Supported file types include DOC,
DOCX, PPT, PPTX, PDF, EPUB, XML, RTF, TX, BRL and BRF. *Note: these files
can be read, but all file types cannot be saved.
4) Save: (S) "Enter-S". Save the current file. Tab between name, location and file
type. Use normal file management navigation to choose a different folder.
5) Save As: (A) "Space-S". Save the current file under a different name, as a type
or in a different location.
6) Print: (P) "Space-P". Emboss the current document. Inkprinting must be done
via native Android apps.
7) Settings: (E) "Enter-E". Dialog to set various document options. Tab among
settings list, location Info check boxes, Default folder, and Confirm and Cancel
buttons. Settings list includes View Format Characters, Reading unit for Space-1
and Space-4, Read Only On/Off, Automatic Save Interval, Auto Scroll Speed,
Apply Settings to All Documents, Home/End movement unit, Math Braille Code,
and new Document default name. Use “Space-1” and “Space-4” to move among
the settings in the Settings list, and Space or Backspace to change the value of
the setting.
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8) File Open Setting: (T) “Backspace-Enter-O”. Determines how a document is
loaded: Choose “Load completely” to open the document in whole before reading,
choose “Load in Background” to start reading after the first page is loaded, and
continue loading in the background.
9) Dictionary: (D) "Backspace-Enter-D". Opens the Sense Dictionary installed,
and inserts the word under the cursor in the lookup edit box.
10) Exit: (Z) "Space-Z". Closes the Word Processor.
5.2 Edit Menu
The Edit Menu contains the following items:
1) Start Selection: (B) "Enter-B". Marks the beginning of the selection. The end of
the selection is marked by the current cursor position.
2) Copy: (C) "Enter-C". Copies selected text to the clipboard.
3) Cut: (X) "Enter-X". Cuts the selected text to the clipboard.
4) Paste: (V) "Enter-V". Pastes text from the clipboard to the current location.
5) Delete: (D) "Space-D". Deletes selected text.
6) Delete Blank lines: (L) "Backspace-E". Deletes blank lines from the selected
text area.
7) Add to clipboard: (P) "Enter-P". Appends selected text to the clipboard without
deleting the prior selection.
8) Clear clipboard: (E) "Enter-D". Empties the clipboard.
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9) Select All: (A) "Enter-A". Selects all the text in the document.
10) Check spelling: (K) "Enter-K". Opens the Check Spelling dialog, and begins
checking the document for errors. Use “F3” and “Space-F3” to move among the
controls, and “Space-1” and “Space-4” to move through lists of options. You can
also use the following hot keys:
A. Skip Once: Backspace-S.
B. Skip All: Backspace-I.
C. Modify Current: Backspace-C.
D. Modify All: Backspace-M.
E. Add to User Dictionary: Backspace-A.
5.3 Insert Menu
1) Set Mark: (M) "Enter-M". Sets a bookmark at the current cursor position.
2) Jump to Mark: (J) "Enter-J". Jumps to a previously set mark.
3) Delete Mark: (D) "Backspace-D". Deletes a previously set mark.
4) Insert from File: (I) "Enter-I". Inserts information from another file.
5) Insert Date: (W) "Enter-W". Inserts the current date.
6) Insert time: (T) "Backspace-W". Inserts the current time.
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5.4 Go to Menu
1) Find: (F) "Space-F". Opens Find dialog where you can enter a text string to
search, choose whether to match case, and choose the search direction.
2) Find Next: (H) "Enter-F". Finds the next instance of the previously searched
string.
3) Find Previous: (V) "Backspace-F". Finds the previous instance of the search
string from your current position.
4) Find and Replace: (R) "Enter-R". Dialog to search for a text string and replace
with an alternative string. Choose search direction, match case, and whether to
replace one instance or all.
5) Go To Location: (L) "Enter-L". Go to a location in the document according to
page, paragraph, line or percentage.
6) Go To Previous Sentence: (E) "Space-2-3-6". Moves back one sentence.
7) Go To Next Sentence: (X) "Space-3-5-6". Moves forward one sentence.
8) Go To Previous Page: (B) "Space-1-2-6). Moves back one page.
9) Go To Next Page: (G) "Space-3-4-5". Moves forward one page.
10) Go To Previous Document: (P) "Shift-Tab". If multiple documents are open,
moves to the previous document in the order the files were opened.
11) Go To Next Document: (N) "Tab". If multiple documents are opened, moves
to the next document in the file open order.
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5.5 Read Menu
1) Read Selected Text: (B) "Backspace-B". Reads the selected block of text.
2) Read beginning of Selected Text: (U) "Enter-U". Reads the first line of a
selected text block.
3) Read from Beginning to Cursor: (T) "Backspace-G". Reads from the beginning
of the document to the current cursor position.
4) Read from Cursor to End: (Q) "Enter-G". Reads from the current cursor position
to the end of the document.
5) Auto Scroll: (A) "Up/Down Scroll". Starts and stops the auto scroll function. Set
the speed of the auto scroll in the Settings under the File menu.
6) Read Current Sentence (E) "Space-1-4-5-6". Reads the current sentence.
7) Read Current Line: (L) "Space-1-4". Reads the current line.
8) Read Current Word: (W) "Space-2-5". Reads the current word. Press twice to
spell.
9) Read Current Character: (C) "Space-3-6". Reads the current character. Press
twice to hear the military alphabet equivalent.
10) Read Cursor Position: (R) "Space-1-5-6". Reads current cursor position as
page, paragraph, word, and line.
11) Read Status: (S) "Space-3-4". Reads title of document and indicates Insert or
Overwrite mode.
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12) Read Character and Space Count: (I) "Backspace-I". Reads the current and
total character count, and the current and total space count of the current
document.
13) Read Font info: (F) “Backspace-Enter-N”. Provides font, style, and formatting
information for the text at your current position.
5.6 Layout Menu
1) Font: (F) "Enter-backspace-F". Opens the font settings dialog. Acts on selected
text.
2) Braille Paragraph Layout: (B) "Backspace-1-2-4-6". Determines the Braille
format of the current paragraph.
3) Braille Document Layout: (P) "Backspace-P". Determines Braille document
format for embossing.
4) Print Paragraph Layout: (C) "Backspace-2-3-4-6". Determines the print format
and style of the current paragraph.
5) Print Document Layout: (T) "Backspace-T". Determines the format of the pages
of a printed document.
5.7 Miscellaneous Functions
The following commands can also be used in the Word Processor:
1) Insert Tab: Backspace-Space-Enter-I.
2) Insert Page Break: Backspace-Space-Enter-P.
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3. Center current line: Backspace-Space-Enter-C.
4) Start/End Math Mode: Backspace-M.
5) Insert math symbol: Press Space-H in Math Mode, and press Enter on the
symbol in the list.
6) Next slide in PowerPoint file: Space.
7) Previous Slide in PowerPoint file: Backspace.
8) Go to slide in Power Point File: Enter-L.
9) Move back by double carriage return: Backspace-Space-2-3.
10) Move forward by double carriage return: Space-Enter-5-6.
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6. E-mail
To use the e-mail program, you must have an e-mail account, provided to you by
your Internet service provider or sign up for a free account such as Gmail or
Hotmail. Your e-mail account needs to support POP3 (Post Office Protocol 3) or
IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol) and SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer
Protocol) to be accessed with the Polaris MINI.
Before you use the e-mail program, you must also configure the Polaris MINI to
access the Internet, (see section 3.2 "Internet Setup").
Note: The menus in the Polaris MINI's e-mail program are specific to the
task you are performing: for example, when checking the "Inbox" in the e-
mail program, the menu items are different from the available items when
you are writing an e-mail or viewing mailboxes. Generally, the available e-
mail program menus are "File", "Edit", "Tools" and "Message".
To access these menus, press "Space-M" or "F2". Select a menu item, and press
"Enter". Use "Space-1" and "Space-4" or the Up and Down scroll keys to navigate
menus, settings or file lists. Use "Space-4-5" and "Space-1-2" or "F3" and "Space-
F3" to tab among controls in a dialog.
6.1 Executing E-mail
To use the e-mail program, you must configure the Polaris MINI to access each
of your e-mail accounts by entering your e-mail account information.
To execute the e-mail program, navigate to "E-mail" in the "program" menu, by
pressing "Space-1" and "Space-4" and press "Enter", or just press E from the
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main program menu. You can launch the "E-mail program from anywhere on the
unit by pressing "F1-E".
When you launch the e-mail program for the first time, the Polaris MINI says, "You
must create at least 1 mail account from the accounts manager in the Tools
menu". Then, the "Inbox" is opened.
The "Inbox" is the main window of the E-mail program. When you run the e-mail
program for the first time, this "Inbox" is empty and the Polaris MINI displays "no
items".
If there are e-mail messages in the "Inbox", "Opening inbox." is announced; and
"xx% processed" is displayed on the Braille display. Once progress has reached
100%, the "Inbox" is opened and displays the received e-mail in the message list.
Press "Shift-Tab (Space-1-2)", and you are placed in the mailbox list. By default,
the Polaris MINI contains the following mailboxes:
1) Inbox: received mail that has not been deleted or saved to a different folder.
2) Sent: sent messages you have chosen to store
3) Outbox: messages waiting to be sent, either when you save mail in "Outbox"
or sending mail fails.
6.2 Setting Up an Account
To access the "Accounts Manager", Open the menu with "F2", navigate to "Tools"
and press "Enter". "Accounts Manager" is the first item in the "Tools" menu, thus,
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you can just press "Enter" again to open it. You can also launch the "Accounts
Manager" from anywhere in e-mail by pressing "Enter-M".
"Account name: no items" is displayed.
The "Accounts manager" dialog contains the following 6 items: "Accounts" list,
"Information" button, "Add" button, "Modify" button, "Delete" button and "Close"
button.
To add an e-mail account, follow these steps:
1) From the "Accounts Manager", press "F3", to move to "Add" and press "Enter".
2) The dialog is opened and "Server Type" is displayed. This is a combo box in
which you can choose to manually setup your account, or ask BrailleSense to
auto fill in server information from known server types like Gmail and iCloud. Use
"Space-1" and Space-4" to navigate the Server types. If your server is not in the
list, select "Manual". Press F3 to move to the incoming server type.
3) "Default mail server" is displayed. Use Space to choose between POP3 and
IMAP. Press "F3" to move to the account settings list.
4) "Account name:" is displayed. Type the name by which you want to identify the
e-mail account: (example, "Gmail" or "work e-mail").
5) Press "Space-4", to move to "Display name". Type the "Display name" in the
edit box. This name is the name people will see when they receive an e-mail from
you.
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6) Press "Space-4", to move to "Logon username". Type the "Logon username"
in the edit box (using computer Braille if writing in US Braille). (Ex: Sense or
sense@himsintl.com).
Note: some providers require you to use the entire e-mail address as the
username, while others may use the part of the address before the at-sign.
BE sure you type the username correctly for your e-mail provider.
7) Press "Space-4", to move to "Password". Type the "password" in the edit box
(computer Braille if using US Braille).
Note: By default, the password is hidden, and thus displays as asterisks.
Be sure to type carefully as you cannot review your password unless you
choose not to hide passwords in the "Global Options".
8) Press "Space-4", to move to "E-mail address". Type your "E-mail address" in
the edit box (again, use computer Braille if entering US Braille). (Ex:
sense@himsintl.com)
9) Press "Space-4", to move to "Incoming Server?". If you have selected "IMAP"
as your incoming server type, "Incoming IMAP server?" is displayed. If you have
chosen "POP3" as your incoming server type, "Incoming POP3 server" is
displayed. Type the "Incoming server" in the edit box (in computer Braille for US
Braille). (Ex: imap.himsintl.com, or pop.himsintl.com). Check with your account
provider for your specific incoming server name.
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10) Press "Space-4", to move to "Outgoing SMTP server". Type the "Outgoing
SMTP server" in the edit box (computer Braille if using US Braille). Check with
your account provider for the exact name of your outgoing SMTP server.
11) "Tab to the "Confirm" button and press "Enter".
12) The Polaris MINI exits to the "Account name list" and shows the added
account name (Ex: Account name: Polaris MINI 1/1).
13) When you finish adding accounts, press "Space-Z" to return to the "Inbox".
Note: Many e-mail service providers use secure servers with different port
numbers. If your service provider requires you to use encryption, you must
set these options in the "Advanced" dialog explained below:
Note: If you are not using UEB, several of the fields for setting up an e-mail
account require you to use computer Braille. To type your ID, Password,
and address,
While adding your account, you can create a signature and set advanced options
in the "Advanced" dialog.
1) Open the "Accounts Manager" as described previously.
2) If you're creating a new account, "Tab to the "Add" button and Press "Enter". If
you need to add advanced settings to an account you've already created, Tab to
the "Modify" button and press "Enter".
3) When you have filled in everything in the main account settings list, press "F3"
to move to "Advanced" and press "Enter".
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4) Polaris MINI displays "Use secure POP3 (or IMAP) (POP-SSL)". The default
value of this check box is unselected. If the POP3 or IMAP server uses "SSL",
select the check box by pressing "Space".
5) Press "F3" to move to "POP3 (or IMAP) port number": POP3 is set to 110 by
default, and IMAP is set to 143 by default. Type a different POP3 or IMAP port
number in the edit box if your provider requires a different port number.
Note: if you check "SSL" above, the pop port number is automatically
changed to 995 and the IMAP port to 993, as most servers with SSL
require.
6) Press "F3" to move to "SMTP encryption type". The setting values are "None",
"SSL" and "TLS". If your Outgoing SMTP server uses "SSL" or "TLS", change the
value by pressing "Space".
7) Press "F3" to move to "SMTP port number": set to 25 by default. If you have
chosen "SSL" as the encryption type, the default port number is set to 465 as is
most commonly used for SMTP servers using SSL. If you have chosen TLS, the
default SMTP port number is set to 587. Type a different value in the edit box if
your provider uses a different SMTP port number.
8) Press "F3" to move to "SMTP username". If your Internet account provider
requires you to use a different SMTP username, enter it in this edit box.
9) Press "F3" to move to "SMTP password". Type the password that corresponds
to the above ID (using computer Braille if entering US Braille). If your SMTP
username and password are not different, leave these items blank.
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10) Press "F3" to move to "Use as default send-from account" To use the
username and password that were set in steps 7 and 8, select the check box by
pressing "Space".
11) Press "F3", move to "Use signature". The default value is "No". To attach a
signature to your mail, press "Space" to change "No" to "Yes".
12) If you chose yes, press "F3", to move to "Signature" and press "Enter".
13) You are placed in the "Signature:" multi edit box. Type the information for the
signature you want to attach to your e-mails.
14) Tab to "Confirm" and press "Enter".
15) Tab to the "Confirm" button and press "Enter" to save the settings in the
"Advanced" dialog.
16) Tab to the "Confirm" button one more time to save the settings in the main
"Account information" dialog.
6.3 Managing Accounts
To view the information about a stored e-mail account, open the "Accounts
Manager" as described previously. Navigate to the account for which you want
information and press "Enter" or Tab to "Information" and press "Enter".
In this dialog you can read all information associated with an e-mail account. Use
"Space-1" and "Space-4" to navigate the list of settings for the account. Press
"Space-E" to return to the accounts list.
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To modify the information for an e-mail account, open the "Accounts Manager"
and navigate to the desired account in the list. When the desired account is
displayed, press "F3" to move to the "Modify" button, and press "Enter". Or, press
Enter-M to activate the "Modify" button.
You are placed in the "Account name" edit box. You can now make changes to
the information presented. The "Modify" dialog is exactly like the "Account setup"
dialog, except that all the information is already filled in. Use normal editing and
navigation commands to navigate to the information and make your desired
changes.
When you have finished making modifications, press "F3" to move to "Confirm"
and press "Enter".
Use the following steps to delete an E-mail account.
1) Open the Accounts Manager in the manner previously described.
2) Press "Space-4" or "Space-1" to move to the desired account in the account
list.
3) When the desired account is displayed, press "Space-D" Or, press "F3" to
move to the "Delete" button, and press "Enter".
4) Polaris MINI prompts, "Are you sure you want to delete the (added account
name) account? Yes".
5) Press "enter" To delete it. Press "Space-Z" to cancel the deletion.
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6.4 Receiving E-mail
To check for new mail, press "Enter-N". You can also choose "Check for New
Mail" from the "Message" menu. For POP3 accounts, the Polaris MINI displays
"There are xx messages to receive. Now receiving." "x/y mail received;"
"Successfully received x out of y message" is displayed. When the e-mail
messages are downloaded from the server, the e-mail message list is displayed
in the "Inbox".
To cancel the download, press "F3" to move to the "Cancel" button, and press
"enter", or press "Space-E".
When receiving messages via an IMAP server, you can both check the newest
mail, according to the number of messages you have it set to automatically
receive in the "Set options" dialog, or you can ask the Polaris MINI to load older
e-mail messages. To receive the newest e-mail messages, press "Enter-N" from
the message list of the mailbox on which you are located. To receive previous
mail, press "Backspace-P". You can also access "Get new mail" and "Get
Previous mail" from the "Message" menu.
In addition, when using IMAP, as you navigate the various mail boxes in an
account, new mail is automatically received for each mail box as you open it.
6.5 Reading Messages
E-mail messages are displayed in the Inbox and other mailboxes with the
following information: "Subject", "Date", "From" (Sender), "CC", "Message" (main
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body of the e-mail) and "Attach" (displayed only for an e-mail with one or more
attached files) you can move among the items by pressing "F3" or "Space-F3".
If there is a file attached to the e-mail, an A is shown before the subject, and the
number of attachments is announced as you navigate the message list. The
Polaris MINI also indicates which e-mail messages have been read, and which e-
mail messages are unread. E-mail messages that have not yet been read have a
dash placed in front of the subject.
"Date" shows the date and time when the e-mail was received in the following
order: day, month, date, and year. The time is displayed in the following order:
hour, minute, and second using 24 hour time format.
"From" shows the sender information; "From: (sender's e-mail address) you can
save the e-mail id of the sender to your contacts in the "Address Manager" using
the following steps:
1) Press "Enter-I" when the sender is displayed.
2) The "add address" dialog is opened, and "Name: (sender's user name or e-
mail address)" is displayed.
3) Type the sender's name, or, if what is automatically filled in is acceptable, press
"F3" to move to "confirm", and press "enter". The contact is saved, and you are
returned to your previous position in the message list.
You can also save the e-mail id of the carbon copy recipient (CC) to the Address
Manager using the process described above.
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