Short Reference for the Activator
Version 1.0
Please also review the detailed user manual, which you can find on the StartStick.
The Activator at a glance
Top of the Unit
Please place the Activator in front of you on the table with the Braille keyboard facing
up. The two keys in the front center are the two space keys. The left space bar will be
referred to as [SPCL] and the right space bar will be referred to as [SPCR]. In the case
that both the left and the right space bar can be pressed, they are designated as [SPC].
Between the two spacebars is a small five-way function key that can be pressed to the
right, left, up, down or center. This function key enables fast and convenient navigation
both in internal mode and in connection with connected devices, such as a PC or cell
phone. In this context, it functions like the arrow keys on a keyboard.
Behind the space bar are the 40 ergonomic Braille modules with integrated cursor
routing keys. With the integrated cursor routing keys, hereafter called [CR] keys, the
cursor can be placed directly at the text position of a specific Braille module.
To the left and right of each Braille module are three independent navigation keys
labelled N followed by 1 through 6, according to the arrangement of the Braille dots.
So top left N1, below N2 and N3, right N4, N5 and N6. They are embedded in the
housing in such a way that they do not stand out from the Braille modules. The
navigation keys have the following functions:
The left resp. right upper navigation key serves as a read key to move back in the text
and will be called [N1] resp. [N4] in the following.
The lower left or right navigation key is used to read forwards and is referred to below
as [N3] or [N6].
Above the Braille modules is the multifunctional 2-in-1 folding keyboard. This keyboard
can be used in the following two ways:
When folded down, an 8-dot Braille keyboard is available. This allows characters to be
entered using dot combinations in Braille. The keyboard is held in place by magnets,
which means it cannot accidentally flip open when the Activator is being transported.
The 8-dot Braille keyboard consists of 8 ergonomically arranged function keys. The
function keys are used for Braille input and are designated as follows:
7 3 2 1 SPCC 4 5 6 8
In the center of the function keys there is a space bar (space key), hereafter called
[SPCC]. In internal mode it functions as a space bar, in terminal mode, i.e. in
connection with a terminal and a screen reader, it functions as a control key.
A support foot is attached to the upper left and right narrow side of the folding keyboard.
By lifting both support feet and folding the keyboard backwards, a second keyboard, a
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