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Orbit Research Orbit Speak User Manual

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PROPRIETARY
INFORMATION
TM
Orbit Speak
User Guide
23rd April 2025
Version 0.14

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  • Page 1 PROPRIETARY INFORMATION Orbit Speak User Guide 23rd April 2025 Version 0.14...

  • Page 2: Table Of Contents

    Quick Start ............................... 12 Conventions in This User Guide ....................12 Orbit Speak Features ........................12 Turning On and Off, Restarting and Putting Orbit Speak into Sleep Mode ......13 Speech Rate ..........................13 Speech Volume ..........................14 Knowing Your Battery Status ...................... 14 Exploring the Main Menu ......................
  • Page 3 Orbit Speak – User Guide Version 0.14 Locating and Opening the Application ..................27 Layout of the Home Screen and Navigation ................28 Categories List Context Menu ..................... 28 Add a Book ..........................28 6.3.1 Add Online Services ......................28 6.3.2...
  • Page 4 Orbit Speak – User Guide Version 0.14 Media Player ............................37 Opening the Media Player ......................37 The Playback Screen ........................37 Movement Units and Navigation..................37 8.2.1 Global Commands ........................38 8.2.2 8.2.3 Speak Track Title ........................38 6.3 The Context Menu ........................39 Settings Dialog ..........................
  • Page 5 Orbit Speak – User Guide Version 0.14 10.2 Searching for stations ........................45 Navigating the Country List ..................... 45 10.2.1 10.3 Playing a Radio Station ........................ 46 Opening the Station List....................46 10.3.1 Using the radio Player ........................46 10.4 10.4.1...
  • Page 6 Orbit Speak – User Guide Version 0.14 11.7 Clock and Alarm ..........................53 Adding a New Alarm ......................53 11.7.1 11.7.2 When Your Alarm Goes Off ..................... 54 Alarm Clock Menu ......................55 11.7.3 Contacts ............................55 11.8 11.8.1 Navigating and opening the contacts app ..............55 Creating a new Contact ....................
  • Page 7 Orbit Speak Is in an Unknown State and the Battery Is Charged ......... 72 14.3 14.4 Orbit Speak is in an unknown state, the battery is charged, and the troubleshooting steps in 11.4 do not resolve the issue....................... 72 Orbit Speak is Continuous Beeping ................... 73 14.5...

  • Page 8: Introduction And Orientation

    Congratulations on purchasing your new Orbit Speak! First, let us describe the device. • Position your Orbit Speak in front of you so that the keys are facing upwards, and an elongated key is closer to you. This elongated key is the Space bar.
  • Page 9 To insert an SD card, hold it with the contacts facing up and towards the device, put it into the slot and gently push it until you hear a click. • On the right side of the device is a USB-C port for charging your Orbit Speak and connecting it to your PC.
  • Page 10 Orbit Speak – User Guide Version 0.14...
  • Page 11 Orbit Speak – User Guide Version 0.14 1. Dot 1 15. F1 key 2. Dot 2 16. F2 key 3. Dot 3 17. F3 key 4. Dot 4 18. F4 key 5. Dot 5 19. Speaker 6. Dot 6 20. Microphone 7.

  • Page 12: Quick Start

    Orbit Speak – User Guide Version 0.14 Quick Start 3.1 Conventions in This User Guide For consistency and clarity, the following conventions are used in this user guide: • Braille keys on the Perkins keyboard are designated with dot numbers. For example, if it is said to press Dot 1, it means the key for Dot 1 on the Perkins keyboard.

  • Page 13: Turning On And Off, Restarting And Putting Orbit Speak Into Sleep Mode

    If you try to turn the device on when its battery is empty, you will feel a vibration and hear two high-pitched beeps, but Orbit Speak will not turn on. In this case, please charge your device first.

  • Page 14: Speech Volume

    3.5 Speech Volume The speech volume of your Orbit Speak can be set from level 0 up to level 15. Even if the volume is set to 0, you will still hear speech. It will be very quiet, but you will never be in a situation when your device is turned on and works correctly but it is silent.

  • Page 15: Exploring The Main Menu

    If you have performed this command just now, you are in the Settings menu. Read about all the Orbit Speak settings below, in the corresponding chapter. Now you need to close the Settings application and return it to the home screen. To do this, press Space + Dots 1 3 5 6 (Space + Z) simultaneously.

  • Page 16: Disconnecting From A Wi-Fi Network

    A dialog box will open. You can inspect this dialog box as you would on a computer by pressing Tab or Shift + Tab. To do this on your Orbit Speak, press Space + Dots 4 5 and Space + Dots 1 2, respectively. The Wi-Fi settings dialog box contains the following items: •...

  • Page 17: Getting Help

    Up and Down arrow keys. Then press the Select key. 3.10 Getting Help Orbit Speak has two types of built-in help: a user guide in text format and an audio tutorial. To choose either the text user guide or the audio tutorial, do the following: •...

  • Page 18: Contracted Braille Support

    Your file will be saved. 4.2 Contracted Braille support Starting with version 1.2, Orbit Speak allows opening and creating Braille files in BRF format, as well as Unicode Braille, BRA, and BRL files. Braille file support uses the Liblouis Braille translator, along with its built-in Braille tables.

  • Page 19: Opening And Saving An Existing Text Or Braille Document

    Orbit Speak – User Guide Version 0.14 2. For the file to be translated correctly when opened or saved as BRF, you must select the Braille code with which you want to work from the device’s settings. Go to the settings application from the home screen, locate the newly added Braille settings option, and activate it.

  • Page 20: Editor Menu

    Orbit Speak – User Guide Version 0.14 want to open another file. To save changes to an existing open file, press Dots 2 3 4 8. 4.4 Editor Menu The Editor application has a menu where you can always find a list of all the actions.

  • Page 21: Editor Commands

    Orbit Speak – User Guide Version 0.14 o Read current sentence, S; o Read current line, L; o Read current word, W; o Read current character, C. Each menu item is followed by its quick access command. This is a letter that you type on the Perkins keyboard to carry out the command.

  • Page 22: File Manager

    • Close the Editor application — Space + Dots 1 3 5 6. File Manager If you want to use your PC for managing files on the Orbit speak, you can connect your Orbit Speak to it using the provided cable, or any cable with a USB-C connector. You will see the device on your computer as LAVA LZG403 25i and you can write your files to it or delete them as usual.

  • Page 23: File Manager Menu

    Orbit Speak – User Guide Version 0.14 To open a file, navigate to its name with Up and Down arrows and press the Select key. Alternatively, you can type a letter and navigate to all files and folders whose name begins with that letter, one by one.

  • Page 24: Searching For A File

    ▪ Ascending; ▪ Descending. Along with the menu item, Orbit Speak also speaks a quick access command, which is a letter that needs to be typed on the Perkins keyboard to perform that command when the menu is open. Here are some examples of how to work with menus.

  • Page 25: Creating A New Folder

    Orbit Speak – User Guide Version 0.14 5.5 Creating a New Folder To create a new folder, move where you want to create the new folder. Then follow the steps below: • Open the File Manager menu by pressing Space + M (Space + Dots 1 3 4).

  • Page 26: Sorting And Ordering Files In A Folder

    Orbit Speak – User Guide Version 0.14 button, and then press the Select key to confirm or cancel the deletion. Note: You can delete a file or a folder without going to the menu at all. To do this, press Space + D, and the confirmation dialog will open.

  • Page 27: Reader Application

    Orbit Speak – User Guide Version 0.14 • Copy — Dots 1 4 8. • Cut — Dots 1 3 4 6 8. • Paste — Dots 1 2 3 6 8. • Delete — Space + Dots 1 4 5.

  • Page 28: Layout Of The Home Screen And Navigation

    Orbit Speak – User Guide Version 0.14 6.2 Layout of the Home Screen and Navigation When the Reader opens, the focus is on the Categories List. You will find two main options in this list: 1. My Bookshelf – This section stores all books detected in documents or books folder from the internal storage and SD card, as well as books manually added.

  • Page 29: Settings Dialog

    When you are focused on a setting, use the Left Arrow or Right Arrow keys to change its value. • As you move, Orbit Speak will announce both the name of the setting and its current value, so you always know what you are adjusting. List of Settings and How They Work: •...

  • Page 30: Confirming Or Cancelling Changes

    Orbit Speak – User Guide Version 0.14 documents have heading levels like Heading 1, Heading 2, etc. This setting lets you decide whether you want to navigate only through the selected heading level, or include higher-level headings as well. •...

  • Page 31: My Bookshelf Context Menu

    Orbit Speak – User Guide Version 0.14 6.5 My Bookshelf Context Menu Press Space + Dots 1, 3, 4 to open the context menu in My Bookshelf. Here are the available options: Add a Book – Functions the same as in the Categories List.

  • Page 32: Reading View Context Menu

    Orbit Speak – User Guide Version 0.14 Find Dialog • Press space + F, the shortcut key to open the Find dialog directly. • You can also access it through the context menu. • The focus is placed on the Find Edit Box where you can type the search term.

  • Page 33: Recently Read

    Orbit Speak – User Guide Version 0.14 Close Book and Clear Position – Resets the reading position when closing the book. Exit – Returns to the main reading view. • Go To Menu Find – Press space + F to open directly.

  • Page 34: Recently Read Context Menu

    Orbit Speak – User Guide Version 0.14 Navigating the Recently Read List • Use the Up/Down Arrow Keys to browse through the list of recently opened books. • Press the Select Key on any book to reopen it from the last saved reading position.

  • Page 35: Managing Online Services

    Orbit Speak – User Guide Version 0.14 • A dialog named online services list will open. This section will show the libraries you are logged into and will let you access it. • If no services are added, the message "No online services, use the context menu to add an online service"...

  • Page 36: Viewing Book Information

    Orbit Speak – User Guide Version 0.14 • Alternatively, press Space + F to open the search dialog. • Enter a search term and press Enter. • A list of search results will be displayed. • Selecting a book by pressing the select key from the search results will provide book details.

  • Page 37: Exiting Online Libraries

    • Press Space + Z again from the main screen to exit the Reader application. Media Player Orbit Speak is equipped with a simple application to play audio files. It supports the following formats: MP3, WAV, WMA, FLAC, AAC, RA, M4A, OGG, and APE.

  • Page 38: Global Commands

    Orbit Speak – User Guide Version 0.14 • 10 seconds • 30 seconds • 1 minute • Track • Playback speed These movement units can be managed from a new settings dialog, which allows you to choose which units will be available during navigation.

  • Page 39: The Context Menu

    Orbit Speak – User Guide Version 0.14 8.3 6.3 The Context Menu The context menu for the Media Player includes the following items: • File Explorer: Opens the file explorer (file manager) to select a new folder or file for playback.

  • Page 40: Podcast Application

    Orbit Speak – User Guide Version 0.14 Podcast Application 9.1 Introduction The Podcast Application is a powerful platform for consuming a wealth of knowledge on a wide range of topics—from science and sociology to self-help and beyond. With this app, you can effortlessly tap into a vast amount of information on the internet, all without distraction.

  • Page 41: Search For Podcasts

    Orbit Speak – User Guide Version 0.14 • Upon opening the dialog, you will be presented with an edit box asking the URL for the podcast to be added. • Type The URL and press down arrow to reach the ok button.

  • Page 42: Check For New Episodes

    Orbit Speak – User Guide Version 0.14 9.3.9 Check for new episodes: This option will check for new episodes available in the podcasts you have in the podcast list. Note that it will only check for episodes if you have the focus on the podcast or you have selected them using the space key.

  • Page 43: Date Display Format

    Orbit Speak – User Guide Version 0.14 Pause Audio Playback: Pause the podcast audio during TTS announcements. Off: Continue playing podcast audio without any adjustments during TTS. • Use the Left/Right Arrow Keys to switch between options. 9.4.4 Date Display Format •...

  • Page 44: Playback Screen Controls

    Orbit Speak – User Guide Version 0.14 After typing in the search field, press Enter to fetch the search results. Use the navigation keys to browse through the results. Pressing Enter on a podcast in the results list will add it to your personal podcasts list automatically.

  • Page 45: Internet Radio

    Orbit Speak – User Guide Version 0.14 Internet Radio The Internet Radio application allows you to listen to a diverse range of radio stations from across the globe. It requires an active internet connection and lets you browse through a wide variety of stations or add your own if they are not listed.

  • Page 46: Playing A Radio Station

    Orbit Speak – User Guide Version 0.14 10.3 Playing a Radio Station 10.3.1 Opening the Station List 1. After selecting a country, you will hear the list of stations available. 2. Use the arrow keys to navigate through the station list. You can also use letter navigation to quickly jump to a specific station.

  • Page 47: Searching For Stations

    Orbit Speak – User Guide Version 0.14 10.5 Searching for Stations Finding a station among hundreds manually can be time-consuming. The Find feature helps locate your favourite stations quickly. 1. Activate the Find Feature by pressing Space + F/Dots 1, 2, 4 to open the search dialog.

  • Page 48: Browse Station

    Orbit Speak – User Guide Version 0.14 10.6.1 Browse Station: • This is the default section when the app opens. Up until now whatever we have learnt is part of the Browse station. • Press the left arrow to return here from other sections.

  • Page 49: Settings

    Orbit Speak – User Guide Version 0.14 10.7.3 Settings Default Storage Location Combo Box This setting, accessible via the Settings dialog, allows you to specify where your radio recordings will be saved. The options include: 1. Internal Storage 2. SD Card •...

  • Page 50: Calculator

    • To select a menu item, press the Select key. 11.6 Calendar Your orbit speak device has an inbuilt calendar application which is extremely useful as well as extremely easy to use. It has a simple calendar format, a choice to create an event, manage the event, set alerts for the events and more.

  • Page 51: Event List Choice

    Orbit Speak – User Guide Version 0.14 Press the down arrow until you hear utilities sub-menu, navigate to the utilities until you here calendar and press select. You can also use the quick access key such as U for utilities and I for calendar.

  • Page 52: Go To Date

    Orbit Speak – User Guide Version 0.14 1. Event title: write event or appointment name. 2. Event description: Write a description about your event or appointment. 3. Event location: Write down the location of your event or appointment. 4. Alert tone: select a tone to get alert when an event or appointment is near by pressing the left or right arrow.

  • Page 53: Exit

    11.7 Clock and Alarm Your Orbit Speak has a simple and easy to use Alarm Clock app that allows you to set an alarm, as well as store a list of your regular alarms and toggle them on and off when you need them.

  • Page 54: When Your Alarm Goes Off

    Orbit Speak – User Guide Version 0.14 or off; • Frequency: Just once, Every Sunday, Every Monday, Every Tuesday, Every Wednesday, Every Thursday, Every Friday, Every Saturday, or Every Day. This dialog also contains two buttons: OK and Cancel. To move from one of these items to another, press Up Arrow, Down Arrow, or Space + Dots 4 5 (Tab).

  • Page 55: Alarm Clock Menu

    Down arrow keys to move between them. Then press the Select key. 11.8 Contacts In your orbit speak device, there is an app called contacts. As the name suggests, it allows you to create new contacts, edit the existing contacts and save them for future references.

  • Page 56: Creating A New Contact

    Contacts app by pressing the down arrow or its Quick access key O, and press select there. When you open the contacts app the orbit speak will announce “Contacts list No contacts” If you have created a contact before it will announce “Contacts list and the name of the contact.”...

  • Page 57: Editing The Existing Contact

    Orbit Speak – User Guide Version 0.14 If you are creating the contact and you want to stop, press space + Z / dots 1, 3, 5, 6. The device will ask whether you want to save the changes you made or not, if you want to save the progress, then press Yes, otherwise No.

  • Page 58: Exiting The Dialogue And The Application

    Orbit Speak – User Guide Version 0.14 If you are creating the contact and you want to stop, press space + Z / dots 1, 3, 5, 6. The device will ask whether you want to save the changes you made or not, if you want to save the progress, then press Yes, otherwise No.

  • Page 59: The View Recordings Dialog

    Orbit Speak – User Guide Version 0.14 This Option as the name suggests starts recording when activating it. You can also use the command enter with R to start recording. 2. View recordings button: This option allows you to view the recordings you made and saved.

  • Page 60: Settings

    Orbit Speak – User Guide Version 0.14 11.9.4 Settings The Settings dialog provides options to customize your recording preferences and is just below the view recordings option. 1. Default Storage for Saving Recordings This option determines where your recordings are stored.

  • Page 61: Recording Using A Global Shortcut

    11.9.5 Recording using a global shortcut Orbit Speak gives you the ability to record from anywhere on the device without specifically opening the voice recorder application. This allows you to make quick and efficient recordings with just one key press, no matter what you are doing now.

  • Page 62: General Options

    Orbit Speak – User Guide Version 0.14 applications in Orbit Speak, it is the quick access command for that item. To quickly perform a command without going through the complete list, simply type that letter on the Perkins keyboard. The settings category list contains the following categories: •...

  • Page 63: Speech Options

    “Cap” before each uppercase letter, or turn the announcement off. • Main Volume. Set the main volume of your Orbit Speak. This setting does not affect the speech volume. Similarly to the speech volume, it has 15 levels from which you can choose.

  • Page 64: Wi-Fi Settings

    The name of the device in the Devices list will be followed by the word “Connected” since then. If you now want to disconnect your external device from Orbit Speak, press the Select key again and confirm the action.

  • Page 65: Software Update

    Check this box so that you do not miss the latest updates. When it is checked, your Orbit Speak will check for updates each time you turn it on and if there is an update, the device will prompt you to install it.

  • Page 66: About

    Sometimes to better assist you, our support might ask to provide full information about your Orbit Speak. In this case, please save the info to a file and send it to our tech support team. To save your device information to a file, please navigate to the “Save to File” button and press the Select key.

  • Page 67: Layout And Navigation

    Orbit Speak – User Guide Version 0.14 12.10.2 Layout and Navigation • When the application opens, the focus is set to the Language Combo Box. • The default selection is "All Languages," meaning all available voices, regardless of language, will be displayed in the list.

  • Page 68: Firmware Upgrade

    This section describes the procedure for updating the Orbit Speak firmware. The firmware of Orbit Speak can be updated using a Windows PC and a USB cable. The USB upgrade method requires a Windows PC, but the upgrade process is simple and quicker.

  • Page 69: Using The Windows Pc Upgrade Utility

    2. Standard USB-A to Type-C USB cable 3. A PC running Windows XP or later. 4. The Orbit Writer - Firmware Upgrade Utility file found in the Orbit Speak folder (see Download firmware package).Although the utility used here is of orbit writer, there is no need to be confused.
  • Page 70 “Do you want to upgrade the device?” in the message field at the bottom of the dialog. 2. Release the Up-arrow key and Dot 5. This switches Orbit Speak to Upgrade mode. You should hear a tone on your PC.

  • Page 71: Troubleshooting

    9. The Orbit Speak is upgraded. Turn on the Orbit Speak to start using the device. To check for a successful upgrade of the Orbit Speak, open the Orbit Speak Menu to check the version. The version number of the firmware release should match the number shown in the upgrade utility.

  • Page 72: Orbit Speak Does Not Respond To Key Presses

    14.2 Orbit Speak Does Not Respond to Key Presses • Make sure Orbit Speak is not in sleep mode. Press the Power button briefly to wake the device up. If it were in sleep mode, you would hear a usual raising tone and a speech message.

  • Page 73: Orbit Speak Is Continuous Beeping

    Note: This does not erase your settings nor any of your data, so this procedure is safe. • Do not press any keys until you hear Orbit Speak announcing that you are on the home screen. Hardware Limited Warranty Warranty obligations for Orbit Speak are limited to the terms set forth below:...

  • Page 74: Consumer Protection Laws

    INCLUDING THE REPLACEMENT OF EQUIPMENT AND PROPERTY, ANY COSTS OF RECOVERING, PROGRAMMING OR REPRODUCING ANY PROGRAM OR DATA STORED IN OR USED WITH THE ORBIT RESEARCH PRODUCT, AND ANY FAILURE TO MAINTAIN THE CONFIDENTIALITY OF DATA STORED ON THE PRODUCT. THE...

  • Page 75: Obtaining Warranty Service

    ORBIT RESEARCH LLC., the warrantor under this Limited Warranty, is identified at the end of this document according to the country or region in which the product purchase took place.

  • Page 76: Fcc Information

    Orbit Speak – User Guide Version 0.14 FCC Information 18.1 FCC Notice 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.

  • Page 77: Appendix A: Revision History

    Orbit Speak website at https://www.orbitresearch.com/support/orbit- speak-support/. For further questions or concerns not covered in this User Guide, please contact the distributor from where you purchased your Orbit Speak. Appendix A: Revision History Rev. Date Description of Changes Author •...

  • Page 78: 21 S

    Orbit Speak – User Guide Version 0.14 • Voice Recorder Content Review 0.10 December 2024 Adi & • Formatting Sandip • Added Voice manager contents. 0.11 February 2025 Sandip & • Added Reader Contents Mohammad • Format the headings and Sub- 0.12...

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