Summary of Contents for Harpo Mountbatten Writer
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Page 1: User Guide
User Guide Mountbatten Writer Revision 2 © Harpo Sp. z o. o. ul. 27 Grudnia 7, 61-737 Poznań, Poland www.mountbattenbrailler.com... - Page 2 Thank you for purchasing a Mountbatten Writer. Since 1990, the Mountbatten range of Braille Writers has been offering expanded Braille writing opportunities to people all around the world. Mountbatten Braille Writers are in use in countries all over the world, bringing and supporting Braille literacy in many languages.
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Page 3: Table Of Contents
Contents Welcome................................1 Reading your User Guide..........................1 Very Important!..............................1 What can your Mountbatten Writer do?......................1 Exploring the MB Writer............................2 What’s inside the box?............................2 Removing the Shipping Lock..........................2 The Keyboard..............................3 The Embossing Area............................4 The Left Hand Side............................ - Page 4 Other Resources............................. 46 Updates to this User Guide..........................46 User Guide Index..............................47 User Guide Illustrations The Mountbatten Writer............................1 The MB Writer Shipping Lock..........................2 The MB Writer with paper bail installed........................3 The MB Writer keyboard with labels........................3 The top of the MB Writer, cover off, with the Embossing Area labelled..............5...
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Page 5: Welcome
Writer could be damaged. The next section, Exploring the MB Writer, gives instructions on how to do that. What can your Mountbatten Writer do? MB Writer is an electronic Braille Writer with speech, and some extras like erase and •... -
Page 6: Exploring The Mb Writer
When you receive your MB Writer and unpack it, please check that you have received the following: • The Mountbatten Writer • 1 X USB Peripheral cable •... -
Page 7: The Keyboard
Removing the Paper Bail The Paper Bail is only needed when the MB Writer is operating as a Braille embosser. When using the MB Writer as a Braille writer, we recommend that you remove it, because with the Paper Bail in place, it is difficult to read the Braille just written. Illustration 3: The MB Writer with paper bail installed. -
Page 8: The Embossing Area
1, dot 2 and dot 3, and the right-side Braille keys are dot 4, dot 5 and dot 6. Key and the backspace enter At the far right and far left of the 6 dot keys, under your little fingers, are two additional blue keys, shaped the same as the standard keys, but with a ridged top. -
Page 9: The Top Of The Mb Writer, Cover Off, With The Embossing Area Labelled
Paper Lever At the far right you will find the Paper Lever. This is a flat yellow lever; lift it from the front to release the paper, or to allow you to load paper. Slip your thumb into the recess from the front to lift the Paper Lever, so you can insert or remove paper. -
Page 10: The Left Hand Side
Raise the Paper Lever to lift the Reading Table and Margin Adjusters when you are inserting or removing paper. Paper Grip Wheels The Paper Grip Wheels are small rollers, at the front of the Margin Adjusters. They grip the paper while you are Brailling, so that the MB Writer can move the paper the right amount for each new line. -
Page 11: The Right Hand Side
distributor for information about the proper adaptor. The Right Hand Side Illustration 7: The right side of the MB Writer, showing the ports USB Port This is used for connecting to a computer and for transferring information between the PC and the MB Writer. -
Page 12: Removing Paper
Step 2 Slide the paper into the unit. Some people grasp either side of the paper and push it in. Others prefer to slide it in by pressing on the Reading Table and sliding forward. Step 3 When the paper is fully inserted, align the top of the page on the Reading Table. -
Page 13: Writing Braille
Writing Braille First, load a sheet of paper using the instructions in the previous section. Then turn the MB Writer on using the switch, and use the six black Braille keys and space, in exactly the same way as you would type on a mechanical Braille writer. Whatever you type will be embossed on the paper. -
Page 14: Erasing And Correction
Illustration 11: The three steps to enter a regular command For example to turn the Word Wrap command on, you first press command, then type then press enter. Your MB Writer will say “on” or “off” depending on the original setting. Toggle Commands Some commands, like Word Wrap, are "toggle"... -
Page 15: Formatting Your Braille
Move one position left backspace Playing Shark Attack - practise moving and correcting "Shark Attack" is a game devised by SET-BC in Canada, to use the erase and correct feature and all the page movement commands. Braille the letter g, 1,2,4,5, about 12 times in various areas of the Braille page, in dots front of the student or person who will play. - Page 16 To turn Centring off, enter the command again; this command is a toggle. The default state is off. Aligns your Braille to the right-hand margin. Like ce, the Right Align command stores your Braille in a buffer, and begins to emboss the first line when the buffer has filled, after you press a space.
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Page 17: Releasing A Margin
When you are Brailling all the way down the page, the MB Writer will continue to feed a new line up at the end of each line, or when you press newline, until the bottom of the sheet is reached. If you would like the Braille to finish on each page before the bottom of the sheet arrives, you can use the command below to change this. -
Page 18: Braille Writing Commands
command l s space dot 2 dots 4,6 dots 2,6 enter Where numbers are used in a command, they can be entered as either the number sign plus a letter from to j, or as a "dropped" or "lower" character. Some commands include ‘x’ and ‘y’... -
Page 19: Embossing Speed
Word Wrap. When Word Wrap is on, each word is not embossed till the Space Key is pressed. If the word cannot fit on the line, it is moved to the beginning of the next line. The default setting is off; this is a "toggle"... -
Page 20: More On Commands
More on Commands Turning the Command Key On and Off The command key is used for entering all the commands that make the MB Writer such a powerful tool for learning. You can turn it on or off as needed. Whatever is chosen remains the default after you turn the unit off. -
Page 21: Chorded Commands
Set left margin to position 6 lm 6 Where numbers are used in a command like the example above they can be entered as either the number sign plus a letter from to j, or as a "dropped" or "lower" character. Some commands include ‘x’... -
Page 22: Miscellaneous Commands
gives a summary of the Unimanual (one-handed) mode commands hp ku gives a summary of the Left Margin commands hp lm gives a summary of command parameters for the command hp report report gives a summary of command parameters for the command hp restore restore... -
Page 23: Essential Extras
Essential Extras Writing Braille Files in Memory The MB Writer has a memory in which you can save up to fifty files. This is intended for quick saves of your Braille, for instance when you don't have time to edit as you take notes. When you type Braille into the memory of the MB Writer, it is stored as Braille;... -
Page 24: Writing Braille On Heavy Card, Plastic Film Or Labels
Restore the last deleted file. undel only works if you use it before you switch the MB Writer off, in the same session as undel you deleted the file. Delete all saved files. del all Once you have used the command, you will not be able to retrieve any files. -
Page 25: Embossing Speed
Adjusting the Dot Impact for Different Types of Paper This function is used to match the impact force of the dots to the paper used. For heavy Braille paper, the impact force can be increased. For lighter paper, the impact force can be decreased. Increase Impact command + backtab When you press... -
Page 26: Speech
Speech The MB Writer has recorded speech built in. Recorded speech sounds clear and easily understood, because it is a human voice; however, it is not as powerful or flexible as synthesised speech. Adjusting Speech By default all keys, functions and commands will be spoken. This is particularly useful for anyone who is learning Braille, or for family and friends who want to familiarise themselves with a Braille writer. -
Page 27: Adding The Mimic
Adding the Mimic You can add an external display your MB Writer, so that people who don't know Braille can see what you're writing, displayed as text. The Mimic Display The Mimic is a small external display for the MB Writer. It displays in text what has been typed on the MB Writer in Braille. - Page 28 find the most recent characters. The Mimic can be connected to a computer and, using the MB-Comm software supplied with your MB Writer, all the information in the Mimic can be sent to the computer for storage or further analysis. User Guide 24...
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Page 29: Connecting Your Mb Writer
Connecting your MB Writer Your MB Writer has two ports for connecting it to other devices: USB Port The MB Writer has a USB-B port on the right-hand side, towards the front. This port is the same kind of USB port as you will find on a printer; it is a square port. Use this port when connecting to a PC. -
Page 30: Installing The Mb-Usb Drivers
The installation checks your computer for Windows NET components and loads them • if required. This may take several minutes. For Existing MB-Comm Users You must first uninstall the old MB-Comm. To uninstall the old version, follow these instructions: Go to the Control panel. •... -
Page 31: Embossing A File Using Mb-Comm
If you are using USB, click on the arrow beside the list, and you should see Mountbatten USB Port (COMn), where n is the number the PC has given the port. Choose this port from the list. If you are connecting with a serial cable, you should know which port on the PC you have connected to;... -
Page 32: Upgrade Mountbatten Software
MB-Comm screen. See the section Braille Chat for more information on how to use this feature. Upgrade Mountbatten Software This feature lets you update your MB Writer via the USB port, when a new software release is issued. Your distributor will be able to advise you. Save Display to File This feature lets you save the MB-Comm display screen contents to a file on the PC. -
Page 33: The Mb Writer As A Personal Embosser
The MB Writer as a Personal Embosser Using the MB Writer with Braille Translation Software If you use Duxbury or another translation program, you will need to add the MB Writer as a printer on your Windows system, so that the program can send the translated output to the MB for embossing. -
Page 34: Troubleshooting
b) If none of the above things is true, click "no". 16. To the final question, "Do you want to print a Test Page", click "No". 17.Click Next. 18. Click Finish. You now have a Windows Printer called MB Writer Embosser, which you can use with Duxbury or any other Braille translation software. - Page 35 Data bits • Parity none • Stop bits • Flow control Hardware • b) For a connection to the Serial Port: Bits per second 9600 • Data bits • Parity none • Stop bits • Flow control Hardware • Make sure you use the settings that suit the port you are using on the MB Writer. The USB port will not work at 9600 bits per second, and the serial port on the back of the MB Writer will not work at 115200 bits per second.
- Page 36 Comm installation information for how to make sure of this. Make sure the MB Writer is connected, switched on and loaded with paper before trying to print from Notepad. For the USB-serial adapter: Make sure that the driver for the USB-Serial adapter has been installed according to the instructions;...
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Page 37: Making Braille Graphics
Making Braille Graphics There are two ways to make graphics - tactile images - on your MB Writer: directly from the keyboard, or by sending an image file from a computer to be embossed. Graphics Mode enter or leave Graphics Mode. This is a toggle. In normal Braille, or non-graphics mode, your MB Writer allows the correct amount of space between Braille characters and between lines of Braille for reading. -
Page 38: Braille Codes
Braille Codes Using Dropped or Lower Numbers All through this User Guide, you will see mention of using "dropped" or "lower" numbers when entering commands and calculations. The standard literary Braille method of entering numbers is to use a number sign, dots followed by any combination of letters from through j:... - Page 39 Braille Braille Braille ASCII Dots Braille ASCII Dots Braille ASCII Dots Braille ⠇ ⠷ ⠆ 12356 ⠍ ⠻ ⠒ 12456 ⠝ ⠳ ⠲ 1345 1256 ⠕ ⠣ ⠢ < ⠏ ⠹ ⠖ 1234 1456 ⠟ ⠩ ⠶ 12345 2356 ⠗ ⠱...
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Page 40: Modifying And Adapting The Mb Writer Keyboard
Modifying and Adapting the MB Writer Keyboard One-Handed Braille Writing Turns on One-Handed operation. command is a toggle. Once it is active, to use ku again, you must press command k enter, in that order. space u space When is on, press space after the you have entered the dots for each character. For example: To type the letter you do not have to press... -
Page 41: Changing The Control Key Layout
See the section Care and Troubleshooting for information on how to do this. Changing the Control Key Layout The Control key layout can also be changed. As before, Control Key layout settings can be saved as part of the Keyboard group, along with Dot Key layout settings, using the command SAVE KB. -
Page 42: Special Keyboards
kbrf [command] For example, to complete the pair, you might like to enter the command kbrf fe kbrf lm 10 Combined Function Keys It is also possible to have a third command available, for when you press both function keys together. -
Page 43: Saving And Restoring Settings
Saving and Restoring Settings Every command used by the MB Writer has a default, or factory, setting. However, toggle commands can be turned on and off, and other commands can be set to suit your requirements, including keyboard layout, communication parameters and page format. Settings that are not are temporary and will be lost at switch-off. - Page 44 If the MB Writer has been switched off, the default settings will be replaced by your saved settings after the next switch-on. is only necessary if you wish to restore saved restore settings during the same session. Reporting If you need a list of the saved settings, or if you have forgotten what you are currently using, then you can have the MB Writer emboss or speak a report on the settings.
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Page 45: Care And Troubleshooting Guide
Care and Troubleshooting Guide If you experience problems with the operation of your MB Writer, assistance is available to help you or your support person diagnose the problem. Power The MB Writer has an internal battery which is re-chargeable. A universal power supply is provided which, when plugged into the mains, will re-charge the battery at the same time it provides power to the whole unit. - Page 46 Status Message Description Charging Your MB Writer battery is charging Your MB Writer is not connected to an external power Not Charging source Battery OK The battery is 2/3 charged or more. The battery is low. You need to recharge the battery. Battery Low Connect to power as soon as possible.
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Page 47: Procedure To Reset The Mb Writer
Temperature fault. Battery temperature has exceeded <00 Battery Temperature Error or >600C. Switch off for ten minutes. If the problem persists, please contact your distributor. Procedure to Reset the MB Writer Sometimes you will need to reset the MB Writer to the factory defaults - your distributor will tell you if this is needed. -
Page 48: Battery Care
The AC Mains Power adaptor; • The Power cord; • The USB or Serial Cable; • The Mimic. • Insert the shipping lock and paper bail To prepare the MB Writer for travel, you must insert the shipping lock. Turn the MB off, and disconnect any cables and the power supply. Lift the Paper Lever up and move the right margin all the way to the right. - Page 49 charge the battery if it is low. It is a good idea to charge the battery overnight. • If the battery is not re-charged when completely run down, permanent damage can • result. Replacing a battery is expensive and often inconvenient. It is a good idea to leave the MB Writer plugged in wherever possible to ensure the •...
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Page 50: Resources For Users, Parents And Teachers
Resources for Users, Parents and Teachers Graham Cook of SET-BC in Vancouver has written some wonderful support documents and curriculum materials for the MB Writer. These are available online at http://www.setbc.org/setbc/vision/mbpro/default.html. Posture and Seating Brailling posture and body alignment are very important. •... -
Page 51: User Guide Index
User Guide Index Installing MB-Comm...........25 Installing the MB-USB Drivers......26 Adjusting for different types of paper.......21 MB-Comm............25 Adjusting the Dot Impact.........21 Save Display to File...........28 ASCII or Computer Braille........34 Save file to PC...........27 Send file to MB W+..........27 Braille Chat..............27 Upgrade Mountbatten Software......28 Braille Graphics............33 Using MB W+ as an Embosser......29 Graphics from the Keyboard......33... - Page 52 Moving around the page..........Emboss default settings........18 Games for moving and correcting......11 Emboss saved settings........18 Move down the page..........10 Formatting Groups..........40 Move left 5 spaces..........10 Groups...............39 Move one position left.........11 Reporting............40 Move one position right........10 Restore to factory default settings......18 Move right 5 spaces...........10 Restoring............39 Move up the page..........10...
- Page 53 MB Writer Reference Section Reference Section Contents MB Writer Commands............................R1 Changing between Learn Mode and Advanced Mode..................R2 Speech Control..............................R2 Handy Things to Know............................R2 Braille Writing..............................R3 Braille Files in Memory............................R4 Extra Commands..............................R4 Getting Help................................ R4 Braille Graphics..............................
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Page 54: Keyboard Layout
MB Writer Commands Keyboard layout From the top left of the keyboard, clockwise, edges first: - top left, small round smooth key. -top right, small round smooth key. backtab - right, oval ridged key below backtab. enter - bottom centre, right side, long key. space - bottom centre, left side, long key. -
Page 55: One-Handed Mode
enter Options Menu o-chord t-chord (Advanced Mode only) Stops the speech (while z-chord Page eject p-chord speaking). Reverse Line r-chord Changing between Learn Mode and Advanced Mode The factory default setting is Learn Mode. Enter the command to change between Learn and Advanced Mode. -
Page 56: Braille Writing
Backtab New line Close an open file Indent Linefeed New page Reverse linefeed Braille Writing Braille Formatting Commands The following formatting commands apply in both Learning and Advanced modes. Position of Braille on the Paper Centre text. Embossing starts after the New Line key is pressed. Default = off (toggle). - Page 57 set page bottom warning bell to ring n lines before the end of the pbell [n] page. Right margin bell. The bell rings 5 positions from the right margin. Default is rmbell on (toggle). Emboss commands as they are entered (can be helpful for tracking show mistakes).
- Page 58 emboss or speak the help for any of the groups outlined below. hp [group] General Help groups gives a summary of the Braille code commands hp bc gives a summary of default language selection commands hp dfln gives a summary of embossing output commands hp em gives a summary of commands for embossing from the memory hp emb...
- Page 59 Control of Braille Output Allow only ‘n’ blank lines while embossing. Any lines greater than ‘n’ will el n be discarded (avoids having large blank areas on the braille page). Caps lock. Default = off (toggle). The MB Writer has only one port which has been designed to use with the Mimic. If you want to use it as a port to connect to a PC or a note-taker, you must first turn the Mimic function off, using the command (see the Mimic section in the User Guide).
- Page 60 really reinforces the Braille code for the Braille learner. Default = off. Toggle To try these drawings, check the Braille Grades table in this section for the keys you need to press. We have shown you how the Heart will look to get you started. Heart 1.
- Page 61 You will hear an Error tone if you try to move left when you are at the Left Margin, either with or backtab. backspace You will hear a single Acknowledge beep when Page Eject is complete. A single Bell beep indicates: A command has been accepted correctly.
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Questions and answers
My Mountbatten Brailler is repeatedly saying “input buffer full”. Is there a way to get out of this? Thank you!
The "input buffer full" issue on your Harpo Mountbatten Writer means the MB Writer is waiting to clear the input buffer. You should wait until the buffer is cleared before continuing. If the issue persists, try restarting the device.
This answer is automatically generated