The braille keyboard
The braille keyboard of b.no is composed of 8 keys and 2 thumb keys. Each key is related
to one braille pin.
This is how each key is positioned : '7 3 2 1 4 5 6 8'
The 2 thumb keys are named from left to right : '9' and 'A'.
The braille keyboard must be used by pressing and releasing simultaneously one or several
keys. The functions or characters generated according to the combination of pressed keys
will be detailed later in the document :
● For computer braille, see APPENDIX “8-dot computer braille characters”,
● For the other functions (different from usual characters you may find on a PC
keyboard) see APPENDIX “10 dots braille functions”
● In order to use the braille keyboard in unimanual mode, see APPENDIX “Unimanual
braille keyboard”.
You might have to use some of these modifying functions (Ctrl, Alt, Shift, Windows and
Insert) before typing the keys combination that these functions apply to.
Start Up
The key lock, located on the left side of the device, needs to be pulled in order to start
b.no.
The braille display will switch on and will display the main menu.
Once the device is “on” :
● A short press turns the device into “transport” mode. In this case, all keys stop
working and all dots on the braille display are down.
● A long press (> to 2 sec) turns the device into sleep mode. The second processor
power supply is cut off as well as the braille display. The whole system can remain
this way for several weeks with no need to recharge.
After starting up, b.no will display the main menu:
“usb bluetooth-applications nn%”
Choose “usb” to communicate with a computer through the usb cable. If another internal app
or Bluetooth mode is requested, “bluetooth-applications'' will have to be confirmed which will
start the second processor of the system.
nn% indicates the percentage of the remaining battery power.
In order to return to the main menu ofb.no , press the up arrow key of the left keypad.
Once the second processor starts, the main menu is complete :
“usb <list of documents in editing> <List of connected bluetooth channels> explorer settings
transport turn off”