Ameeca Headset User manual

Manual
listening for learning...

Base unit
Headset
Remote console
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Quick SetUp
Simply take your StoryPhones out of the box
and press the play button for 2 seconds! Your
StoryPhones are ready to play.
Now, set up your system...
(more details on pages 3 & 4)
Install the software by inserting the CD
into the CD drive of your PC and the
software will run. For more information
please see page 3.
Plug the Base Unit into the mains power
supply using the power supply unit.
Connect the Base Unit to the PC with the
USB cable.
Put the Headsets and Remote Console into
the Base Unit one at a time and wait for
each one to appear in Bookshelf before
adding the next player. (It may take a short
time for each player to appear as software
drivers are installed).
Your system is ready to use.
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Contents
Welcome to StoryPhones
Important Safety Information
Installing the Bookshelf Software
Setting up Your StoryPhones System
Using the StoryPhones System
How to use the Headsets
How to use the Remote Console
The StoryPhones Bookshelf Software
Taking Care of Your StoryPhones System
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Hello and welcome
to your StoryPhones
Audio System.
I developed the concept of StoryPhones during my
time as an Early Years Foundation Stage teacher.
As a teacher, I understood the importance of nurturing
children’s listening and communication skills and I felt
that there was a need to modernise the way children
accessed audio resources in order to develop these
skills. StoryPhones will give your children a versatile,
accessible way of listening to stories, music, songs and
games wherever they want. The recording facility will
allow children to record their own stories and ideas.
The system will give you ease of access to audio
resources when planning children’s learning.
We hope that you enjoy using your StoryPhones
system.
Eleanor Johnson, creator of StoryPhones
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Important Safety Information
Please read these instructions thoroughly
before use.
Do not attempt any repair or remove any covers except for
battery replacement. Ameeca will not be held responsible for
any damage caused by unauthorised repairs.
The StoryPhones system is only to be used as an audio
teaching aid and entertainment system, Ameeca will not be
held responsible for any misuse. StoryPhones is not a toy.
StoryPhones should not be taken outside when it is raining.
StoryPhones should not be immersed in water.
For health and safety reasons, children should not wear a
Headset whilst riding a bike, climbing or running around.
Should your system need cleaning use a slightly damp cloth
to wipe the plastic surfaces.
StoryPhones uses the type of rechargeable batteries used in
mobile phones and many other appliances. It is important
that the batteries are replaced only with the same type.
Caution. Danger of explosion if the battery is incorrectly
replaced. Contact Ameeca for replacement batteries.
The battery must not be exposed to excessive heat such
as direct sunlight, fire etc.
Only use the plug-in power supply that comes with the
StoryPhones. Consult Ameeca for a replacement if required.
The equipment must be connected to a mains socket outlet
with a protective earth connection and the mains plug must
be readily accessible.
The equipment and its component parts must be disposed of
in accordance with local and national environmental
regulations in place.
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Installing the BookShelf Software
The BookShelf software is supplied on CD and the setup program should start
automatically when you insert the CD into your computer. If this does not happen,
double click on the CDROM Drive icon on your computer to start the setup program.
Click the“Next” button through the various screens that appear. If you are asked
to install the“.NET” programs or the C++ libraries then you must do this as some
files need updating on your computer for the BookShelf software to work.
If you wish to install the Adobe PDF reader software, you need to check the box
alongside the program name on the appropriate screen. The PDF reader program
will allow you to view various document downloads that are available on the
StoryPhones website and also through the StoryPhones Bookshop. You may
already have Adobe PDF Reader installed on your computer and if so, you can
leave the box unchecked and skip this install.
Your StoryPhones User Account
StoryPhones allows to you go online to buy audio stories and other content and to
access the online store you need a StoryPhones Account. When you first run the
BookShelf software after installation, you will see a “Welcome”pop-up screen giving
you three options. If you need to set up an account, select the“Register” option, click
the“Next” button and fill in your details. You will be sent an email to confirm your
account details and you will have to reply to this email in order to activate your
account. Please note that you will need an internet connection to create your
account but you do not need an internet connection to use the software, other
than to go online to access the BookShelf store.
If your setting has already created an account or one has been set up for you,
select this option, click the“Next” button and enter the details that you already
have. If you do not have an account set up we strongly recommend that you do
this so that you can access the BookShelf online store and have access to the side
range of stories, songs and other audio resources that are available. If you do not
enter the account details or create an account you will be asked for these details
each time you start the software.
Auto-updates
When you start BookShelf, you may be asked if you want to update the software.
This will provide you will the latest version of BookShelf. To do this click the
“Update”button. If the update button is“greyed out”you will not be able to do
the update. This is because you need to run the program as an “Administrator”
in Windows for the update to work correctly. For help on doing this, consult
your IT support. If you do not want to update, click the “Continue”button.
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Setting up Your StoryPhones
System
Plug in the mains power supply to the mains socket and
connect the Base Unit to the power supply. Plug the base
unit into the USB port of the computer using the USB cable.
The Base Unit should remain connected to the computer
at all times to enable transfer of content and recharging of
batteries.
Start the Bookshelf software which you have already
installed. This will show when each player has fully installed.
Place a Headset into each of the docks on the Base Unit one
at a time as shown in the diagram. A yellow light will appear
on the Headset switch panel when it is correctly plugged
into the Base Unit. Wait for each Headset to appear in
Bookshelf before adding the next one. It may take up to
several minutes for each Headset to appear on first
installation.You may need to click the“Refresh”button
alongside the player selection box to make the players
appear.
Place the Remote Console onto the Remote dock located
at the end of the base unit and wait for this to appear in
Bookshelf.
The MP3 Headsets and Remote Console only need to remain
in the Base Unit for battery recharging and audio content
transfer. The players can be used away from the Base Unit
and should be returned at the end of the day for recharging.
Your StoryPhones system is now ready for use although the
batteries may need up to two hours for full charge. The yellow
light will disappear when the player is fully charged.
You do not need to wait for the battery to be empty before
recharging: if you wish, you can return the Headset and Remote
Console to the Base Unit when they are not in use for convenient
storage and a top-up charge.
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Using the StoryPhones System
How to use the Headsets
The function buttons control play/pause,skip,and volume up
and down (see diagram on the inside back cover of the manual).
To play a track, simply press the Play/Pause button.
A short press when playing will pause the track.
To stop play, press and hold the Play/Pause button.
The green light comes on when the Headset is playing and flashes when paused.
To skip to the start of the next track, press the yellow Skip Forward button.
The blue buttons control the volume: ‘+’to increase, ‘-’to decrease.The volume is
changed in steps and you must press the buttons repeatedly to change the volume.
The function buttons can be disabled in various ways
(see the section‘Disabling function buttons’on page 17).
Automatic Play Control
Automatic Play Control (APC) makes use of a built in motion sensor.When set in
this mode and the Headset is in not in use, the APC system pauses play. When the
Headset is picked up, this triggers the motion sensor and play resumes at the point
at which it paused. No part of the song or story is missed.
APC mode can be enabled and disabled via the software (refer to page 16).
Sleep Mode
The Headset will go into a low power sleep mode if it is stopped for more than an
hour. To wake the Headset from sleep mode, press and hold the Play/Pause button
for a few seconds.
Recharging the Battery
When fully charged the battery will allow the Headset to be used for over 8 hours.
To recharge the battery, place the Headset in the Base Unit.The Base Unit must be
connected to the mains to allow charging.
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How to use the Remote Console
MP3 Player
The function buttons control play/pause, skip forward and
back, adjust volume, and record (see diagram on the inside
back cover of the manual).
The Remote Console is controlled in the same way as the
Headsets but it is also possible to skip back to the previous
track.
If the Headsets have been set into Remote Control mode using
BookShelf, pressing the function buttons on the Remote
Console will cause them all to play, pause or stop together.
The loud speaker can be muted if the Console is being used
as a remote control and you do not want to hear the audio.
The speaker is muted by holding down the red button and
pressing volume down (‘-’) and is un-muted by holding down
the red button and pressing volume up (‘+’). Note that the
headphones output is not muted allowing a set of wired head-
phones to be plugged in for private listening or for the audio
to be played through an amplified system such as interactive
white board speakers.
Recording
How to Record using the Built-in
Microphone
Hold down the red button and then press the play button to
start the recording process.
A red light will appear and the display will indicate that the
Remote Console is in record mode.
Pressing the Play/Pause button stops the recording.
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