Freedom Focus 40 Blue User manual

Focus 40 Blue
Refreshable Braille Display
User’s Guide
Freedom Scientific Inc.
440567-001 Rev A

PUBLISHED BY
Freedom Scientific Inc.
11800 31st Court North
St. Petersburg, Florida 33716-1805
USA
http://www.FreedomScientific.com
Information in this document is subject to change without notice. No part
of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by
any means electronic or mechanical, for any purpose, without the
express written permission of Freedom Scientific.
Copyright © 2012 Freedom Scientific. All Rights Reserved.
JAWS is a registered trademark of Freedom Scientific in the United
States and other countries. Microsoft and Windows are registered
trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries.
Contains transmitter module FCC ID: ED9LMX9838
Contains transmitter module IC:1520A-LMX9838
USA-Federal Communications Commission (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. This equipment generates, uses,
and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in
accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio
communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not
occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful
interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by
turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct
the interference by one or more of the following measures:
Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that
to which the receiver is connected.

Consult the dealer or an experienced radio /TV technician for help.
This device complies with part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject
to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful
interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired operation.
Any changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party
responsible for compliance could void the user’s authority to operate the
equipment.
Caution: Exposure to Radio Frequency Radiation.
This device must not be co-located or operating in conjunction with any
other antenna or transmitter.
Canada – Industry Canada (IC) Notice
This device complies with RSS 210 of Industry Canada. Operation is
subject to the following two conditions:
(1) this device may not cause interference, and
(2) this device must accept any interference, including interference that
may cause undesired operation of this device.
L ‘ utilisation de ce dispositif est autorisée seulement aux conditions
suivantes :
(1) il ne doit pas produire d’interference et
(2) l’ utilisateur du dispositif doit étre pr?t ? accepter toute interference
radioélectrique reçu, m?me si celle-ci est susceptible de compromettre le
fonctionnement du dispositif.
Caution: Exposure to Radio Frequency Radiation.
The installer of this radio equipment must ensure that the antenna is
located or pointed such that it does not emit RF field in excess of Health
Canada limits for the general population; consult Safety Code 6,
obtainable from Health Canada’s website www.hc-sc.gc.ca.

Attention: Exposition à des radiations de fréquences radio.
Cet appareil émettant des ondes radio, l'installateur doit s'assurer que
l'antenne est positionnée ou orientée de telle sorte que l'appareil émette
des champs RF ne dépassant pas les limites recommandées par Santé
Canada pour le grand public; consultez Code de sécurité 6, disponible à
Santé Canada ou sur leur site web www.hc-sc.gc.ca.
Attention
This unit has been shipped with cables that allow compliance with FCC
Regulations. If replacement cables are needed in the future, contact
Freedom Scientific to obtain the appropriately shielded cable.
Safety, Maintenance, and Cleaning Procedures
Do not attempt to repair Focus Blue or open its case. This product
contains no user serviceable parts. Any unauthorized attempt to service
or replace internal components will void the product warranty.
Keep Focus Blue away from wet areas, rain, and other sources of liquids.
Do not submerge Focus Blue.
Always operate Focus Blue in a place where the temperature is between
5° and 35° C (40° and 95° F).
Do not store in places subject to temperature extremes such as a parked
car.
Use only the power adapter that came with Focus Blue to charge its
internal battery pack. Other adapters may damage the unit.
Procédures de sécurité, d’entretien et de nettoyage
Focus Blue ne contient aucune pièce susceptible d'être réparée par
l'utilisateur. Toute tentative d'entretien ou de réparation non autorisée de
l'appareil par ouverture de sa coque fait perdre à l'utilisateur ses
éventuels droits à la garantie.
NE PAS exposer Focus Blue ou l’utiliser à proximité de liquides, sous la
pluie ou dans une atmosphère humide. Ne pas le plonger dans un
liquide.

Cet appareil doit être utilisé uniquement dans des environnements où la
température est comprise entre 5 ° et 35 ° C (40 ° et 95 ° F).
Ne pas l’exposer à des températures extrêmes comme par exemple une
voiture garée.
Utilisez uniquement l'adaptateur secteur fourni avec Focus Blue pour
charger sa batterie interne. D'autres adaptateurs peuvent endommager
l'appareil.
Important Notice
This device has no user-serviceable components. Any unauthorized
attempt to service or replace internal components by opening the case
will void the product warranty.

Table of Contents
Features...................................................................................................... 1
What’s in the Box? .................................................................................... 2
Physical Layout ......................................................................................... 3
Side View ................................................................................................ 3
Top View ................................................................................................. 3
Front View............................................................................................... 4
Controls................................................................................................... 5
NAV Rockers and Mode Buttons........................................................ 5
Panning Buttons................................................................................. 5
Rocker Bars........................................................................................ 6
Selector Buttons................................................................................. 6
Cursor Routing Buttons...................................................................... 6
Table of Multi-Control Functions ........................................................ 6
Power Button .......................................................................................... 8
Internal Battery .......................................................................................... 9
Connecting the Focus ............................................................................. 10
Adding JAWS Support to the Focus Display ........................................ 11
Configuring the USB Connection .......................................................... 11
Configuring the Bluetooth Connection .................................................. 12
BrailleIn .................................................................................................... 17
Typing with Contracted Braille .............................................................. 17
Braille Study Mode .................................................................................. 19
Configuring the Focus Display............................................................... 20
Placement of Status Cells..................................................................... 20
Reading Line......................................................................................... 20
Variable Braille Dot Firmness ............................................................... 20
Rapid Reading ...................................................................................... 21

The Display Menu .....................................................................................22
Bluetooth ID...........................................................................................22
Key Repeat............................................................................................22
Display Sleep Delay...............................................................................23
Focus Keyboard Commands Overview..................................................24
Modifier Keys.........................................................................................24
Function Keys ...................................................................................25
Special Keys..........................................................................................26
Navigation Commands ..........................................................................29
Microsoft Word Navigation Quick Keys .................................................33
Text Selection Commands.....................................................................34
Selecting with the Cursor Routing Buttons........................................36
Braille Commands .................................................................................36
Windows Commands.............................................................................38
Selection Commands.............................................................................39
JAWS Commands .................................................................................40
Cursor Functions ...................................................................................42
Utility Functions .....................................................................................43
Environmental Considerations ...............................................................45
Storage ..................................................................................................45
Operating...............................................................................................45
Diagnostics Mode.....................................................................................46
Entering and Exiting Diagnostics Mode.................................................46
Routing Button Test...............................................................................46
Display Test/Clean.................................................................................46
Key and Controls Test ...........................................................................47
Battery Info Mode ..................................................................................48
Troubleshooting .......................................................................................49

1
Features
The Focus 40 Blue refreshable braille display provides a compact, tactile
interface to your computer. Used together with screen access software
such as JAWS® for Windows, the Focus 40 Blue can enhance your
computing experience.
The Focus 40 Blue includes the following features:
40 refreshable braille cells
A cursor routing button above each braille cell
8-key Perkins-style braille keyboard, with the addition of two SHIFT
keys
Two panning buttons, two rocker bars, and two selector buttons
A NAV Rocker and a mode button at each end of the display for
quick navigation of files, lists, and menus
VariBraille adjustable braille dot firmness
Status cells configurable to either end of the display
Rapid Reading mode for quick review of files
USB connection to computer
Bluetooth® wireless connectivity
Support for select cell phones and other mobile devices via third
party applications

2
What’s in the Box?
The Focus package includes the following items. If you find that you are
missing any of the components listed below, please call Customer
Service at [phone].
Focus 40 Blue braille display
AC adapter
USB Cable, 6-foot
Carrying Case
Manual in Print and braille
Companion CD
Warranty registration cards
Product support insert

3
Physical Layout
Side View
On the left side of the display, going from front to back, you will find a
round Power button (1) and a standard micro USB port (2). The USB port
allows you to connect the display to a computer using the supplied USB
cable, or to the AC adapter.
Top View
The refreshable braille cells (3) are located toward the front of the unit.
There is a cursor routing button (4) above each braille cell. At each end of
the display's surface are NAV Rockers (5) used for easy navigation.
Positioned above each NAV Rocker is a mode button (6) which cycles
through the different navigation modes.

4
Positioned directly above the cursor routing buttons, there are eight keys
similar to those on a Perkins-style braille keyboard (7). The eight braille
keys from left to right are: 7, 3, 2, 1, 4, 5, 6, and 8. These keys are used
to enter text or perform commands. On the front edge, directly under and
in the center of the display is a SPACEBAR (8). This key is used together
with the braille keys when entering commands.
Front View
9A
9B
11A
11B
12A
10A
10B
12B
On the front edge of the display are the following controls, located from
left to right:
Left panning button (9a)
Left rocker bar (10a)
Left selector button (11a)
Left SHIFT key (used in conjunction with the SPACEBAR, braille
keys, and other controls to enter commands) (12a)
Right SHIFT key (used in conjunction with the SPACEBAR, braille
keys, and other controls to enter commands) (12b)
Right selector button (11b)
Right rocker bar (10b)
Right panning button (9b)

5
Controls
The Focus 40 Blue display provides two NAV Rockers, two mode
buttons, two panning buttons, two rocker bars, two selector buttons, and
cursor routing buttons above each braille cell. See the chart following the
Cursor Routing Buttons section for a full listing of all multiple-control
functions.
Note: If you choose to use the Focus display with a third-party screen
reading application on a computer or mobile device, refer to the
documentation that came with the software as the functions of
these controls may be different from how they work with JAWS.
NAV Rockers and Mode Buttons
The Focus NAV Rockers allow you to move quickly through files, dialog
boxes, lists, and menus. In a file, you can move by line, sentence,
paragraph, or pan backward and forward. To switch between the four
navigation modes, press the mode button located directly above each
NAV Rocker. In a dialog box, you can move between the available
controls, and even interact with them. In a menu, you can move up and
down through the menu items.
Panning Buttons
The Focus panning buttons pan left or right one display width (40 cells)
each time they are pressed. Press the panning button on the left front
edge of the Focus, the button with a raised double left arrow symbol, to
pan left; press the panning button on the right front edge of the Focus,
the button with a raised double right arrow symbol, to pan right. The
functions of the panning buttons can be reversed so that pressing the left
panning button causes the Focus display to pan right and pressing the
right panning button causes it to pan left. Please refer to help for the
JAWS Keyboard Manager for details on modifying these and other
control assignments.

6
Rocker Bars
The rocker bars provide movement up or down by line. Press the top of
the rocker bar to move up one line; press the bottom of the rocker bar to
move down one line. The rocker bars, in combination with the panning
buttons, move to the beginning or end of the line on which the cursor is
positioned. Press a panning button and the top of a rocker bar to move to
the start of the line. Press a panning button and the bottom of a rocker
bar to move to the end of the line.
Selector Buttons
Used by themselves, the concave-shaped selector buttons control Auto
Advance. When pressed in combination with other controls, the selector
buttons perform multiple functions.
Cursor Routing Buttons
There is a Cursor routing button located above each braille cell. Press a
cursor routing button to move the cursor to that point, or to select a link in
a Web page or e-mail message. In line mode, press a cursor routing
button to open a menu or select menu items.
Press and hold the LEFT or RIGHT PANNING BUTTON while
simultaneously pressing a CURSOR ROUTING BUTTON to simulate a
right mouse click at that location.
Table of Multi-Control Functions
Function Command
Toggle Auto Advance Mode LEFT SELECT+RIGHT
SELECT
Decrease Auto Advance
Speed
LEFT SELECT
Increase Auto Advance Speed RIGHT SELECT

7
Function Command
Right Mouse Click PANNING
BUTTON+CURSOR
ROUTING BUTTON
Control + Left Mouse Click ROUTING BUTTON CHORD
Page Down LEFT or RIGHT
SELECT+ROCKER DOWN
Page Up LEFT or RIGHT
SELECT+ROCKER UP
Top of File LEFT PANNING
BUTTON+SELECT BUTTON
Bottom of File RIGHT PANNING
BUTTON+SELECT BUTTON
End PANNING
BUTTON+ROCKER BAR
DOWN
Home PANNING
BUTTON+ROCKER BAR UP
Next Line ROCKER BAR DOWN
Prior Line ROCKER BAR UP
Pan Left LEFT PANNING BUTTON
Pan Right RIGHT PANNING BUTTON
Select Text LEFT SHIFT+CURSOR
ROUTING BUTTON
Select Block RIGHT SHIFT+CURSOR
ROUTING BUTTON at
beginning of block; repeat at
end of block

8
Function Command
Toggle NAV Rockers On/Off LEFT or RIGHT MODE
BUTTON CHORD
Power Button
The power button turns the Focus on or off when not connected to USB.
Press and hold it for three seconds to turn the display on and press and
hold it for three seconds again to turn the display off.

9
Internal Battery
The Focus 40 Blue contains an internal battery for Bluetooth operation.
While using the Focus over a Bluetooth connection, you will get
approximately 20 hours for typical usage. To check the battery status
while the display is in use, press the power button to display the
percentage of battery charge used. Press a cursor router or any other
control to return to normal operation.
When the battery is at 20 percent, 10 percent, and 5 percent respectively,
a low battery warning is displayed indicating it is time to plug in the AC
adapter. You can dismiss this message by pressing a cursor routing
button. In addition, once the battery drops below 10 percent, dots seven
and eight in the last five cells will show each percentage drop. For
example, when the battery is at one percent, DOT 8 in cell 40 will be
raised.
Use the AC adapter supplied with your unit to charge the battery. The unit
takes three hours to charge using the supplied AC adapter even when
the Bluetooth connection is active. Charging time will be less if the battery
is not completely discharged before the display is plugged in. The Focus
will also charge while connected to a computer using the USB cable,
however, charging time will take longer than with the supplied AC
adapter. You can continue using the Focus while it is charging.
Caution: No user serviceable parts. Risk of High Voltage shock.

10
Connecting the Focus
You can connect the Focus braille display to your computer using either
the USB port or Bluetooth. If you connect using USB, the display is
powered from the computer through the USB connection cable. This also
charges the internal battery.
As soon as you connect the USB cable to the computer, the Focus
immediately turns on. When the USB cable is removed, the Focus turns
off. Pressing the power button while connected to USB causes the focus
to display the model, firmware version, battery status, and the connection
type, USB, in the last three cells. Pressing a cursor router button returns
the display to normal operation.
Bluetooth is a short-range wireless communications technology. Devices
with Bluetooth capabilities can communicate with each other over a
distance of about 10 meters (30 feet) without requiring a physical
connection. Using the Focus wirelessly over Bluetooth means you do not
have any cables to worry about and you can relax on your couch and use
the Focus as both a braille display and keyboard to access your
computer from across the room.
In order to use Bluetooth, you must establish a partnership with a
Bluetooth enabled computer. The majority of modern notebook
computers and mobile phones as well as some models of desktop
computers offer built-in Bluetooth support. However, not all computers
offer this. If your computer does not have built-in Bluetooth, you will need
to purchase an external USB Bluetooth adapter and install the
appropriate drivers on your system to enable this functionality. Refer to
the documentation that came with your Bluetooth hardware to ensure
Bluetooth is properly configured on your computer.

11
Adding JAWS Support to the Focus Display
If you are using the Focus Blue with JAWS 10 or earlier, you will need to
first install the driver included on the Companion CD that came with your
display before connecting it to your computer.
Note: Disconnect the Focus display from your computer when
performing the following steps. Having the display connected
during this process results in improper installation and failure of
the display to operate properly.
1. Insert the Focus Blue Companion CD. When the Freedom
Scientific Focus Setup dialog box opens, choose Install Windows
driver. You will hear a series of clicks as the driver is installed.
2. When the installation completes, choose the OK button to restart
your computer.
JAWS 11 and later automatically installs the files necessary to use the
Focus Blue during the JAWS installation. Make sure JAWS 11 or later is
installed and running before attempting to establish a USB or Bluetooth
connection with the Focus 40 Blue.
Note: If you choose to use the Focus display with a third-party screen
reading application, you must install the driver from the
Companion CD. However, once installed, refer to the
documentation that came with the software for information on
configuring and using the Focus with the particular application as
certain commands may be different.
Configuring the USB Connection
To configure the Focus Blue braille display to operate with JAWS over
USB, do the following:
1. Establish a USB connection between the Focus and computer
using the supplied USB cable.

12
2. Windows will detect the display and install the appropriate
drivers.
Note: Windows XP will display a Found New Hardware Wizard,
prompting you to locate the driver. Choose the option to
automatically install the software then select Finish to complete
the installation.
3. Once Windows has confirmed that the hardware was
successfully installed, close and then restart JAWS. JAWS
automatically detects and begins using your Focus 40 Blue
braille display.
Configuring the Bluetooth Connection
In order to use the Focus Blue with JAWS wirelessly over Bluetooth, you
must first configure a Bluetooth partnership between the Focus and
computer.
To set up a Bluetooth partnership between the Focus display and
computer using Windows 7 or Vista, do the following:
1. Make sure that Bluetooth is enabled on the computer running
JAWS. If you are using an external USB Bluetooth adapter,
insert it and ensure it is detected properly.
2. Power on the focus. The firmware version and battery status
information is displayed.
3. On the computer, go to the Control Panel and type "bluetooth"
into the Search edit box.
4. Press TAB to move to Add Bluetooth Device and press ENTER.
The computer will begin searching for Bluetooth devices. This
may take several seconds. You are placed in the list of devices
when the search is complete.
5. Use the ARROW keys to select your Focus display from the list,
for example, Focus 40 BT, and then choose Next. If the Focus
display was not found, make sure it is turned on then select the
Retry button.