Optelec Alva BC640 User manual

User Manual
Version 1.0
UDC-02133A
© 2014 Optelec, the Netherlands
All rights reserved
Optelec
2993 LT Barendrecht
The Netherlands
[phone]
www.optelec.com

Optelec ALVA BC6
English Page 4
Contents
1. Introduction ........................................................................................................5
1.1. About this manual...........................................................................................6
1.2. ALVA Braille Controller package contents......................................................6
2. Getting to know your ALVA Braille Controller.................................................7
2.1. ALVA BC640 Base Unit..................................................................................7
2.1.1.Surface and front panel lay-out.................................................................. 7
2.1.2.Right side lay-out....................................................................................... 8
2.1.3.Left side lay-out ......................................................................................... 8
2.1.4.Front panel keys........................................................................................ 8
2.2. ALVA BC680 Unit ...........................................................................................9
2.3.1 Surface and front panel lay-out................................................................... 9
2.3.2 Back panel lay-out................................................................................... 10
2.3.3 Right side lay-out..................................................................................... 10
2.3.4. Left side lay-out....................................................................................... 10
2.3.5. Front panel keys...................................................................................... 10
3. Installation ........................................................................................................12
3.1. Setting up the ALVA Braille Controller..........................................................12
3.1.1.Setting up the USB connection................................................................ 12
3.1.2.Setting up the USB keyboard connection of the ALVA BC680................ 12
3.2. Installing ALVA BC6-series screen reader drivers ..........................................12
3.3 Bluetooth® connection.....................................................................................13
4. The ALVA BC6-series menu...............................................................................14
4.1 Local Menu ......................................................................................................14
4.1.1. Activating the Local Menu ....................................................................... 14
4.1.2. Changing settings in the Local Menu....................................................... 15
5. Power Sources.....................................................................................................23
5.1. USB power......................................................................................................23
5.2 Internal battery.................................................................................................23
5.3 External power adapter....................................................................................23
Appendix: Safety and regulatory notices..............................................................24
Optelec offices worldwide ......................................................................................28

Optelec ALVA BC6
Page 5 English
1. Introduction
Congratulations on choosing the ALVA Braille Controller. The ALVA Braille Controller 6-
series merges classic Braille display access with advanced functionality. The high
quality and reliability of the ALVA BC6-series gives you optimal flexibility and
productivity in an ultra compact design.
Each ALVA Braille Controller features future proof hardware standards as wireless
Bluetooth® connection and USB ports. The ergonomic design with its high quality
Braille cells and optimal navigation possibilities allows you to be in full control of your
computer, tablet or smartphone. Used in combination with screen reading software,
the ALVA Braille Controller can be installed for a wide range of operating systems to
provide a tactile and audible user interface.
The ALVA Braille Controller offers an enhanced ergonomic design that extends the
navigation and operation possibilities of the screen reading software. The ergonomics
are designed for optimal efficiency when working with a computer, tablet or
smartphone.
The ALVA Braille Controller was designed to adhere to the Open Standard
philosophy using mainstream technology. This enables compatibility with most
screen reading software and operating systems. The available and supported
functionality of the ALVA Braille Controller depends on the Braille display options of
your screen reader, your mainstream computing hardware and operating system.
Contact your distributor or Optelec for updated information about screen readers that
fully support the device.
If you have any questions or suggestions concerning the use of this Braille display,
please contact your distributor or Optelec’s head office using the contact information at
the last page of this manual. Your feedback is highly appreciated. We hope you enjoy
working with your ALVA Braille Controller.

Optelec ALVA BC6
English Page 6
1.1. About this manual
This manual will familiarize you with the features and basic operation of your ALVA
Braille Controller. Please read this manual carefully before using your device. Please
note that this manual is about the ALVA Braille Controller and does not contain
information about screen readers, screen reader commands, screen reader
installation procedures, screen reader Braille display selection or screen reader key
assignments. Refer to your screen reader documentation to find out more on these
topics.
1.2. ALVA Braille Controller package contents
The ALVA BC640 package contains the following:
–A protective sleeve
–The ALVA BC640 Base Unit
–Power adapter 110/240V
–Long and short USB cables
–The ALVA BC driver software for Windows 7 and higher and
documentation on CD-ROM
The ALVA BC680 package contains the following:
–A protective sleeve
–The ALVA BC680 unit
–Power adapter 110/240V
–Long and short USB cables
–The ALVA BC driver software for Windows 7 and higher and
documentation on CD-ROM
If any of these items are missing from your package, please contact your distributor.

Optelec ALVA BC6
Page 7 English
2. Getting to know your ALVA Braille Controller
The ALVA Braille Controller consists of a 40 cell or 80 cell Braille line with advanced
navigation possibilities. This chapter will give a detailed overview of the lay-out of the
ALVA BC640 Base Unit and the ALVA BC680 unit.
2.1. ALVA BC640 Base Unit
The ALVA BC640 Base Unit is placed correctly in front of you when the Braille cells
are located at the back of the flat surface and the thumb keys are facing towards you.
The ALVA BC640 contains:
1. 40-cell Braille display
2. Two eTouch keys (left of the Braille line) for panning left and right or other
screen reading functions
3. Two eTouch keys (right of the Braille line) for panning left and right or other
screen reading functions
4. Smartpad with 5-way navigation key and 4 function keys
5. Five thumb keys for panning, left, right, up and down and returning to the
cursor position
6. 40 Cursor Routing Keys
7. Power supply and mini USB connector
8. On/off switch



2.1.1. Surface and front panel lay-out
The ALVA BC640 is designed with a row of 40 Braille cells at the back of the flat
surface. In front of the Braille cells one row of small buttons can be found, known as
Cursor Routing Keys. Each Braille cell has a corresponding Cursor Routing Key that
can be used for multiple functions. On the left and right side of the Braille line you will
find two groups of two keys. These so-called eTouch keys can be used for Braille
panning left and right as well as various other screen reader functions.

Optelec ALVA BC6
English Page 8
In the middle, just in front of the Cursor Routing Keys, you will find a group of 9 keys.
This group is called Smartpad and consists of 4 function keys and a 5-way navigation
key.
2.1.2. Right side lay-out
The power switch is located at the right side of the Braille Controller. The Braille
Controller is switched on when the rectangular push button is pressed. Switching the
Braille Controller on will generate an audio signal.
2.1.3. Left side lay-out
The left side of the Braille Controller contains three connectors. From front to back:
power connector, mini USB connector and a feature connector. The feature
connector has no function with the release of this manual.
2.1.4. Front panel keys
The names of the ALVA BC640 keys listed in this section will be used in all
documentation, including your screen reader documentation. This section describes
the name of the key(s) and its main function, which is supported by the screen
reader. The exact functionality is defined by the screen reader. Please refer to your
screen reader documentation for detailed functionality of the ALVA BC640.
Smartpad
The integrated Smartpad allows for navigation through menu’s and dialog boxes.
From left to right, the Smartpad keys are:
Smartpad key 1 First rectangular key at the left marked with 3 horizontal lines
Smartpad key 2 Second rectangular key at the left marked with 1 horizontal line
LEFT Left key on the 5-way navigation key
UP Top key on the 5-way navigation key
DOWN Bottom key on the 5-way navigation key
RIGHT Right key on the 5-way navigation key
MIDDLE Middle key marked with a round dot of the 5-way navigation key
Smartpad key 3 Second rectangular key from the right marked with 1 vertical line
Smartpad key 4 Most right rectangular key marked with 3 vertical lines
eTouch keys
The two keys on each side of the Braille line are called the eTouch keys. They are
used for panning left and right as well as various other Braille functions.
eTouch 1 Top left key marked with two vertical lines
eTouch 2 Bottom left key marked with one horizontal line
eTouch 3 Top right key marked with two vertical lines
eTouch 4 Bottom right key marked with one horizontal line
Cursor Routing Keys
The cursor routing keys correspond to the particular Braille cell immediately above
each button. Typically, they are used for routing the cursor or caret to the
corresponding Braille cell, generating a left or right mouse click at that point, or for
obtaining additional information about the contents of the Braille cell.

Optelec ALVA BC6
Page 9 English
Thumb Keys
At the front of the Braille Controller five front panel keys are placed, the so called
thumb keys. Four bigger keys are symmetrically aligned along the front of the ALVA
BC640. One smaller button is located in the middle of the front. Pressing one of the
four bigger thumb keys will navigate left, right, up or down. By pressing the middle
key you will return to the cursor position
2.2. ALVA BC680 Unit
The ALVA BC680 is placed correctly in front of you when the Braille input keys are
located at the back of the flat surface and the thumb keys of the ALVA BC680 Unit
are facing towards you.
The ALVA BC680 contains:
1. 80-cell Braille display
2. Two eTouch keys (left of the Braille line) for panning left and right or other
screen reading functions
3. Two eTouch keys (right of the Braille line) for panning left and right or other
screen reading functions
4. Smartpad (left) with 5-way navigation key and 4 function keys
5. Smartpad (right) with 5-way navigation key and 4 function keys
6. Ten thumb keys for panning left, right, up and down and returning to the
cursor position
7. 80 Cursor Routing Keys
8. Power supply and USB keyboard connectors
9. USB ports (USB port 1 and USB port 2)
10.On/off switch



2.3.1 Surface and front panel lay-out
The ALVA BC680 is designed with a row of 80 Braille cells at the back of the flat
surface. In front of the Braille cells one row of small buttons can be found, known as
Cursor Routing Keys. Each Braille cell has a corresponding Cursor Routing Key that
can be used for multiple functions. On the left and right side of the Braille line you will