Orion ti-84+ User manual

Orion TI-84 Plus Talking Graphing
Calculator TM User's Guide
Copyright 2013
American Printing House for the Blind, Inc.
2013/06/14
Introduction
This guide is designed to guide you in the use and care of the Orion TI-84 Plus
Talking Graphing Calculator. The Orion TI-84 is a specially modified TI-84 Plus,
based on the popular TI-84 Plus Graphing Calculator. The functionality and operation
of the Orion are identical in all respects to the standard TI-84 Plus Graphing
Calculator. The only differences are additional controls, jacks, speakers, and software
for accessible feedback of both equations and graphs. This User's Guide covers the
accessibility enhancements to the TI-84 Plus.
An accessible version of the TI-84 Plus Guidebook is included on a USB flash drive
in the packaging of the Orion TI-84 Plus. You can access the Orion Resources
page for accessible versions in Daisy, PDF, and HTML formats. You may also refer

to the numerous online user manuals and guidebooks from Texas Instruments for the
TI-84 Plus Graphing Calculator, as well as third-party tutorials.
About This Guide
This guide was accurate and complete at the date of its publication. For the latest
version, see http://tech.aph.org/gc_info.htm
The Orion TI-84 Plus information page contains the Quick Start guide, a Getting
Started video, the accompanying software, and information about updates.
In addition to the User's Guide, there is an e-mail list that discusses the Orion TI-84
Plus. To subscribe, send an e-mail to [e-mail].
APH's customer support, developers, and interested and knowledgeable users
exchange information here; the email list is a great place to get usage tips, ask
questions, or make suggestions.
Features
The Orion TI-84 is a modified TI-84 Plus Graphing Calculator for the user with visual
impairment. Below is a list of some of the features the Orion has to offer:
LCD display and keypad functionality are identical to the standard TI-84 Plus,
making it easy for teachers already familiar with the TI-84 to help students.
Calculator functions have the benefit of decades of experience from Texas
Instruments, the world leader in calculators.
Full speech access to all menus, mathematical expressions, text, and symbols
displayed on screen
Full access to graphs through speech output of coordinates
Graphs can be accessed by audio tones.
Clear, high-quality synthetic speech also available for dynamic text
Each key is announced when pressed.
Repeat capability to announce the displayed screen (or parts of it) at any time
Unique Help mode for immediate key identification without interruption of
operation
Comprehensive choice of speech modes for various levels of feedback
High capacity, rechargeable battery
Battery or AC adapter operation
Ergonomically designed
Large, tactile, and functionally zoned keys
Easy on/off control and auto power-off

Conventions Used in This Guide
This guide references various functions of the calculator in the following manner:
The keys on the calculator are divided into two sections for easier accessibility.
The top part of the calculator is referred to as the Orion, and the bottom part is
referred to as the TI-84 Plus.
When referencing the location of a TI-84 Plus key, the rows begin at the
bottom and the columns begin on the left. For example, the On key is located at
the bottom left of the TI-84 Plus in column 1, row 1.
The location of certain keys on the Orion section of the unit is described as
follows:
oThe six keys on the left side are referenced as top, middle, bottom, and
left, right. For example, the Preference key (Pref.) is the top-right key.
oThe five keys on the right side are referenced as up, down, left, right, and
home.
oBoth sets of keys can be used in conjunction for navigation and other
functions. For example, pressing both the CTRL key, which is the
bottom-left key on the left side of the Orion, and the Left Arrow key,
which is located on the right side of the Orion, lets you navigate to the
far left of the review line.
The following example demonstrates how to calculate the square root of 9 using the
keys on the TI-84 Plus section of the calculator:
1. Press the 2nd key, located in column 1, row 9.
2. Press the Square Root (X2) key (the square root symbol is displayed above this
key), located in column 1, row 5.
3. Press the numeral 9key, located in column 4, row 4.
4. Press the Enter key, located in column 5, row 1.
The TI-84 Plus announces the answer. If you wish to repeat the answer, press
the Repeat key. Repeat is denoted by a looping arrow (the word Repeat is displayed
above the key). Repeat is the top-left key in the left set of keys of the Orion.
Becoming Acquainted With Your Orion TI-84 Plus Talking
Graphing Calculator
Parts List
The box contains the following items:

Orion TI-84 Plus Talking Graphing Calculator
Hard slide cover
Standard A male to Mini-B male USB Cable
Earphones
Pack of four triple-A batteries
USB flash drive containing documentation and software
Quick-Start Guide in braille format
Quick-Start Guide in print format
Orientation and Functions
This section will help you become familiar with the location and various functions of
your Orion TI-84 Plus Talking Graphing Calculator.
To begin the exploration process, position the Orion TI-84 Plus so that the keys face
up and the ports are at the top. This is the normal operating position. The ports at the
top of the calculator begin with the TI-84 serial link port on the left, followed by the
micro port, the Mini-B port, and finally the earphone jack on the right. On the left and
right side of the unit, at the top and near the ports, are the two speaker grills.
On the front of the Orion section of the calculator, there are 11 keys grouped like a
game pad. Six keys are on the left in a three row, two column layout (like a braille
cell); and an arrow key configuration is on the right, with a center Home key (denoted
by a graphic of a house).
The keys on the bottom half of the calculator are the TI-84 Plus keys. There are 41
keys laid out in five rows and nine columns and a four-key directional pad in the top-
right corner. The four keys of the directional pad are the arrow keys for the TI-84
Plus. The 12 number keys in the bottom and middle feel concave, while the other keys
feel convex. There are two exceptions: the On key is flat and slanted forward, and
the Enter key is larger than the other keys.
The rectangular, flat section between the Orion and the TI-84 Plus is the screen. Just
below the screen is an additional row of five keys. These are the TI-84 Plus Function
keys.
Power Supply and Charging
There are two separate power sources for the Orion TI-84 Plus Talking Graphing
Calculator. The calculator uses four triple-A batteries, and the accessible extension
(Orion) uses its own internal chargeable battery.

To install the batteries and charge the unit, follow these steps:
1. Turn the calculator so that the keys are pointing down and make sure the two
rubber feet are positioned at the top. Using your thumb, find the battery door
lever in the middle of the unit and pull down toward the bottom of the unit.
While applying downward pressure, pull your thumb away from the unit and
the battery door should open and come completely off.
2. Place each triple-A battery so that the flat end of the battery is positioned
against the spring. Tilt the battery and press it against the spring. Push the
battery flat into the opening until it snaps into position.
3. To close the battery cover, place the cover at an angle with the thumb lever at
the top and the two tabs at the bottom. Position the tabs under the plastic edge
of the opening and lower the lever until it snaps into place.
4. Turn the calculator over so the keys face up. Plug the Mini-B end of the USB
cable into the Mini-B port on the top right side.
Note: Fully charge the battery the first time you use the calculator. This should take
about four hours. You can use the Orion TI-84 Plus while it is charging.
The triple-A batteries in the TI-84 should have a battery life of several months. If they
become low, you will receive a message at 5%. At that point, you have several days of
charge remaining in the triple-A batteries. Until you replace the batteries, each time
you turn on the calculator, it announces that the batteries are low.
The chargeable battery in the Orion lasts several days, depending on usage. Always
charge the unit before any important test or assignment.
Operation Procedure
Follow these steps to turn the calculator on and off:
1. To turn the device on, press the On key located at the lower left-hand corner of
the calculator positioned in column 1, row 1.
2. To turn the device off, first press the 2nd key located in column 1, row 9, and
then press the On key.
Note: If the calculator is on and not in use for 5 minutes, it automatically powers off
safely without loss of data. At restart, it returns to the location and procedure of when
the unit was powered off. If you were using the Help mode, the calculator returns to
the location and procedure prior to the initiation of Help mode.
Help Mode

The Orion TI-84 Plus is equipped with a Help mode designed to assist you with
locating keys and confirming their functionality. Help mode can be used at any time,
even in the middle of a calculation. When the unit is in Help mode, the calculator
retains its previous status, i.e., if you were in the middle of an operation, the calculator
is not interrupted and the display remains unchanged. To enter the Help mode, quickly
press the 2nd key (column 1, row 9) three times.
In Help mode, to assist you with locating a particular key, each key is announced
when pressed. Its primary function is also announced. When used in combination with
various modifying keys, such as 2ndand Alpha, the Orion announces the secondary
functions as set by the modifying key.
To exit the Help mode, press the On key. The calculator returns to the speech and
operational mode you were using prior to entering Help mode and restores all the
previously set preferences. You can resume operation from precisely the point where
you left off.
Accessibility Features
The Orion TI-84 Plus Talking Graphing Calculator is a modified TI-84 Plus. The
modifications are found at the top of the unit called the Orion. On the left side of the
Orion, there are six keys laid out in three rows of two columns. On the right side,
there are five keys in the form of a directional pad. The Orion keys are used to review
text and graphs and to set accessibility preferences, such as volume, rate, voice
selection, and playback tone duration, as well as many other useful settings.
Many of the keys have multiple functions if used with the Shift or the CTRL keys.
The following sections describe each key by function.
Control and Pause
The bottom-left key on the left-hand side of the Orion is the CTRL/PAUSE key.
Pressing it in conjunction with other Orion keys changes the function of those keys.
Tapping the CTRL key alone pauses speech feedback. Tapping the key a second time
restarts the speech function at the point it left off. Pressing any other key while the
speech function is paused deletes the buffered text.
Shift and Mute
The bottom-right key on the left-hand side of the Orion is the Shift/Mute key.
Pressing the Shift key with other Orion keys changes the functionality of the key.
Pressing the Shift key alone silences the speech mode.

Adjusting the Volume
The middle two keys on the left-hand side of the Orion are the Volume keys. Pressing
the middle-left key, denoted by a speaker symbol and a minus sign, lowers the volume
by one level and announces the current level. Pressing the middle-right key, denoted
by a speaker symbol and a plus sign, raises the volume by one level and announces
the current level. There are 10 levels, with 1 as the lowest and 10 as the highest. There
are two separate settings for earphones and speakers. If you are using earphones, the
volume control adjusts the earphone volume. When earphones are not connected, the
volume control adjusts the volume of the speakers.
Adjusting the Rate of Speech
The middle two keys on the left-hand side of the Orion also control the rate of speech
when pressed in conjunction with the CTRL key. Pressing both the CTRL key and
the middle-left key, labeled withS.R. Down, once decreases the rate of speech by one
level and announces the current rate. Pressing both the CTRL key and the middle-
right key, labeled with S.R. Up, once increases the rate of speech by one level and
announces the current rate. There are 10 rates of speech, with 1 as the lowest and 10
as the highest.
Repeat
The top-left key on the left-hand side of the Orion is the Repeat key (denoted by a
looping arrow). Pressing this key once repeats the last spoken text.
Preferences
The Orion TI-84 Plus has many Preference options for changing the accessibility
features. To access the Preferences menu, press the Preference (Pref.) key located at
the top-right, on the left-hand side of the Orion.
When the Preference key is pressed, the Orion announces a list of vertically arranged
items. Using the Orion navigation keys on the right, press Up or Down to move
through the list. Press the Home key, located in the center of the arrow keys, to make
a selection.
The Preferences menu contains the following options:
Graph Options
Speech Options
Orion Help

Reset All
Exit
Graph Options
Selecting Graph Options from the Preferences menu opens a menu that contains the
following options:
Navigation tone length - This option sets the length of an individual tone for
hearing a whole graph or reviewing a graph step-by-step.
Equation playback duration - This option sets the speed of the duration of
playback of a whole graph. The smaller the number, the faster the playback.
Negative value noise - This option enables or disables the static noise and
adjusts the tone level while in the negative Y region of a graph.
Negative value vibration - This option enables or disables the haptic feedback
while in the negative Y region of a graph.
Coordinate announcements - This option sets in what order the X and Y
coordinates are announced and if both should be announced.
Reset Graph Settings - This option resets all graph settings to the factory
defaults.
Speech Options
Selecting Speech Options from the Preferences menu opens another menu that
contains the following options:
Voice - This option presents a list of voices to change how the Orion sounds.
Pitch - This option presents a list of values to adjust the pitch of a selected
voice.
Reset Speech Settings - Selecting this option returns the speech settings to the
default factory settings.
Orion Help
Selecting Orion Help from the Preferences menu opens another menu that contains the
following option:
About Orion - This option informs you which version of Orion software is
currently running.
Reset All

The Reset All option resets all previous changes made to the factory defaults settings.
When choosing the Reset All option, a dialog asks "Are you sure?" If you wish to
reset the settings, press the Up (or yes) key and then the Home key on the Orion. If
you choose not to reset the settings, press the Down (or no) key and then
the Home key.
Speech and Tone Mode
Orion TI-84 has two modes of accessibility: Speech and Tone. The Speech and Tone
settings change the method of listening to and reviewing a graph. To switch between
Speech and Tone modes, press and hold the Orion Shift key with the Repeat key.
Orion announces which mode you are in.
When using Speech mode, the coordinates are announced as the user navigates
through a graph. The following factors determine what is announced:
If the coordinates are turned off in the TI-84 Plus Format menu, they are not
displayed on the screen, and therefore, will not be announced by the Orion.
The Format menu is accessed by pressing the2nd key and then the Zoom key,
which is the middle key of the five function keys directly below the screen.
Orion coordinate preferences found in the Graph Options menu
When in Tone mode, the duration of the tone is controlled by Navigation Tone
Length found in the Orion Preferences menu under Graph Options.
For more information on Orion Preferences, see Graph Options.
Replaying a Graph
To replay the last graph displayed, press and hold the Shift key with
the Preference key. To modify the length of the tones or the duration of the graph
playback, change the preferences in Graph Options.
Reviewing the Screen
The Orion TI-84 Plus has a review cursor that can be used to review the screen
without disrupting current calculations. The arrow keys on the right-hand side of the
Orion, used alone or in combination with the Shift (Shift) or CTRL keys, direct the
review functions.
Reviewing Lines and Characters

To review the text on the screen line by line, press the Orion Up or Down arrow key
to read the previous or next line, respectively. When you have reached the top or
bottom of the text, a tone sounds.
To review the text on the screen character by character, press the Right or Left arrow
key to move forward or backward, respectively. When you have reached the end of a
line, a tone sounds, and your cursor moves to the next or previous line.
Reading Text
Below is a list of the different ways to read text using the Orion:
To read the current line of text, press the Home key located in the center of the
Orion arrow keys.
To read the entire screen, press and hold the Orion Up arrow key until Orion
begins reading the text; then, release the key. When Orion completes the
reading, it moves the review cursor to the top of the screen.
To read from the current location of the review cursor through the last line,
press and hold the Orion Down arrow key until Orion begins reading. When
Orion has completed the reading, your review cursor returns to the original
starting location.
To read from the current location of the review cursor to the end of the line,
press and hold the Orion Right arrow key until Orion begins reading. When
Orion has completed the reading, your review cursor returns to the original
starting location.
To read from the start of the line to the current location of the review cursor,
press and hold the Orion Left arrow key until Orion begins reading. When
Orion has completed the reading, your review cursor returns to the original
starting location.
To read the text at the input position of the calculator cursor, press and hold
the Shift key and then press the Home key. The Orion first announces "Home"
and then reads the text at the input position. The review cursor does not move.
Move Review Cursor
To move the review cursor to the start or end of the line, press and hold
the CTRL key and press the Left or Right arrow key, respectively. Orion moves the
review cursor to the desired location and announces either start or end.
To move the review cursor to the top or bottom of the screen, press and hold
the CTRL key and press the Up or Down arrow key, respectively. Orion moves the
review cursor and announces top or bottom.