Prentke Romich Company Pathfinder User manual

Pathfinder Manual: Basics
13113v4.01
END USER LICENSING AGREEMENT
Microsoft, Inc.
You have acquired a PATHFINDER™ which includes software licensed by Prentke
Romich Company from one or more software licensors (Microsoft Licensing Inc. or its
affiliates and SMART Modular Technologies (Systems) Inc.). Such software products,
as well as associated media, printed materials and "online" or electronic documentation
(software) are protected by copyright laws and international copyright treaties, as well
as other intellectual property laws and treaties.
IF YOU DO NOT AGREE TO THIS END USER LICENSE AGREEMENT (EULA),
DO NOT USE THE DEVICE OR COPY THE SOFTWARE. INSTEAD,
PROMPTLY CONTACT PRENTKE ROMICH COMPANY FOR INSTRUCTIONS
ON RETURN OF THE UNUSED DEVICE(S) FOR A REFUND. ANY USE OF
THE SOFTWARE, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO USE ON THE
DEVICE, WILL CONSTITUTE YOUR AGREEMENT TO THIS EULA (OR
RATIFICATION OF ANY PREVIOUS CONSENT).
Microsoft GRANT OF LICENSE.
The SOFTARE is licensed, not sold. This EULA grants you the following rights to the
SOFTWARE:
• You may use the SOFTWARE only on the PATHFINDER.
• NOT FAULT TOLERANT. THE SOFTWARE IS NOT FAULT TOLERANT.
PRC HAS INDEPENDENTLY DETERMINED HOW TO USE THE
SOFTWARE AND MS HAS RELIED UPON PRC TO CONDUCT SUFFICIENT
TESTING TO DETERMINE THAT THE SOFTWARE IS SUITABLE FOR
SUCH USE.
• Note on Java Support. The SOFTWARE may contain support for programs
written in Java. Java technology is not fault tolerant and is not designed,
manufactured, or intended for use or resale as online control equipment in
hazardous environments requiring fail-safe performance, such as in the operation
of nuclear facilities, aircraft navigation or communication systems, air traffic
control, direct life support machines, or weapons systems, in which the failure of
Java technology could lead directly to death, personal injury or severe physical or
environmental damage. Sun Microsystems, Inc. has contractually obligated MS to
make this disclaimer.
• No Liability for Certain damages. EXCEPT AS PROHIBITED BY LAW, MS
SHALL HAVE NO LIABILITY FOR ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL
CONSQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES ARISING FROM OR IN
CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THE SOFTWARE.
THIS LIMITATION SHALL APPLY EVEN IF ANY REMEDY FAILS OF ITS
ESSENTIAL PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MS BE LIABLE FOR ANY
AMOUNT IN EXCESS OF U.S. TWO HUNDRED FIFTY DOLLARS (U.S. $250.00).
• Limitations on Reverse Engineering, Decompilation and Disassembly. You may
not reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble the SOFTWARE, except and only

Pathfinder Manual: Basics
to the extent that such activity is expressly permitted by applicable law
notwithstanding this limitation.
• SOFTWARE TRANSFER ALLOWED BUT WITH RESTRICTIONS. You
may permanently transfer rights under this EULA only as part of a permanent sale
or transfer of the Device, and only if the recipient agrees to this EULA. If the
SOFTWARE is an upgrade, any transfer must also include all prior versions of
SOFTWARE.
EXPORT RESTRICTIONS. Export of SOFTWARE from the United States is
regulated by the Export Administration Regulations (EAR, 15 CFR 730-744) of the
U.S. Commerce Department, Bureau of Export Administration (BXA). You agree to
comply with the EAR in the export or re-export of the SOFTWARE: (1) to any country
to which the U.S. has embargoed or restricted the export of goods and services, which
as of May 1999 include, but are not necessarily limited to Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Libya,
North Korea, Sudan, Syria, and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (including Serbia,
but not Montenegro), or to any national of any such country, wherever located, who
intends to transmit or transport the SOFTWARE back to such country, (ii) to any
person or entity who you know or have reason to know will utilize the SOFTWARE or
portion thereof in the design, development or production of nuclear, chemical or
biological weapons; or (iii) to any person or entity who has been prohibited from
participating in the U.S. export transactions by any federal agency of the U.S.
government. You warrant and represent that neither the BXA nor any other U.S.
federal agency has suspended, revoked or denied your export privileges. For additional
information see http://www.microsoft.com/exporting/.
END USER LICENSING AGREEMENT
SMART Modular Technologies (Systems) Inc.
• You may use DECtalk RUNTIME SOFTWARE TECHNOLOGY only on the
PATHFINDER™
• You may not COPY DECtalk RUNTIME SOFTWARE except for archival use.
• You may not reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble the DECtalk RUNTIME
SOFTWARE.
• The Title to DECtalk RUNTIME SOFTWARE, which is a component of the
PATHFINDER, does not pass to the END USER.
• SMART disclaims any liability for any damages, whether direct, indirect,
incidental, special or consequential arising from the use of the DECtalk RUNTIME
SOFTWARE.
• At the termination or expiration of the END USER AGREEMENT, you must
discontinue to use, and destroy or return to Prentke Romich Company, all
PATHFINDERS and all archival or other copies of DECtalk RUNTIME
SOFTWARE that contain any part of DECtalk TECHNOLOGY.
• The END USER has no right to transfer or distribute the DECtalk RUNTIME
SOFTWARE to others.

Pathfinder
Operator’s Manual
Setting Up and Using Pathfinder’s Basic Tools
PRENTKE ROMICH COMPANY
Corporate Headquarters:
1022 Heyl Rd. • Wooster, Ohio 44691
Telephone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
E-Mail Address: [email protected]
Web Site Address: www.prentrom.com
Worldwide Headquarters
Prentke Romich International, Ltd.
Whitegates • Swinstead • Grantham • Lincs.• NG33 4PA • UK.
Fax: [phone]
E-Mail Address: [email protected]
The cover photograph of multiple generations of stars in the Tarantula Nebula
was taken by the Hubble Space Telescope.
The picture was downloaded from the Space Telescope Science Institute/Association of Universities
for Research in Astronomy, Inc. web site on the internet.

Prentke Romich Company•1022 Heyl Rd.•Wooster, OH 44691
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Pathfinder Manual: Basics
13113v4.01
ii
ÂData can be uploaded from this unit to a personal computer for storage on a hard disk, floppy
diskette, or other storage medium. Be sure to make multiple copies of all important data to protect
against accidental loss.
Pathfinder, Liberator, DeltaTalker, Language Activity Monitor (LAM), Memory Transfer Interface (MTI), PRC
Infrared Receiver (IRR) are trademarks of Prentke Romich Company. Use of the name "Liberator" with
permission from Liberator, Ltd.
Unity is a registered trademark of Semantic Compaction Systems. Unity uses the methodology derived from the
concepts covered byU.S Patent Numbers 4,661,916; 5,097,425; 5,210,689 and subsequent patents and
applications of Bruce Baker.
Unity is a registered trademark, in the USA, UK and Canada, of Semantic Compaction Systems.
MinTalk is a trademark of Semantic Compaction Systems.
  
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Windows, Microsoft Word, Access Pack and Microsoft Works are registered trademarks of Microsoft, Inc.
Corel WordPerfect is a registered trademark of Corel, Inc.
Access DOS is a registered trademark of IBM.
KE:NX is a registered trademark of Don Johnston Company
Apple, Macintosh, PowerBook, AppleTalk and SerialKeys are registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc.
IBM is a registered trademark of International Business Machines.
T-TAM (Trace Transparent Access Module) was developed bythe Trace Research and Development Center,
University of Wisconsin-Madison.
HeadMaster is a treademark of Origin Instruments, Inc.
Tracker 2000 is a trademark of Madenta, Inc.
DECtalk song programming instructions, charts and speech tips are used with permission of Digital Equipment
Corporation.
©Prentke Romich Company 2000, 2001, 2004
All rights reserved. Under copyright laws this manual may not be copied, in whole or in part, without the written
consent of the Prentke Romich Company.
ELECTRONIC INTERFERENCE INFORMATION
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to two conditions: (1) this device may
not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept anyinterference received, including interference
that may cause undesired operation.
Warning! Changes or modifications to this product which are not authorized by Prentke Romich Companycould
exceed FCC limits and negate your authorityto use this product.
This equipment has been tested and found to complywith 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 frequencyenergy 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. You can determine
whether this product is causing interference in your radio or television byturning this product off. If the interference
stops, it was probablycaused by this product or one of its accessories. You can attempt to correct the interference
by using one or more of the following measures:
• Turn the television or radio antenna until the interference stops.
• Move this product to one side or the other of the television or radio.
• Move this product farther awayform the television or radio.
• Plug this product into an outlet that is on a different circuit from the television or radio; that is, this product
should be controlled bydifferent circuit breakers/fuses from the television or radio.
• If necessary, contact a Prentke Romich Company service technician for assistance.
This Class B digital apparatus meets all requirements of the Canadian Interference-Causing Equipment
Regulations. Cet appareil numérique de la classe B respect toutes les exigences du Règlement sur le matériel
brouiller du Canada.

TURNING THE PATHFINDER ON
Pathfinder Manual: Basics
iii
CE ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION: Use: 0o - 45oC; Storage: (-20o) - 50oC; 95% maximum
relative humidity @ ambient temperatures less than 40oC.
Attention! Consult accompanying documents.
Type BF Applied Part: F type applied part complying with the specified requirements of
60601-1 to provide protection against electric shock, particularly regarding allowable leakage
current.
Not intended to be an emergency call device or sole communication device.
Turning the Pathfinder On
for the First Time
To conserve batteries, the entire unit was turned OFF at the
factory before it was shipped. To use it, you must turn the unit
ON.
To Turn the Pathfinder ON
On the left front of the case:
Press the
,2
(I/O)and the (TOOLS)buttons down
at the same time. When the display lights up and you see the
Pathfinder name, release the buttons.

ÄRecommendation
To Avoid Static Discharge
You can avoid static discharge by turning the Pathfinder OFF before you plug anything
into or unplug anything from the connectors on the case—
this includes switches, headpointers, and especially the battery charger.
When you follow this recommendation you are helping to preserve the device's
memory by safeguarding its electronic circuits.

iv
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Pathfinder Manual: Basics
v

Table of Contents
GETTING ACQUAINTED WITH THE PATHFINDER
What’s on the Front of the Pathfinder?............................................................................................11
What’s on the Top of the Pathfinder?..............................................................................................17
What’s on the Back of the Pathfinder? ............................................................................................19
What’s on the Right and Left Sides of the Pathfinder?..............................................................21
About the Batteries ................................................................................................................................23
About the Backlight Shut-Off ............................................................................................................25
About Minspeak......................................................................................................................................27
Icon Prediction Shows You Where Messages are Stored.........................................................29
Examples of Icon Associations..........................................................................................................31
About Selecting Your Own Icons to Represent Messages.......................................................33
About Activities......................................................................................................................................35
Locating Keys on the Keyboard........................................................................................................37
About the Toolbox.................................................................................................................................39
Using Menus in the Toolbox..............................................................................................................41
Change the Speaker and Earphone Volume..................................................................................43
SETTING UP A USER AREA AND A SELECTION TECHNIQUE
The USER AREA Menu...........................................................................................................................47
Select a User Area..................................................................................................................................49
About Overlays .......................................................................................................................................51
Rename a User Area..............................................................................................................................52
Copy a User Area ...................................................................................................................................53
Erase a User Area...................................................................................................................................54
About Computer Access Mode..........................................................................................................55
The Selection Techniques....................................................................................................................57
Using the SELECTION TECHNIQUE Menu .........................................................................................59
Keyboard...................................................................................................................................................61
Headpointer..............................................................................................................................................63
1-Switch.....................................................................................................................................................65
2-Switch.....................................................................................................................................................67
Joystick ......................................................................................................................................................69
Quarter Row/Column Scan .................................................................................................................71
Some Options in the SELECTION TECHNIQUE MENU....................................................................73

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Pathfinder Manual: Basics
vi
IR Headpointing Options:
Averaging..................................................................................................................................................75
Horizontal and Vertical Adjustment................................................................................................77
Pointer Color............................................................................................................................................78
Highlight Keys..............................................................................................................78
Some Scanning Options
1-Switch—Scan Mode 1......................................................................................................................79
1-Switch—Scan Mode 2......................................................................................................................80
2-Switch—Scan Mode 1......................................................................................................................81
2-Switch—Scan Mode 2......................................................................................................................82
Scan Direction.........................................................................................................................................83
Scanning Speed.......................................................................................................................................84
Acceptance Time....................................................................................................................................85
Release Time............................................................................................................................................86
Activation Delay.....................................................................................................................................87
Auto Repeat Rate....................................................................................................................................88
Predictive Selection...............................................................................................................................89
Modify Predictive Keys........................................................................................................................91
Scan Start Position: Center or Top Left ........................................................................................93
About Linear Scan Cut-Off.................................................................................................................94
WORD PREDICTION
About Minspeak and Word Prediction............................................................................................97
The Benefits of Minspeak and Word Prediction Together ......................................................99
Turn Word Prediction On and Off................................................................................................. 101
Spell and Select Words...................................................................................................................... 103
Set Up Word Prediction in the WORD PREDICTION Menu...................................................... 105
Predict in Minspeak............................................................................................................................ 106
Recency/Frequency............................................................................................................................. 107
About Predictor Keys......................................................................................................................... 109
The Word Prediction Dictionary.................................................................................................... 111
Add a Word to the Word Prediction Dictionary....................................................................... 112
Delete a Word from the Word Prediction Dictionary............................................................. 112
Review Words in the Word Prediction Dictionary.................................................................. 113
About the Computer "Backspace" Command............................................................................ 115
The Word Prediction Display Area............................................................................................... 116
STORING MESSAGES
Store Digitized (Recorded) or Synthesized (Text-to-Speech) Messages ......................... 119
About Core Vocabulary and Activity Row Vocabulary......................................................... 121

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Pathfinder Manual: Basics
vii
About SPELL/MINSPEAK, GO TO SPELL, GO TO MINSPEAK and GO TO COMPUTER Tools.122
Plan Before You Begin to Store..................................................................................................... 123
Store a Recorded Message............................................................................................................... 125
Erase a Recorded Message............................................................................................................... 126
Store a Synthesized Message........................................................................................................... 127
Edit a Synthesized Message............................................................................................................. 128
Erase a Synthesized Message.......................................................................................................... 129
Some Helpful Storing Hints............................................................................................................. 130
Storing and Retrieving Using the 64 and 32 Location Overlays......................................... 131
About Themes....................................................................................................................................... 133
About Using INSERT TOOL to Store Theme Tools on your Overlay................................... 134
Assign PICK 1 (or 2)ICON THEME to a Key or Store it under an Icon Sequence.............. 135
Assign SET 1 (or 2) ICON THEME to a Key or Store it under an Icon Sequence............... 137
About EXIT THEME............................................................................................................................... 139
About Single Meaning Icons........................................................................................................... 141
About Creating an Activity.............................................................................................................. 145
Create a New Activity— An Example........................................................................................... 147
Dynamic Activities.............................................................................................................................. 151
Erase a Dynamic Activity................................................................................................................. 153
Review All Dynamic Activities...................................................................................................... 153
Modify an Activity.............................................................................................................................. 154
Linking Activities/Creating Sub-Categories............................................................................... 155
Copy Activities from one User Area to Another...................................................................... 157
Using the REVIEW VOCABULARY Menu........................................................................................ 159
PERSONALIZE YOUR OVERLAY
About Personalizing Your Overlay............................................................................................... 165
The ASSIGN KEY Menu....................................................................................................................... 167
About INSERT TOOL and the All Tools List................................................................................. 169
Assign a Tool to a Key in Minspeak Mode................................................................................ 170
Assign a Minspeak Icon to a Key.................................................................................................. 171
Assign a Tool to Spell Mode........................................................................................................... 172
Assign a Tool to Computer Mode.................................................................................................. 173
Erase a Tool from a Key................................................................................................................... 175
Store a Tool Under an Icon Sequence.......................................................................................... 176
About Macros....................................................................................................................................... 177
Assign a Macro to a Key................................................................................................................... 178
Store a Macro Under an Icon Sequence ...................................................................................... 179
Erase a Macro....................................................................................................................................... 179
Swap Keys ............................................................................................................................................. 180
Hide/Show Keys.................................................................................................................................. 181
Auditory Prompts and the AUDITORY PROMPTS Menu............................................................ 183
Prompt Type: Key or Content........................................................................................................ 184

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Pathfinder Manual: Basics
viii
Key Prompts and Category Prompts............................................................................................. 185
Mid-Sequence Prompts..................................................................................................................... 187
Some Options in the FEEDBACK Menu......................................................................................... 189
Spell One Word.................................................................................................................................... 191
Auto Spell.............................................................................................................................................. 192
Icon Tutor............................................................................................................................................... 193
System Colors....................................................................................................................................... 194
The MAINTENANCE MENU.................................................................................................................. 197
Reset Individual Menu Options to their Default Settings...................................................... 199
APPENDICES
Appendix A: All Tools List........................................................................................................... 203
Explanations of Tools.......................................................................................... 205
Appendix B: Data Logging: Using the LAM.......................................................................... 218
Appendix C: How to Use the Review to Output Option in Various
Pathfinder Menus.................................................................................................... 226
Appendix D: Pre-Stored Songs in the Pathfinder................................................................... 230
To Copy a Pre-Stored Song onto your Overlay............................................ 231
Appendix E: How to Program and Store your own Songs on your Overlay................ 233
English Vowel Phonemes .................................................................................... 247
English Consonant Phonemes............................................................................. 248
Pitch Notes and Pitch Values.............................................................................. 249
Pitch Value Code.................................................................................................... 251
Time Values of Notes............................................................................................ 253
Appendix F: Helpful DECtalk Speech Tips............................................................................ 255
Words with Alternate Pronunciations.............................................................. 257
Abbreviations Recognized by DECtalk Speech........................................... 259
Produce a Long "A" in a Sentence.................................................................... 262
Creating Pauses....................................................................................................... 262
How DECtalk Speech Handles Numbers....................................................... 263
Appendix G: Dependent Icons...................................................................................................... 265
Appendix H: External Speaker and Microphone Specifications....................................... 269
Appendix I: Creating Macros that Contain Menu Options................................................ 270
Appendix J: Computer Commands for IBM and Macintosh Keyboards and
Keypads...................................................................................................................... 273
Appendix K: Save Your Setup Settings..................................................................................... 277
Appendix L: Troubleshooting ...................................................................................................... 279
Appendix M: The Joystick Adapter...........................................................................285
INDEX.................................................................................................................................................... 289