Eurobraille b.note User manual
b.no
v1.3.0
Instruction Manual
(2021-10-10)
© 2021 - Eurobraille sa 1 / 42
© 2021 - Eurobraille sa 2 / 42
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Description 6
Introduction 6
Features 7
Hardware architecture 7
The b.note keys 8
The On/Off power button 8
The control keys 8
The routing cursor keys 8
The braille keyboard 9
Start Up 9
Use of a menu 10
Use of a dialogue box 10
The main menu of b.note 11
USB 11
Bluetooth-applications 11
nn% 11
The Applications menu of b.note 11
USB 11
Document (0 to 4) 11
Bluetooth (0 to 4) 11
Explorer 12
Settings 12
Transport 12
Turn Off 12
The applications 12
Introduction 12
The file explorer 12
Introduction and moves in the current directory 12
Multiple selection 13
Trash 13
File explorer menu 14
File menu 14
Edition menu 14
Go to menu 14
Back-up menu 14
Applications button 15
Special bluetooth and back-up files menu 15
Trash menu 15
© 2021 - Eurobraille sa 3 / 42
File menu 15
The editor 16
The editor’s menu 16
File 16
Edition 17
Math 17
Search 17
Insertion 17
Bookmarks 18
Vocal 18
Applications button 18
Settings 19
Details of the settings 19
Clock 19
Battery 19
Audio 19
USB 19
Bluetooth 20
User interface 20
Editor 20
Math 21
Language 21
Keyboard 21
Routing cursor keys 21
Standby 21
test (menu only) 21
reset (menu only) 21
Versions 22
b.note with a screenreader 23
USB 23
Bluetooth 23
APPENDIX - Editor - Search 24
APPENDIX - Editor - Math. 24
Description 24
Generality 24
blocks 25
constants 25
operator 25
one argument functions 26
Several arguments functions 27
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APPENDIX - USB braille keyboard 28
APPENDIX - Unimanual braille keyboard 29
APPENDIX - Functions of the routing cursor keys 30
APPENDIX - Bluetooth pairing 31
Pairing with a PC 31
Pairing with a tablet or an Android smartphone 31
Pairing with an Apple tablet or smartphone 31
APPENDIX - Bluetooth file transfer 32
Transfer from PC to b.note 32
Transfer from b.note to PC 32
Transfer from an Android tablet (or smartphone) to b.note 33
Transfer from b.note to an Android tablet (or smartphone) 33
APPENDIX - Controller keyboard shortcuts 34
Left keypad functions 34
Right keypad functions 34
APPENDIX - Braille keyboard shortcuts 35
General 35
Menu / Dialogue box 35
Editor 35
File explorer 36
APPENDIX - 8-dot computer braille characters (US) 37
APPENDIX - 10 dots braille functions 40
APPENDIX - Applications updates 42
© 2021 - Eurobraille sa 5 / 42
Description
b.no is a refreshable braille display that can be connected to multiple devices via USB and
Bluetooth such as computers, tablets or smartphones.
b.no is also a stand-alone braille notetaker and computer that includes a file explorer and
an editor to organize, read and modify your documents.
Introduction
Upper side :
● Braille display available in 20 or 40 cells (8 dots for each cell),
● Routing cursors with a double-contact function, located above each braille cell,
● A keyboard of 10 keys – 8 keys above the routing cursor line and 2 keys below the
braille display for thumbs,
● 2 keypads of 4 buttons, each keypad located on both sides of the braille display.
Bottom side :
● A trap screwed to the device gives access to the SD Card. For service only.
Left side :
● A small hole enables the use of a paper clip if the system needs to be reset due to
malfunction,
● A USB port ‘C’ type necessary for device charging or connecting to another system,
● An audio jack socket (3,5mm) to plug headphones,
● Switch on/off key lock.
© 2021 - Eurobraille sa 6 / 42
Features
● 20 or 40 braille cells
● 20 or 40 routing cursors
● 10 keys braille keyboard
● 2 keypads of 4 buttons
● Processors : STM32L1 / ARM Cortex-A53, quad core, 1.4GHz,
● RAM: 512MB LPDDR2 (900MHz),
● SD Card 64GB,
● Wifi : 2.4GHz 802.11ac dual band,
● Bluetooth : 4.2 LS BLE,
● Audio out : Jack 3,5mm,
● Battery : 3.7V 6000mAh (22.2 W),
● Fast charge with external power supply adaptor USB C (protocol PD Universel 2.0),
● Charge at 30% in 25 min., 80% in 1h30.
● Battery life : more than 14 hours
● Dimensions : 235 (20 cel.) / 365 (40 cel.) x 105 x 27 mm,
● Weight : 500 gr. (20 cel.) / 600 gr. (40 cel.).
Hardware architecture
b.no is a dual processor system,
It includes a 32-bit microcontroller that manages :
● Power supply system
● The keyboards
● On/Off power button
● USB port,
As a USB braille display, this processor will ensure the good operation of the device.
For the other uses of b.no, a second more powerful processor features :
● Bluetooth,
● Internal applications (files explorer and note-taker)
● Speech synthesis
In needed cases, the second processor switches on. The power supply from the second
processor will stop working once the device is turned off (press and hold the power button).
© 2021 - Eurobraille sa 7 / 42
The b.no keys
The On/Off power button
The On/Off power button is a key lock that needs to be pulled to be activated.
It allows the device to switch On or Off. A short press leads to “transport” mode. A long press
(> to 2 sec.) leads to “stand by” mode. (See “Start up”)
The control keys
b.no is equipped with 2 sets of 4 buttons (keypad of 4 arrow keys)
Functions of the left keypad :
● Press the up arrow key to open the b.no menu,
● Press the down arrow key to enter or exit the current application menu,
● Press the right arrow key to move forward on the braille display,
● Press the left arrow key to return on the braille display.
Functions of the right keypad :
The 4 buttons are used to simulate the arrow keys. For example, in the menus, the right and
left arrow keys enable the selection of the next or previous element of the menu.
A detailed description of the functions of the control keys can be found in chapter
“APPENDIX - Controller keyboard shortcuts”.
The routing cursor keys
The routing cursor keys have a double-contact function : a light click on any routing cursor
key triggers the first contact, a stronger click will trigger the second contact.
By default, the routing cursor keys functions are the following :
● A light click on the first routing cursor key moves the braille display backward.
● A light click on any routing cursor key moves the braille display forward. When
finished reading, the user does not have to look for any particular button or key,
he/she presses any routing cursor key to move forward to the next display.
● A stronger click is needed to use the routing cursor key as its usual purpose, like
action on an object or positioning the cursor on a text.
The functions assigned to the routing cursor keys can be changed (see APPENDIX
“Functions of the routing cursor key”).
© 2021 - Eurobraille sa 8 / 42
The braille keyboard
The braille keyboard of b.no is composed of 8 keys and 2 thumb keys. Each key is related
to one braille pin.
This is how each key is positioned : '7 3 2 1 4 5 6 8'
The 2 thumb keys are named from left to right : '9' and 'A'.
The braille keyboard must be used by pressing and releasing simultaneously one or several
keys. The functions or characters generated according to the combination of pressed keys
will be detailed later in the document :
● For computer braille, see APPENDIX “8-dot computer braille characters”,
● For the other functions (different from usual characters you may find on a PC
keyboard) see APPENDIX “10 dots braille functions”
● In order to use the braille keyboard in unimanual mode, see APPENDIX “Unimanual
braille keyboard”.
You might have to use some of these modifying functions (Ctrl, Alt, Shift, Windows and
Insert) before typing the keys combination that these functions apply to.
Start Up
The key lock, located on the left side of the device, needs to be pulled in order to start
b.no.
The braille display will switch on and will display the main menu.
Once the device is “on” :
● A short press turns the device into “transport” mode. In this case, all keys stop
working and all dots on the braille display are down.
● A long press (> to 2 sec) turns the device into sleep mode. The second processor
power supply is cut off as well as the braille display. The whole system can remain
this way for several weeks with no need to recharge.
After starting up, b.no will display the main menu:
“usb bluetooth-applications nn%”
Choose “usb” to communicate with a computer through the usb cable. If another internal app
or Bluetooth mode is requested, “bluetooth-applications'' will have to be confirmed which will
start the second processor of the system.
nn% indicates the percentage of the remaining battery power.
In order to return to the main menu ofb.no , press the up arrow key of the left keypad.
Once the second processor starts, the main menu is complete :
“usb <list of documents in editing> <List of connected bluetooth channels> explorer settings
transport turn off”
© 2021 - Eurobraille sa 9 / 42
Use of a menu
A menu appears as a line of labels.
These labels can be made of several words, in this case the braille dot 8 replaces the space
button as a word delimiter.
The first label is the menu title, followed by the character “:”
The followed labels are operable buttons separated with spaces.
The braille dot 7 and 8 blink below the first character of the button, meaning the button is
focused.
A focused button is activated when pressing 9A from the braille display.
As a shortcut, the buttons of the menus can be activated by typing the shortcut letter when
the menu is displayed. The shortcut letter is displayed by the braille dot 8 up and blinking.
When opening a menu, the beginning of the braille display shows the focused object.
There are 2 methods to navigate throughout a menu :
1. You can either move forward or move backward the braille display on the menu (light
click on the routing cursor key, or right and left arrow of the left keypad), then activate
one of the buttons of the menu with a stronger click on the routing cursor key located
above this button.
2. You can move the marking on the different buttons of the menu (left/right arrow of the
right keypad). The focused button is located at the beginning of the braille display,
therefore you can activate this button (9A of the braille keyboard).
Use of a dialogue box
A dialogue box shows a list of objects with different values associated, some of these values
can be editable.
A dialogue box is like a menu and can be used the same way. There is a “OK” button to
confirm and close it and a “Cancel” button to cancel the modifications. This “Cancel” button
is displayed only when modifications are possible in the dialogue boxes.
Besides the buttons, you may find in a dialogue box :
● text object
● editable object
● liste object
“Editable” objects and “list” objects have a name and values associated. They are displayed
as “name-value” forms.
“Text” objects have only an informative purpose, any action has no effect. They have no
value and will display as “name” form.
Editable objects will enable the modification of a value. Any keyboard action on an editable
box will display a blinking braille dots 7-8 under each character to mark selected text. Any
© 2021 - Eurobraille sa 10 / 42
Table of contents
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