[BlindTlk] Focus Blue 40 Instruction...

[Lloyd Rasmussen]

I assume that you will mostly be using it with JAWS, since this model comes 
from Vispero. I don't own one, but I have used braille displays a lot.
With JAWS you have two different places where braille is set up. One area is 
under the Options menu. Another is specifically called Braille Settings. 
There is a lot of flexibility among these two JAWS setup areas, but you 
might not want to change too many defaults at once.
A lot of people run their displays in Computer Braille mode. To me this has 
the disadvantage that dot 7 is shown for capital letters, and you are 
probably not accustomed to some of the other punctuation marks that you will 
see.
Many people may disagree with me, but I prefer to run my display in 
contracted UEB braille. Depending on how new your copy of JAWS is, there may 
be some nonstandard contractions this way, but everything gets represented.
If your display has a full braille keyboard (8 dots and a spacebar, I think 
you could type H with the spacebar (this is called h-chord) to put JAWS in a 
mode where keys announce their functions rather than perform actions. I 
think you can also get in and out of this mode with Insert-1 (on the number 
row) to experiment on what key combination does what.
I hope this helps a little, or at least opens some new lines of 
investigation.



Lloyd Rasmussen, Kensington, MD

-----Original Message----- 
From: James Kelm via BlindTlk
Sent: Saturday, January 04, 2020 2:09 PM
To: 'Blind Talk Mailing List'
Cc: James Kelm
Subject: [BlindTlk] Focus Blue 40 Instruction...

Dear friends,

    I just purchased a Focus Blue 40 refreshable Braille display, and I'm 
hoping that you can help me with learning it!  This is the first refreshable 
Braille display that I have ever used, so it is a brand new experience for 
me.  I am good with computers in general, but not with the Focus Blue!

    A number of years ago I recall different companies that sold cassettes, 
although now I would guess that it would be on CD's, that would provide 
instruction on different aspects of software for the blind.  They had 
instruction on things like Microsoft Word, Excel, Windows, etc.  Does anyone 
know of something like this for a Focus Blue?  I have the instruction manual 
that came with the unit, but it is not very detailed, and seems to be 
tailored for someone who is already familiar with refreshable Braille units 
in general, and the Focus Blue in particular.  I hope to use my unit at 
work, but it would be so much easier if I could actually learn it, rather 
than just stumbling around on it.  I called the manufacturer, but they said 
that they don't have anything other than the manual that came with my unit.

    Any help would sure be appreciated!  I'm guessing that there isn't a 
whole lot that I have to learn in order to affectively use this, but so far 
I just seem to be frustrated!

Thanks...
James



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