Eye-Pal Ace Version 1.7 User Manual ABiSee, Inc. 30 Sudbury Rd., Unit 1B Acton, MA 01720 www.abisee.
Table of Contents Introduction 3. What's in the Box 3. The Basics 3. Reading/Zoom Cameras 3. Object Lighting 3. Speakers 4. Position 4. Buttons, Controls, Connections 4. Power and Battery 7. Power Switch Button 7. Power Indicator Light 8. Power Up 8. Standby Mode 8. Power Down 8. Checking the Battery Charge Status 8. Charging the Battery 9. Extending Battery Life 9. Battery Replacement 9. Navigation and Settings 9. Main Menu Option List 9. Scan and Read 10. Voice Mode 11. Voice Mode Settings 11.
Settings 19. Help 20. WARRANTY 21. Appendix A: Safety Rules 22. Appendix B. Troubleshooting 23. Appendix C: Braille Display Information 25. Freedom Scientific Focus 14 Page 27. ALVA BC640 Page 28. APH Refreshabraille 18 Page 29. HIMS Braille Edge 40 Page 30. Baum SuperVario2 40 / Humanware/PDI Brailliant 40 Page 31. Humanware Brailliant bi40 Page 32. Contact ABiSee Back Cover 2 ACEManual rev.
Introduction Congratulations on choosing the Eye-Pal Ace device. ABiSee’s Eye-Pal Ace (hereafter referred to as the Ace) is a portable electronic text-tospeech device for people with visual impairment and for those who are blind. The Ace is compatible with select refreshable Braille displays, allowing nearly instant conversion of text to Braille.
additional light is needed even in a dark room. Speakers Any material with printed text placed in front of the Ace will be read out loud using builtin speakers. Alternatively, headphones or a Braille display can be plugged in, or the Reading Mode can be set to Text Mode for those who prefer to read silently.
Top Panel Buttons: Home Button: A large round button located in the middle on top of the device. Press it anytime to get to the main menu. Volume knob: Located in the upper right corner, on top of the device. Turn it clockwise to increase the volume or counterclockwise to decrease the volume. Daisy Buttons: Located on the left side on top of the device. The Daisy Buttons have a total of five buttons: four arrow buttons and one round button located in the middle.
In this and all other modes, the center button can be pressed to hear the battery status. Action Button: Located on the right side of the device above the Right Roller. Press this Button to select the desired menu option. In Reading mode – this Button is used to pause and resume reading. Right Roller: Located at the front right shoulder of the device. Scroll it up or down to go through the menu options. In Reading mode, use the Right Roller to scroll up or down to go to the previous or next line.
Side Connections/Power Button: On the left side, toward the bottom and back, there is a set of ports aligned vertically. The first one from the bottom is for plugging in the power supply. Just above that is a round power button. Above that is a USB port, and above that is a second USB port. To summarize, in general, use the Right Roller to scroll through the menu items and the Action Button to confirm the menu selection. Use the Back Button when in a submenu to return to the previous menu.
Power Indicator Light The Power indicator light is located above the Power Button. The light glows steady green when the device is on; the light blinks when the device is in standby mode; the light is off when the device is turned off. It glows red when the device is off and is being charged, and glows orange when the device is on and is being charged. Power Up Press the Power Button to power up the device. The start-up process takes approximately 90 seconds.
Charging the Battery Important: Before the first use, the Ace’s battery needs to be charged to full capacity which can take up to four hours. To charge the battery, use the power supply and power cord provided as follows: First connect the power cord end with the small prong into the port at the end of the rectangular part of the power supply. Next, plug the power supply cord into the power port on the Ace, which is located at the bottom of the left side panel.
Zoom Photo Album Clock (Includes an alarm function) Settings Help Scan and Read This function enables you to read printed text like letters, documents, books, portions of food packages and pill bottle labels, including the fine print. The Ace reads aloud (unless a Braille display is in use) and also displays magnified text on the screen. Positioning a document The Ace can scan and read a document that fits in the 8 ½ by 11-inch field directly in front of the device on a flat surface.
Reading modes The scanned material may be read in: Voice Mode: convenient for having the text read aloud - the default choice Text Mode: used for reading text on the screen quietly without voice output. The Scan and Read mode can be changed in the Settings menu. To change the mode, begin at the Main Menu and scroll to and select Settings. Next, scroll to and select General Settings. Then, scroll to and select Reading Mode.
scroll to and select Voice. Next, scroll through available language/voice combinations and select your preference. The reading language and language of the document need to match in order for the text recognition to be accurate. To Navigate Through Text: The five Daisy Buttons are used for text navigation. Pressing the left or right arrow button allows you to, respectively, move to the previous or next word. The Ace reads the words aloud as you navigate.
By default, the Ace will recognize text columns as separate pages. To disable the column recognition in order to accurately read tabulated text, press and hold the left and right arrow Buttons simultaneously until you hear the announcement "Switched to table mode." Press the same two Buttons again when you want to switch back. Reading tall food packaging: Tall food packages, such as a cracker box, can be read as long as the top of the package does not come closer than four inches from the camera lens.
Save Book To save a single-page document without a voice label, select the first option with the Action Button. The name of the saved document will be the first line of text. If the document does not resume reading on its own, press the Action Button to resume reading. To save the document with a voice label, select the second option. You will hear: “Please record five-second voice label.” Speak your preferred label after you hear a beep.
you have finished adding pages, press and hold the Action Button, then press the Back Button. You will hear: “Book saved.” Opening a Document or Book To open a previously saved single-page document or a book, begin at the Main Menu and select Scan and Read. Next, press and hold the Action Button, and while holding it, press the Back Button. Scroll to and select Open. The Ace will read the label for the last saved document. Scroll through the label list, and select one you want to open.
Open Book Convert Book to Text Convert Book to MP3 Scroll to and select Convert Book to MP3. You will hear: “Please wait.” Do not interrupt the conversion. Next, you’ll hear: “Conversion complete.” Now you can take out the flash drive and insert it in your computer or MP3 player to listen to the saved book. Book Navigation While reading the saved book, use the Daisy Buttons as follows: Press the Up arrow to go to the previous page.
• Add Reminder • All Reminders • Next 7 days • Next 31 days • Reminders By Day For any of the above options except “Add Reminder,” scroll through saved reminders or hear the message that there are no reminders for the selected day. When you select a reminder with the Action Button, scroll through choices of “Listen to Reminder/Delete Reminder/Change Reminder.” Select your choice and follow the prompts. To add a new reminder, select the “Add Reminder” option.
To use the Photo Album functions, start from the Main Menu and scroll to and select Photo Album. You will be given sub-menu options to View Album, Add Photos to Album, Delete Album and Rename Album. To View an album, start at the Main Menu. Scroll to and select Photo Album. When you read or hear “View Album” select it. The albums that are available for viewing will be given as options. Scroll to the album you would like to open and select it. To magnify the picture, use the Left Roller.
To Rename an Album: From the Main Menu, scroll to and select Photo Album, then scroll to and select Rename Album. Scroll to and select the one you want to rename. Follow the prompts to record a new name. Clock/Alarm Clock Select Clock from the Main Menu to hear the current time. To set the alarm time and access the set alarm mode functions, press the Action Button.
Status: Battery Version Model Serial Number System Settings Customize Main Menu Upgrade Software (When new software versions are released, they can be obtained from ABiSee, Inc or your local dealer and can be installed by selecting this setting) Set Time and Date Reset All Settings (Resets all to default settings). Help Select the Help option from the Main Menu to hear the detailed description of the Ace functionality and how to use each function.
WARRANTY TWO YEAR WARRANTY ON ALL ABISEE, INC. PRODUCTS: ABiSee, Inc. warrants to the original purchaser that its products are free from defects in materials and workmanship (with exception of the battery) for two years from the date of purchase. The battery is warrantied against defectiveness for nine months from the date of purchase.
Appendix A: Safety Rules Handle the Ace with care. Rough handling will damage the device. Be especially careful with the screen – do not touch it with sharp objects. When you carry the device outside, use a protective case. If the Ace is not in a standing position, do not place any heavy or sharp objects on the screen surface. Use only the Power Adapter that comes with the Ace. Do not open the Ace under any circumstances; it will void the warranty.
Appendix B. Troubleshooting When turning on the Ace, make sure no flash drives are plugged into the device. Troubleshooting: Power/battery/connections 1. If the Ace does not respond to any Button: Make sure the battery is charged. If the battery is empty, connect the power adaptor to charge the battery. If the battery is fully charged, but the device stopped responding to any Button, turn the device off, then on again. 2. If the adaptor does not power the Ace: Check the connections.
Troubleshooting: Calendar Application 1. If you do not hear the reminder after you finished your recording: Increase the volume – turn the Volume knob clockwise. Make sure that when you are talking your Ace is close to the device. 2. If you think that you did not hear the reminder you have entered at the right date/time: Make sure that the device had been turned on and was charged. Go to the Main Menu, and select Calendar.
Appendix C: Braille Display Information Part A: Using a refreshable Braille display with the Ace (See Part B of Appendix C for details on supported Braille displays and which controls on each particular display corresponds to which control on the Ace). To use a refreshable Braille display with the Ace, turn on the Ace device by pressing the power button.
Part B: Supported Braille Displays and Control Details This section has a picture of each of the supported Braille displays with the buttons labeled. After each diagram, there is a table that lists each control on the Ace in the first column, followed by the corresponding control on the Braille display in the second column.
Freedom Scientific Focus 14 Table of corresponding controls for the Freedom Scientific Focus 14 Control on Ace: Control on Braille Display. Right Roller Up: Right NAV Rocker Up. Right Roller Down: Right NAV Rocker Down. Left Roller Up: Left NAV Rocker Up. Left Roller Down: Left NAV Rocker Down. Action: Right Mode Button. Back: Left Mode Button. Scan: Right Selector Button. Home: Left Selector Button. Function: Control on Braille Display. Pan Display Left: Left Panning Button.
ALVA BC640 Table of corresponding controls for the ALVA BC640 Control on Ace: Control on Braille Display. Right Roller Up: Smartpad Up or Thumb Key 2. Right Roller Down: Smartpad Down or Thumb Key 3. Left Roller Up: F4 + Smartpad Left. Left Roller Down: F4 + Smartpad Right. Action: Smartpad Right. Back: Smartpad Left. Scan: Center thumb key. Home: F2. Volume Down: F4 + Smartpad Down. Volume Up: F4 + Smartpad Up. Function: Control on Braille Display. Pan Display Left: Thumb Key 1.
APH Refreshabraille 18 Table of corresponding controls for the APH Refreshable 18 Control on Ace: Control on Braille Display. Right Roller Up: Joystick Up or SPACE+1. Right Roller Down: Joystick Down or SPACE+4. Left Roller Up: SPACE+1+2. Left Roller Down: SPACE+4+5. Action: SPACE+8. Back: SPACE+1+5 (E-chord) or SPACE+7. Scan: Joystick Press or SPACE+2+3+4 (Schord). Daisy Center: SPACE+3+4 (ST-chord). Daisy Left: SPACE+3. Daisy Right: SPACE+6. Daisy Up: SPACE+1+2+3 (L-chord).
HIMS Braille Edge 40 Table of corresponding controls for the HIMS Braille Edge 40 Control on Ace: Control on Braille Display. Right Roller Up: Up on either directional pad or SPACE+1. Right Roller Down: Down on either directional pad or SPACE+4. Left Roller Up: SPACE+1+2. Left Roller Down: SPACE+4+5. Action: SPACE+8. Back: SPACE+1+5 (E-chord) or SPACE+7. Scan: SPACE+2+3+4 (S-chord). Daisy Center: SPACE+3+4 (ST-chord). Daisy Left: SPACE+3. Daisy Right: SPACE+6.
Baum SuperVario2 40 / Humanware/PDI Brailliant 40 Table of corresponding controls for the Baum SuperVario2 40 and Humanware/PDI Brailliant 40 Control on Ace: Control on Braille Display. Right Roller Up: 1. Right Roller Down: 4. Left Roller Up: 1+2. Left Roller Down: 4+5. Action: 1+5 (E). Back: 1+3+4+6 (X). Scan: 2+3+4 (S). Daisy Center: 3+4 (ST). Daisy Left: 3. Daisy Right: 6. Daisy Up: 1+2+3 (L). Daisy Down: 4+5+6. Home: 1+2+3+4+5+6 (FOR). Volume Down: 2+3. Volume Up: 5+6.
Humanware Brailliant bi40 Table of corresponding controls for the Humanware Brailliant bi40 Control on Ace: Control on Braille Display. Right Roller Up: SPACE+1 or Left. Right Roller Down: SPACE+4 or Right. Left Roller Up: SPACE+1+2. Left Roller Down: SPACE+4+5. Action: SPACE+8. Back: SPACE+1+5 (E-chord) or SPACE+7. Scan: SPACE+2+3+4 (S-chord). Daisy Center: SPACE+3+4 (ST-chord). Daisy Left: SPACE+3. Daisy Right: SPACE+6. Daisy Up: SPACE+1+2+3 (L-chord). Daisy Down: SPACE+4+5+6.
Contact ABiSee We welcome your comments, questions and suggestions. Our business hours: Monday through Friday 8:30 am to 5:00 pm EST. By Phone: 1-978-637-2900 or Toll Free in the U.S. at 1-855-354-4080 By Fax: 1-253-595-3623 By E-mail: Sales: sales@ABiSee.com Tech Support: support@ABiSee.com General Info: info@ABiSee.com By Mail: ABiSee, Inc. 30 Sudbury Rd.