Milestone 312 Manual www.bones.ch 3.
Congratulations on purchasing Milestone 312. Milestone 312 is a high-performance device in the smallest possible design. We often compare it with another typical Swiss product. No, not chocolate, but the Swiss army knife. Milestone is small and portable, multifunctional and reliable. Milestone 312 is especially designed for visually impaired and blind people to manage their professional and private lives. It can be customized according to your needs.
QuickStart The fast introduction into the world of Milestone 312. With QuickStart you can do some first applications with your Milestone 312. It is structured in several steps. Step number one describes the outside of the device with its buttons and connectors. The aim is that you know Milestone‘s outside and the functions of the press buttons and connectors.
On the front end of the device three things are tactile. We start on the left side with the sixth and last push button. This one is smaller and juts out of the case. Say hello to the “Selector” button. In the middle there is a longish opening, the USB access. You can build a connection with the provided USB cable and consequently interact with your computer or with special add-ons. You also charge Milestone‘s battery from this access by using a charger or by the connection to the computer.
a pre-installed text file. This is a short sample how Milestone 312 sounds when it is converting text into speech. Press “Play” to start it. Further playback functions and their shortcuts you will find in the main manual. Record a voice memo Another very useful function of Milestone 312 is the possibility to do voice recordings. So if you want to create a spoken shopping list or quickly record a phone number you have just received at the bar, you can do that on Milestone 312.
Keyboard lock Should your device ignore your efforts, the keyboard lock may be activated. To unlock or to lock it, keep “Mode” pressed and press “Rec” in addition. Milestone 312 either says “keyboard locked” or “keyboard unlocked”, depending on the former state. So “Mode” and “Rec” together activate or deactivate the keyboard. Try this several times to get used to it. Use this function when you put Milestone 312 in a bag or in other situations where unintentional pushes of buttons may happen.
Manual The detailed introduction into the world of Milestone 312. By reading this main manual you get an overall understanding of Milestone 312. But let’s face it, nearly nobody reads the whole manual. So if you just want to get a short introduction, then “QuickStart” is a good opener. You find “QuickStart” at the beginning of this booklet. Users, who look for a more detailed explanation, can stick to this document.
Content 1. Product Overview 1.1. What is Milestone 312 able to? 1 1 1.1.1. Basic applications 1.1.2. Software Extras 1.1.3. Hardware Extras (Add-Ons) 2 3 3 1.2. Innovations since Milestone 311 1.3. Items included in delivery 4 4 2. M312 Exterior 2.1. Visual layout 2.2. Written layout description 2.2.1. 2.2.2. 2.2.3. 2.2.4. Get to know the operator surface Get to know the front end Get to know the bottom side Get to know the right long side 2.3. Using the interfaces 2.3.1. 2.3.2. 2.3.3. 2.3.4. 2.3.5.
5.2. Radio 5.2.1. General information 5.2.2. Use Radio 5.2.3. Shortcut Overview of Radio 32 32 32 34 6. Further information 35 6.1. Technical Data 6.2. Advice 35 35 6.2.1. 6.2.2. 6.2.3. 6.2.4. 6.2.5. SD Memory Cards Customize via CONFIG MILESTONE.TXT Software Update Protect Milestone Create a data backup 6.3. Troubleshooting 6.3.1. Nothing works anymore 6.3.2. You can not write on the SD card 6.3.3. You have not access to all navigation levels in Books 6.4. Service and Support 6.4.1.
1. Product Overview In this chapter you will receive an overview of what Milestone 312 (M312) is capable of doing. You will get to know which skills M312 has in its standard version and what further possibilities you will have to upgrade your device according to your needs. Furthermore you will find a list with the main innovations since the forerunner Milestone 311, which is especially interesting for the ones of you, who already own the good old M311.
1.1.1. Basic applications The following list contains the devices (applications) which are available when you buy the basic version of Milestone 312. Device Audio Description Music Player: With its high quality play back, this player is designed for optimal music enjoyment. You do not have to care about music formats, because Milestone 312 plays them all. It may be MP3, AAC, WMA, WAV or even further formats.
1.1.2. Software Extras There are additional software extras, which can be activated on your Milestone 312. With these following extras you can create an aid that suits your needs and wishes. Device Description Radio Radio is a FM tuner and integrates automated channel searching, channel saving, direct frequency input and radio recording. Speakout Speakout is an integrated RFID reader, which can read RFID tags. You can label objects (CDs, medicines, clothes) with a variety of tags.
1.2. Innovations since Milestone 311 Even though Milestone 312 looks similar to his forerunner Milestone 311, it is a totally newly designed device. In the previous lists about the different devices of Milestone 312, you may have received a first impression of that. Here you find a list of the main innovations: • • • • • • • • • Text to Speech Player Adjustable reading speed levels Integrated RFID reader USB 2.0 Hi-Speed 1GB internal memory Compatibility to Audible.com Compatibility to AAC, WMA, WAV, etc.
2. M312 Exterior In this chapter we are going to explore the outside of Milestone 312 and get to know the Milestone’s push buttons, connectors and other tactile parts of the coverage. If you have already studied the “QuickStart” you may skip this step. 2.1. Visual layout 2.2. Written layout description 2.2.1. Get to know the operator surface Please open the Milestone 312 box, take out your brand-new Milestone 312 and put the featherweight unit in one of your hands.
The remaining three are smaller. If you go from the central “Play” button to the left, you reach the “Left arrow” button. You will recognize it because of its arrowhead, which faces to the left. The “Left arrow” has an opposite, which is located across from it. So when you go to the right, starting from the “Play” button, you reach the “Right arrow” button. This one has also an arrow but it is directed to the right. So the opposite from the “Left arrow”.
other information, the level of the battery. You can find more about this under “Information Service” in this manual. Attention: If you have a problem to use this service, be sure Milestone 312 is activated, the keyboard lock is off and that the sound volume is loud enough. 2.3.2. Headphone using If you do not want to listen to Milestone 312 over the speaker you can plug in any headphones with a standard 3.5 mm jack on the right bottom side of the device.
3. General handling (Interior) In this chapter you learn about the general handling of Milestone 312. It communicates the basic interactions and its shortcuts, which apply independently to the selected device. Also, you learn how to handle M312 on the computer. So please take your time to get to know this important chapter. 3.1. General functions Most of the following functions you will need every time you use Milestone 312.
“Volume up” or “Volume down”. Reaching the maximum and minimum volume levels during paused mode is indicated by a beep. 3.1.4. Reading rate control Milestone 312 allows you to increase and decrease the level of reading speed during playback. Use “Selector” and an arrow button combination for this. So when you are in the standard reading rate and you push and hold “Selector” and press on “Right arrow”, you increase the reading rate by one level.
3.1.6.1. Information Service As the name “Information Service” says, this menu stream gives out information. So there are no setting possibilities, only information outputs. Some categories of announcements you can choose from you find below. If you want to repeat a specific announcement, press “Rec” to go up again. Press “Mode” to go down. To leave the Menu after the announcement, just press “Selector”.
Reaching the third level “Please charge battery”, indicates that about 40% of battery charge is still available. At stage four of the battery status, “Charge battery urgently”, recording is not allowed anymore to protect the messages already recorded. Playback is still possible and the recorded messages are safeguarded. Four very brief, low pitched warning beeps sound after each played back message, to alert the user to recharge the battery.
3.1.7. Shortcut overview of general functions Function Operation Acoustic feedback “On” from sleep mode “Play” Device Selection of device “Selector” Device Increase volume “Mode” + “Right arrow” “Volume up” (in paused mode) Decrease volume “Mode” + “Left arrow” “Volume down” (in paused mode) Change reading rate (during playback) “Selector” + “Right” or “Left arrow” None. Speed simply changes.
3.2. Data management via computer Before you can listen to your music files, text or book files, you have to load the content on Milestone‘s SD card or the internal memory. You can copy the files from your computer to Milestone 312 via the supplied USB cable and build your own folder structure to organize your files. You find the description of how to do this here. Milestone 312 is completely open to work with any folder structure. No restrictions in terms of folder names or subdirectory levels apply. 3.2.
Apparent in the graphics are three different hierarchical types. The highest is the “Drives” level including the internal memory and external memory. The second level is the “Root Directory” with the main folders you have created. The last hierarchy type builds the subfolders. These are the folders inside the main folders. The subfolders can integrate endless further subfolders and consequently more levels. Do not forget to name all folders and subfolders.
Device Books Formats DAISY 2.02 Audible AA & AAX Please note when you download on M312: Store each book content in a separate folder: Books often have up to hundreds or thousands of files. Store these on your Milestone in an extra folder, to avoid mix-ups with other books. 3.2.3.2. Erasing via Computer Besides simple delete functions directly on Milestone 312, you can also delete files via your computer. Operate as usual when you delete a file or several files on your computer.
4. Basic Devices In this chapter you learn how to handle all the standard devices (applications) Milestone 312 supports. The main device is Audio, which is three things: Music Player, Text To Speech Player and Recorder. There are gadgets on the market which only include one of these applications, but in Milestone all are combined in one. That is why we call Audio (and Books, etc.) a device. Further devices which are already included in the standard version of M312 are Books and Alarm.
the arrow buttons to switch between the folder “Music” and “Text”. Choose “Text” and enter it with “Mode”. You will hear a tone sequence “high pitched - low pitched”. This tone sequence signalize that you went one level lower. Milestone will now read the first subfolder ordered alphabetically, in this case “Music”. But our goal is to use a text file in the folder “Love stories”. So press the “Right arrow” button and Milestone jumps to the folder “Text”. Go down with “Mode”.
4.1.1.3. Setting of folders There will be certain places in your folder structure that you would like to visit often, for instance your shopping list, your favorite music and your phone number list. You could now always step your way through the whole folder structure to get there, or you can create quick jumps to these locations - be it in the internal memory or the SD memory card. Setting such shortcuts is straightforward. You can select among 5 shortcuts.
You remain in the Fast Jump mode as long as you keep holding “Selector”, so keep on holding “Selector” if you would like to further fragment the file. You can jump now either into the middle of the first 1/2, therefore press “Left arrow” or into the middle of the second half, therefore press “Right arrow”. With “Left arrow” you would reach a 1/4 of the file. But let us assume you go into the middle of the second half with the “Right arrow”. You reach 3/4 of the file.
4.1.2.2. Use the Music Player Press the “Selector” button on the front end until you hear the announcement “Audio”. Now you are in the Audio device. Attention: If you have pushed “Selector” on M312 and it does not react, it might have been in sleep mode. In this case just push the “Play” button and it will react. If you still have no reaction, please check that the keyboard is not locked, volume is on and the battery has power. To listen to a music file you need to download it onto Milestone 312.
4.1.3. Recorder 4.1.3.1. General information Audio contains a Voice Recorder which allows you to record voice messages and sounds over the integrated microphone. Shopping or to-do lists, interviews, schedule information, memos, meeting agendas, recording of presentations or school seminars and addresses are some possibilities which can be recorded. Of course nothing stops you using it as the ultimate spy recorder for adventurous undercover activities on your mission impossible.
4.1.4. Text To Speech Player 4.1.4.1. General information To complete the usability, Audio provides a Text To Speech Player. This application enables you to read text files in TXT. Milestone 312 works with the popular Text to Speech engine of Acapela which provides a big collection of different languages and voices. 4.1.4.2. Use Audio's Text to Speech Player Press the “Selector” button on the front end until you hear the announcement “Audio”. Now you are in the correct device.
4.1.5.
4.2. Books The device “Books” contains a player for intelligent audio books as, for example, in DAISY format. The outstanding difference to conventional audio books is the extensive possibility of navigation. This allows you to move around inside a book in a variety of different navigational possibilities. So you can not only jump from one file to another, but use time jumps, go from sentence to sentence, use the full chapters and sub-chapters and much more. 4.2.1. Book Player 4.2.1.1.
and “Cold dishes“. The “Cold dishes“ are subdivided into “Appetizers“, “Main courses“ and “Desserts“. We choose to listen to the “Desserts“. We are in the application Books and press the “Play” button. Milestone starts reading the book “Grandmothers Kitchen”. Without further assistance Milestone reads the book nonstop until the end is reached. Press the “Mode” button until reaching the second level. Milestone will announce “Second level”.
Navigational possibility Page jump Description On this level you get to the next or previous page by pressing the arrow buttons, provided that your Daisy book is supplied with page numbers, otherwise this level „Page jump“ does not appear. Direct Page Function: You can also use a shortcut to reach the desired page directly. Therefore push and hold “Selector” and then in addition enter the page number with the “Left arrow”, “Play” and “Right Arrow”.
Navigational possibility Description Activate sleep timer On this level you may activate the sleep timer by pressing the “Right arrow” button. By pressing the “Light arrow” button sleep timer is deactivated. With sleep timer Milestone 312 will turn itself off at the desired time. The reading position is saved automatically. This level is announced by Milestone by: “Activate sleep timer”. Set time for sleep timer On this level you may prolong the period of the sleep timer by using the arrow buttons.
4.3. Alarm 4.3.1. General Information Alarm is a very simple device. It is an easy to handle alarm clock, which makes sure that you get up at the right time every morning. In addition you can request the time and date. 4.3.2. Use Alarm Press the “Selector” button on the front end until you hear the announcement “Alarm”. Now you are in the correct device. Attention: If you have pushed “Selector” on M312 and it does not react, it might have been in sleep mode.
5. Extra Devices 5.1. Speakout (RFID Reader) 5.1.1. General Information You can use Speakout to identify objects. Therefore it uses the RFID technology. RFID stands for “Radio Frequency Identification”. You know this technology, for example, from shopping. Products are labeled with RFID tags and when someone tries to steal one of these products the alarm at the door on the way out is going to be activated. As another example, in modern logistics RFID is the most up and coming technology.
If you scan the same tag again by pressing “Play”, your spoken message will appear instead of the acoustic output “New tag found”. Of course you can re-record your messages for a tag as many times as you want to. The voice recordings you do with Speakout are stored in a folder with the name “Speakout” in the internal memory. Attention: Please be aware that the basic version of Milestone 312 may contain a demo version of Speakout. This version is limited to handle 3 tags with linked voice records.
100 degree Celsius and also be frozen. The reading range is very good. Due to their small size, laundry buttons work well with Velcro detachable marks, for instance to tag medication packages (see below). 5.1.4.4. Velcro points (TAGVEL) Can be used very well with small buttons (TAGLA1). Diameter 13 mm. This is not a tag itself; instead, use Velcro points to use tags unlimited times on multiple objects. Velcro points consist of a soft part (loop point) and a hard part (hook point).
5.2. Radio 5.2.1. General information The device “Radio” contains a fully functional FM radio in stereo. You have the possibility to change between pre-selected channels and even to record the radio signal. 5.2.2. Use Radio Press the “Selector” button on the front end until you hear the announcement “Radio”. Now you are in the correct device. Attention: If you have pushed “Selector” on M312 and it does not react, it might have been in sleep mode. In this case just push the “Play” button and it will react.
5.2.2.2. Direct Frequency Function Instead of jumping from one radio channel to the next via arrow buttons, you can also jump directly on a specific frequency with the Direct Frequency Function. To use this function you have to push and hold “Selector” and then in addition enter the frequency with the “Left arrow”, “Play” and “Right Arrow”. With each push on “Left arrow” you jump between 80, 90, 100 MHz, with “Play” you reach the single-digit figures 1 to 9 MHz and with “Right arrow” you select between 0.
5.2.3. Shortcut Overview of Radio Function Operation Acoustic feedback Play back/ mute current frequency “Play” - Seek: Jump to next higher radio channel “Right arrow” for 1 sec. - Seek: Jump to next deeper radio channel “Left arrow” for 1 sec. - Fine tuning (0.1 MHz steps) “Right arrow” / “Left arrow” - Save a frequency on the current memorized station “Play” for 2 sec.
6. Further information 6.1. Technical Data • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Internal memory: 1GB, - 0.74 GB accessible for user External memory: Depending on the SD card, maximum 32 GB (at the moment) Voice recording capacity (on internal memory): 26 hours Voice recording capacity (on external memory): 32 GB or 46 days Bit rate during recording over built-in microphone: 64 kbps Bit rate during recording over external microphone: 256 kbps Sampling rate during recordings: 44.
6.2.3. Software Update Bones Inc. releases from time to time new firmware to improve the product and to react to customer wishes. If you have problems with your device please take care that you have installed the newest firmware. These firmwares are for free. More about handling this topic can be found under “Service and Support”. 6.2.4. Protect Milestone Please use the special case for Milestone to avoid scratches and prevent contact with water, so no underwater recordings with Milestone 312 please. 6.2.
Step 4: Has the locking of the keyboard been activated at low volume? Press the “Play” button to playback a message. - You hear one beep or a recorded message: The keyboard was not locked. Go directly to step 5. - You hear no beep and no recorded message: Locking of the keyboard was possibly activated at low volume. Please repeat the test once from step 3. - If you hear one beep or a recorded message, go directly to step 5.
6.4. Service and Support 6.4.1. General information Service and support you will get in the first instance from your dealer, where you bought your Milestone 312. They know the device well and can often help you. If there should be a bigger problem your dealer will contact us, Bones Inc., and we will welcome your Milestone 312 for repairs or take care of your question. 6.4.2. Update Software Bones Inc.
Swiss Library for the Blind (SBS), Federal Office of Transport (FOT), Public Transportation Authorities of the City of St.Gallen (VBSG) and the Engineering Office Bones Inc. PAVIP includes several, independent projects, below you will find three of them: 6.5.1. PAVIP Pharma The handling with pharmaceutical drugs involves some hurdles for blind people.
can inform yourself about further bus connections or just get some information about the area around you. This PAVIP system is an important concern of Bones Inc. The idea is to launch a standard system for public transport and to make the same information available for visually impaired and blind people as sighted people have. We see this as an important piece of the puzzle of navigation. A first trial of this capacious project was developed in the city of St.Gallen in Switzerland.
