Point-and-Chat Instant Messaging Instructions for using the Integration Kit for DynaVox Series 4 AAC devices

Transcription

1 Point-and-Chat Instant Messaging Instructions for using the Integration Kit for DynaVox Series 4 AAC devices You can operate Point-and-Chat Instant Messaging software from a DynaVox Series 4 AAC device (DV4). Here is how. You use your DV4 to create input (i.e. text messages) for Point-and-Chat (PnC) when PnC is running on a nearby computer and you then use your DV4 to control PnC, (i.e. have it send out messages, or read incoming ones). To do this you need three things: 1. A valid copy of Point-and-Chat Instant Messaging, installed on the nearby computer. 2. A page on your DV4 that is coded to control PnC Instant messaging. Two sample pages are provided in this Kit, along with instructions for installing them on your DV4 or creating your own. 3. A DynaVox accessory that connects the DV4 to the computer. You can use either a DynaVox serial cable or the AccessIT infrared wireless receiver. This Kit gives you some information about both. They are not the same. Each requires that you set up the DV4 and the nearby computer a little differently. Each setup has a separate sample page. You also have to know how controlling Point-and-Chat from the DV4 is different from controlling Point-and-Chat directly with a computer mouse. PLEASE NOTE: There are currently two different Point-and-Chat programs that can run on your computer: Instant Messaging and Mail. If you want to control BOTH from your DV4, you will need a valid copy of each program installed on the computer AND you should use a different Integration Kit designed for both programs. This Integration Kit is especially designed to control only PnC Instant Messaging, and is probably simpler to learn for a DV4 user because it has fewer buttons and commands to learn. The special pages for the DV4. This Integration Kit contains a subfolder named DV4-IM. It contains two pages that are ready to be imported into a DV4. One is a file named PnC-24-C.epg. The other file is named PnC-24-C-Serial.epg. Both look the same on a DynaVox DV4, but have different behaviors coded for the buttons. A screen shot is below. Page 1

2 Here is how you load them onto your DV4: In order to import either page into your DV4 you first need to put it on a removable USB storage device. You can use a flash drive (sometimes called a thumb drive). One came with your DV4. You can use other flash drives, but they have to be formatted by your DV4, and must not be greater than 256 MB. They will lose all other information on them when you first format them. You can find out about formatting a flash drive from the DynaVox Users Guide. You want to move three files from this DV4-IM folder to the flash drive: PnC-24-C.epg PnC-24-C-Serial.epg go-to-chat-page.jpg Importing these files from your flash drive to your DV4 has two stages, you first move them from the flash drive to your DV4 using the File Browser on the DV4. Then you use the Page Navigator on the DV4 to put the new page in the system menu. The following instructions are copied from the DynaVox Users Guide. To import a file from a Windows computer using a USB storage device, follow these steps: 1. On your computer, double-click the My Computer icon on the desktop. The My Computer window will open. 2. Navigate through the window to find the directory that contains the file you want to send to the device. Double-click on the directory to open it. 3. Select the name of the file that you want to copy. Page 2

3 4. Select Edit in the title bar at the top of the window. A small pulldown menu will open. 5. Select Copy in the pull-down menu. 6. Connect the USB storage device to a USB port on your Windows computer. The device will be shown in the My Computer window as Removable Disk (typically drive E: or F:). 7. Double-click on the icon that represents the USB storage device. 8. Select Edit in the title bar at the top of the window. A small pulldown menu will open. 9. Select Paste in the pull-down menu. A copy of the file will be added to the USB storage device. 10. After the file is copied to the USB device, double-click on the Unplug or Eject Hardware icon (looks like a green arrow above a piece of paper) in the bottom right corner of your desktop. 11. Double-click on USB Mass Storage Device in the Unplug or Eject Hardware window. 12. Select the OK button. 13. When the computer tells you that it is safe to remove the USB Mass Storage Device, you may disconnect the USB device. 14. Plug the USB device into the USB host port on your DV4/MT4 device. 15. Select the pull-down menu button in the title bar at the top of the touch screen. 16. Select Setup in the main pull-down menu. 17. Select Tools Menu in the second pull-down menu. The Tools menu will open. 18. Select the File Browser button. The File Browser menu will open. 19. In the left viewport, select UMS_FOLDER. 20. In the right viewport, select the check box next to the file you want to copy to your DV4/MT4 device. 21. Select the Edit Operations button. The Edit Operations menu will open. 22. Select the Copy button. The Edit Operations menu will close automatically. 23. In the left viewport, select the expansion box next to Storage Card. 24. Navigate to the folder to which the selected file should be imported: Two files (PnC-24-C.epg and PnC-24-C-Serial.epg) get placed in the Exports folder. Double-click on the User Files folder and then double-click on the Exports folder. The go-to-chat-page.jpg file gets placed in the Images folder. Double click on the User Files folder and then double-click on the Images folder. 25. Select Edit in the title bar at the top of the window. A small pulldown menu will open. 26. Select Paste in the pull-down menu. A copy of the imported file will be added to the open directory. 27. Select the OK button to close the File Browser menu. 28. Select the OK button to close the Tools menu. 29. Disconnect the USB storage device from your DV4/MT4. To import the page from the User Files folder to the Page Browser menu, follow these steps: 1. Select the pull-down menu button in the title bar at the top of the touch screen. 2. Select Setup in the main pull-down menu. 3. Select Tools Menu in the second pull-down menu. The Tools menu will open. 4. Select the Page Browser button. The Page Browser menu (page 19-25) will open. You can import the page into an existing page set or into a newly created folder to keep it separate from your other pages. If you want to add the page to an existing page set, continue with step 5. If you would prefer to import the page into a new folder, proceed to step If the page should be added to an existing page set, scroll through the left viewport and select the folder with the appropriate page set name. If the page set folder you want to Page 3

4 use is located within another page set, you may first need to select the expansion box beside the name of the larger page set folder. Proceed to step If you are creating a new folder for the imported page, scroll through the left viewport and select the folder in which you want to create a new folder. If the new folder should be on the top level, 7. Select the Sharing Operations button. The Sharing Operations menu will open. 8. Select the Import Pages or Templates button. The Select Page File(s) menu will open. 9. In the right viewport, select the check box beside the name of the page file you want to import. 10. Select the OK button to close the Select Page File(s) menu. 11. Select the OK button when the page has been successfully imported. 12. Select the OK button to close the Page Browser menu. 13. Select the OK button to close the Tools menu. The imported page, popup or template is now available in the designated page set folder in the Page Browser menu. Now go to your Master Page (although any page that you can remember will do). Create a symbol button or modify an existing button. Use as a symbol, the image go-topage.jpg. Label the button Go to PnC. Delete any existing behaviors, then add the behavior Go to Page. You will be prompted by a pop-up Page Navigator window to locate a page. If you are connecting to another computer using the DynaVox accessory called an AccessIT, find PnC-24-C. (You can use the search function, just type in PnC-24-C.) If you are connecting to another computer using a serial cable, find PnC-24-C-Serial. Highlight the appropriate page file. Then Press the OK button. When prompted, press the OK button again. When prompted, press the OK button a third time. Now whenever you are on your Master Page, and press the Go to PnC button, the new PnC page will appear. The PnC-24-C page (or PnC-24-C-Serial) contains a Master Page button that will return you to your master page. But everyone has a different master page, so you must program this yourself with the Go to Page behavior, finding the name of the page you use as a Master Page. This button in PnC-24-C (or PnC-24-C-Serial) contains a symbol that is often used on the DV4 to indicate a Master Page, but many people use a different symbol for Master Page, so feel free to change this symbol to the one you usually use. The PnC-24-C page (or PnC-24-C-Serial page) also includes a Keyboard Button that will send you to a QWERTY keyboard. If you prefer a different keyboard, you can edit this button to open a different keyboard. If you do not use a keyboard, you can have this button edited to make it blank, removing the label, symbol, and behavior. The PnC-24-C page (or PnC-24-C-Serial page) also includes a Settings Button. If you will not be using this button, you may have this button edited to make it blank, as well. When people are just learning to use PnC, they may want to disable this button. Page 4

5 If you want to create a control page from scratch, this Integration Kit includes the jpeg images used in the PnC-24-C page (or PnC-24-C-Serial page), as well as a few others. It also contains an Excel spread sheet which lists the commands used in the PnC-24-C page (or PnC-24-C-Serial page), describes what they do and shows which images go with which command, and how to program behaviors for each command. Communication between the DV4 and a nearby computer The DV4 can send information to a nearby personal computer (PC) in two different ways: (a) by a serial cable and (b) by a wireless infrared (IR) transmission and the DynaVox AccessIT accessory. But whichever is used, there are two settings on the DV4 that must be adjusted. NOTE: The AccessIT provides a more reliable connection. (Technically, the helper programs needed with a serial cable connection do not seem to consistently translate escape codes associated with the ALT key, which are needed to control PnC.) a. Settings for the PC In the Point-and-Chat menu heading labeled "Settings", you must (a) "uncheck" Settings>Using DesktopChat>Use DesktopChat, and (b) "uncheck" Settings>Using DesktopChat>Keep PnC in focus when using DesktopChat. You must set these two PnC settings whenever you are using a DV4 to control PnC. In addition, there are other specific PnC settings that depend on how you connect. (i) Using a serial cable. In the Point-and-Chat menu heading labeled Settings>Accept keystroke commands please check either (i) From keyboard emulators including DesktopChat or (ii) Both. The PC must also be running one of two programs that translate the information that is sent over the serial cable. The two programs are SerialKeys and AAC Keys. Serial Keys is included as part of the Windows XP operating system. It is not included in the Windows Vista operating system, but may be found on the Internet. AAC Keys can be downloaded for free from the AAC Institute ( ). We recommend using AAC Keys because SerialKeys does not always work correctly with PnC commands. If the PC uses the Windows XP operating system, SerialKeys can be started by opening the Control Panel, then opening the Accessibility features, then turning on Serial Keys. This has to be done every time the PC is started. HOWEVER, PnC can start SerialKeys or AAC Keys automatically for you. If you are using a Window Vista computer, PnC can also help you download AAC Keys. Just open Page 5

6 the menu heading Settings. Then select AAC serial cable connection. A pop-up window will display choices and then show set-up instructions. When using a serial cable connection with a Windows computer, you want to use the page PnC-24-C-Serial on your DV4. (ii) Using AccessIT and wireless IR AccessIT is an IR receiver (infrared receiver) that plugs into one of the computers USB plugs. The computer will automatically recognize it. In the Point-and-Chat menu heading labeled Settings>Accept keystroke commands please check either (i) From keyboard or (ii) Both. You don t have to change any other settings for it to work. You do have to point the DV4 directly at the AccessIT receiver, for a signal to be successfully transmitted and received. The AccessIT is much easier to set up than a serial cable and more reliable, but more expensive to purchase. When you are using AccessIT, you want to use the page PnC-24-C on your DV4. b. DV4 settings Before using the DV4 to control PnC on a computer, you have to adjust two Input/Output settings on the DV4: the Alternate Output setting and the Alternate Output Destination setting. If you always use the same computer, or the same type of access, you may only have to do this once. 1. Press on the downward pointing triangle on the top line of the DV4. A drop down list appears. 2. Select Setup. Another drop down list appears to its right. 3. Select the Setup Menu. A pop-up page appears. 4. Select the Input/Output Settings button in the middle of the bottom row. Another pop-up window appears. You must adjust TWO settings in this window. 5. Find the label Computer Access and press on the drop-down list beneath it. If you are using an AccessIT, you must choose AccessIT. If you are using a serial cable, you must choose SerialKeys. 6. Find the button labeled Alternate Output, and select it. 7. Check the box for Enable Alternate Output. 8. Find the label Alternate Output Destinations, and press on the drop-down list beneath it. If you are using an AccessIT, you must choose AccessIT. If you are using a serial cable, you must choose COM 1. Then uncheck the box Enable Alternate Output. DynaVox says in their Users Guide, that keeping this on when you are not using it may freeze up the DynaVox. 9. Select OK. This window closes, a new one appears. 10. Select OK. This window closes, a new one appears. Page 6

7 11. Select OK. This window closes, and you are ready to go. c. Activating Alternate Output When the DV4 transmits a command to the PC for PnC, the escape sequence (series of control keystrokes) will be sent to the PC whenever the button is pressed. However, the DV4 does not automatically send text to the PC. For the DV4 to send text from its message box (or message window) to the PC, it is necessary for Alternate Output to be turned on. This can be done from the Input/Output Settings described above. It can also be done from the PnC-24-C page (or PnC-24-C-Serial page) by pressing the Send to Computer button which calls up the Alternate Output dialogue box. 1. Find the button labeled Alternate Output, and select it. 2. Select the box for Enable Alternate Output. 3. If you want the DV4 to speak the text when the text is sent to the PC, then check the Use Speech Engine box. Otherwise leave it unchecked. 4. Select OK. The text message will only be sent when Alternate Output is turned on and when the AAC user selects or presses on the message window along the top of the DV4 device. The Send to Computer button will also display the word On or the word Off. This will indicate whether Alternate Output is turned on or off. Remember, if you are not actively using PnC, then Alternate Output should be turned off. Remember, to send a text message to PnC, the focus of PnC has to be on the editing box this means that the editing box shows, and has a blue rectangle around it. If the blue rectangle is around the upper message window, then select the Toggle button to move the blue rectangle (and the focus) to the editing window. You cannot add new text to PnC if the text that is already in the PnC editing window is highlighted. To remove the highlighting, select the OK button. Differences in controlling PnC from a DV4 Below is an example of what a PnC conversation window may look like (on the left) compared to the PnC-24-C page (or PnC-24-C-Serial page) on your DV4 (on the right). Page 7

8 Below is an example of what a PnC contact table may look like (on the left) compared to the PnC-24-C page (or PnC-24-C-Serial page) on your DV4 (on the right). Most control buttons that you see on one of the PnC windows on the left appear on the DV4 screen on the right: Contacts, Previous, Next, Repeat, Toggle, Close, Send and Erase, plus Buddies, Family, and AIM Bots. These work the same way in both applications. Here are some buttons on the DV4 that are different. 1. Use the Launch PnC button to start PnC. 2. Use the Send to Computer button to turn on Alternate Output. Page 8

9 3. To choose a Contact, first select the tab you want (Buddies, Family, or AIM bot, using their buttons or the Toggle button). You then use the Next and Previous buttons to read the contacts names, one after another. When the one you want is highlighted, press the Select button. 4. To go to a conversation or switch between conversations, use the Conversation button. It will toggle between conversations. 5. The Settings button will highlight and put focus on one of the small menu headings at the top of PnC. Use Tab to navigate among them. Use Select to choose a menu and a drop down list will appear. Use Tab to navigate down the list. Use Select to choose a menu item. To back out of a drop down list, press the Settings button. 6. The OK button has two different uses. a. Some of the options in the menu headings will cause a dialogue window to pop up. These windows may have an OK button or a Cancel button. The OK button will choose OK, the Close button will choose Cancel. b. The OK button is also used if you are trying to create a text message in the edit window, and PnC suddenly highlights it. You should use OK before continuing to add text, or you might erase what is highlighted. 7. Create a text message using a keyboard or other pages in your DV4. To send it to PnC, you have to have the Send to Computer turned On. All you do is press the message window, and the message will transmit to PnC. If you want to clear the message window, just use the Clear button. 8. Use the Clear button to clear all text from the message window at the top of the DV4. It will not affect what is in PnC. 9. The Re-Focus button can be used, if the computer running PnC becomes confused. For example if another program on that computer opens a pop-up dialogue box or error message, PnC might not be able to receive the instructions you send form the DV4. Then just press the Re-Focus button. A Listing of commands on PnC-24-C (or PnC-24-C-Serial page) You can print out a table (written as a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet) that shows pictures of all buttons on the PnC-24-C page (or PnC-24-C-Serial page), what they do, and how they have been programmed using DV4 behaviors. These three tables are in Excel format (xls) and found on the Point-and-Chat website. Copyright , Point-and-Read, Inc. Page 9