Advanced features of Mountbatten Brailler Tutor.
Mountbatten Brailler Tutor may be controlled using the menu (short press of the
middle key of the four-way manipulator opens the menu) or by entering commands
(command line is opening after a long press of the manipulator middle key). This
chapter will explain how the commands work and use the second text column to
show the corresponding command. You will notice that some advanced commands
have no menu equivalent.
Braille with speech
The Mountbatten offers many advantages for braille students and provides excellent
flexibility to meet their individual needs. However, it is essential to remember that speech
output is provided only as a re-enforcement and instant feedback to develop braille
reading and writing skills. Listening to the speech feedback should not be used as an
alternative to reading with fingers.
Speech output is designed to augment the development
of tactile reading skills, not be a substitute for them.
Ensure you know the options available for the speech output and how important it is to
match it to the student's needs. Speech can promote independence by making the
student aware of everything happening on their braille writer. Speech can also help a
student gain confidence and increase braille writing speeds. The use of speech during
early braille instruction will also assist in skill development relating to a wide range of other
technologies that they will encounter.
But the bottom line is that Mountbatten is a braille writer. Its primary function is to develop
braille reading and writing skills, and speech output is secondary to that.
Speech control
Speech control functions may be set using Speech menu items or by commands.
There are many options to use speech to learn to write and read braille.
The speech mode will revert to the default after turning the unit off and on
again.
Menu item Command Description
Speech/Synthetic
Speech
SPK S
Turns on Synthetic Speech. Useful for speaking all
contractions and unlimited vocabulary.
Speech/Recorded
Speech
SPK R
Selects recorded speech.
Speech/Speak All
Keys
SPK A
Speaks all keyboard keys, functions and commands.
With every key stroke being spoken the user receives
immediate feedback every step of the way. As less
speech is required one of the following options can be
used.
Speech/Speak
Prompts only
SPK C
Speaks errors & prompts only. No Braille dot keys
Speech/Speak
dots
SPK D
Speaks only braille dot keys. No function keys.
No Speech
SPK N
No speech. The machine will not produce any speech.
Mountbatten Brailler Tutor User Manual v. 1.0.3
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