Humanware Brailliant, User Manual

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Brailliant User Guide
4
2. Brailliant Installation and connectivity
2.1 Interface Ports
Depending on the operating system, you can connect Brailliant via various interfaces to
your PC. Use the USB port to communicate with PCs or Notebooks or the built-in
Bluetooth interface for your mobile devices. If you use USB to connect to a Notebook or
PC, the Brailliant battery will be recharged in the process.
2.1.1 USB Port
USB connectivity is supported by Windows computers (32 and 64 bits)
Plug the rectangular USB Connector into your PC. Plug the small Micro USB Plug at the
other end of the USB cable into the Brailliant USB port. This is the small rectangular
socket on the left side.
Please install the Brailliant device drivers prior to connecting the Braille display to your
PC. You will find the drivers on the installation CD.
Then, when you connect Brailliant for the first time, it will be recognized automatically.
Once the Brailliant has been connected to the USB port and the driver installed from the
CD supplied, the Braille display will be connected as if it was connected to a serial port;
the driver is simulating a so-called virtual serial port. This has the advantage that
Brailliant can be used with screen readers that can only support serial Braille displays.
Installing this driver means that one USB port on the computer will be perceived as a
serial port, e.g. as COM3. To ascertain which virtual COM-port has been created, go to
the Start menu on the PC, select Settings > Control Panel > System; on the 'Hardware' tab
select 'Device manager' and look through the list of ports.
If using JAWS, set the USB channel to Auto and install the JAWS driver.
2.1.2 Bluetooth Interface
Bluetooth is a wireless connection. Similar to USB, Bluetooth simulates a virtual COM
port.
Wireless technology, along with Brailliant's long battery life, provide total freedom and
independence from wires within the range of a Bluetooth connection. Bluetooth is now a
common interface for mobile phones, PDAs and Notebook PCs. PCs can be upgraded