Assistive Technology MiniMerc, User Manual

Page 1: ...MiniMerc User s Guide Assistive Technology Inc ...

Page 2: ...s of Assistive Technology Inc Microsoft Microsoft Internet Explorer logo Windows Windows logo Windows Start logo and Windows Media are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and or other countries Quicktime is a trademark used under license Boardmaker and Speaking Dynamically Pro are registered trademarks of Mayer Johnson LLC Discover is a register...

Page 3: ... control features 24 Connecting to the Internet 26 Handy Tools for Speaking Dynamically Pro and Boardmaker MiniMerc Access Features 27 Choosing an input device 28 Windows On Screen Keyboard 30 Calibrating the touchscreen 32 Switches 34 Wheelchair Joystick switch input 36 Connecting peripherals 37 Windows Control Panel 38 Setting up a MiniMerc desktop for easy access General Information 40 MiniMerc...

Page 4: ...rd or external drives here AC Power Adapter Battery Charger Port Plug in your AC Power Adapter here Status LED Blinks when MiniMerc is charging or in Stand By mode Wheelchair Joystick port For joystick input from a multi switch or wheelchair ECU Requires a MiniMerc wheelchair cable See page 34 for more information Switch 1 2 Jack Remote Power On Plug in a single switch dual switch or a splitter he...

Page 5: ...l infrared as a remote control for your television VCR DVD player and cable or satellite receiver Use its X 10 Infrared Commands to turn on and off lights and appliances see page 21 Stereo Speakers Adjustable Strap Use adjustable strap or remove strap connect and use as short handle Removable Battery CardBus Slot For networking or wireless accessories ...

Page 6: ... Power Adapter Battery Charger Port on the bottom left side of MiniMerc 2 Attach the power cord to the AC Power Adapter then plug the power cord into a wall socket or power strip The Status LED will blink when the AC Power Adapter is connected Power Button Be sure that nothing is touching the screen while the MiniMerc is starting up ...

Page 7: ...n the left side of the MiniMerc You can safely plug and unplug these peripherals while MiniMerc is on They are handy to use when installing new software editing communication boards or using the Internet An on screen keyboard is also available Refer to page 28 for more information ...

Page 8: ... it down For details about the Mercury Control Panel see page 11 After you turn on the MiniMerc you will see the Windows Taskbar at the bottom of your desktop You can access all of your programs files and settings from the Start menu on the Taskbar Click on All Programs to start other pro grams not listed above on the Start menu Click on shortcut buttons to start Microsoft Outlook Express or Micro...

Page 9: ...oncepts such as clicking and using files and folders choose the Tour Windows XP shortcut button from the Start menu you can also get to this tutorial by choosing All Programs then Accessories After the introduction click on the Windows XP Basics button and follow the instructions ...

Page 10: ...n the Search box Click on any of the topics that appear If you didn t find the information you needed enter different key words For information on a specific Windows program while that program is active press the F1 key or click on the Help menu at the top of the window Select Help Topics Another way to request help is to right click the mouse on a window to bring up a What s This button Click on ...

Page 11: ...ect My Computer on the Start menu 2Double click on a folder to view its contents Alternatively click My Documents on the Start menu Click the Search button at the top of the window that appears Make a selection from the left pane to begin your search ...

Page 12: ...he open programs in this example To switch to a different program click anywhere on the window of that program The Taskbar lists all programs that are currently running If a program is running but its window is minimized or covered by other windows click on its button on the Taskbar to switch to it ...

Page 13: ...the next page Click the Speed Buttons to run your speech on screen keyboard and remote control programs You can edit these buttons and add buttons to customize your MiniMerc Use these controls to adjust the MiniMerc speaker and headphone volume and brightness of the display Use these buttons to Shut Down the MiniMerc or put it in Stand By mode Use the Minimize button to shrink the Mercury Control ...

Page 14: ...ns by requiring a password entered at the right Click on the tabs below to switch to different setup screens Type the same password in both boxes then click Set Password This password will be required to enter this Setup screen Be sure to keep a record of your password in a safe place Click OK to keep these settings and exit Setup Click Cancel to exit Setup without keeping changes Click Apply to k...

Page 15: ...mpty button In the Button Editor you can create the button s appearance and choose whether the button will launch a program or link to another button group The screen below shows how to set up a Speed Button that launches the Wordpad accessory 3 Enter the name you want displayed on the Speed Button Choose an icon for the Speed Button no icon the icon associated with this program or any custom icon...

Page 16: ...nother group of Speed Buttons Below is an example of a Speed Button group of games 1 2 In the Button Editor type the name Games and choose an icon for the button if desired Under Navigate select Games as the Speed Button Set that this button will switch to 3 4 Use this button to make the selected group above be the Home group which will appear on the main screen of the Mercury Control Panel whenev...

Page 17: ...to your Games and Home button groups Try out your new Speed Buttons Click the Wordpad button to launch Wordpad When you click the Games button the new Speed Buttons for Games will appear Click the Back button to go to the previous button group Click the Home button to return to the Home group In this example both buttons will return you to the Home group 5 ...

Page 18: ...ave the MiniMerc for longer periods of time or you can enable Hibernate in the Power Setup tab see p 40 When MiniMerc has been shut down the screen will be dark and the status LED will not blink unless MiniMerc is charging while AC is connected n You can also select Turn Off Computer from theWindows Start menu then choose Stand By Turn Off or Restart n Use Restart to shut down and then immediately...

Page 19: ...t latches To eject the CD press the eject button on the CD drive door and pull the tray open To run or install software from CDs To play music CDs Insert a music CD into the CD ROM drive Windows Media Player will automatically begin playing the music CD To play DVDs You can play DVDs on the CD drive using the optional Cardbus Cable For more information or to purchase this cable please contact ATI ...

Page 20: ...er Drag the files and folders you wish to copy to the CD from your MiniMerc to the CD drive folder After you have selected the files and folders to copy they will appear in the CD drive window Open the CD Writing Wizard by clicking on Write these files to CD Type a name for the CD and click Next Follow the on screen instructions to write the files to the CD If you are using a CD RW disc you can ad...

Page 21: ...oard that lets you enter text and access system functions using the touchscreen mouse switch or alternative pointer Windows Movie Maker software for editing movies from video cameras Functionally Speaking a set of Speaking Dynamically Pro theme based communication boards and two levels of functional language boards developed by Assistive Technology Inc located in the My Boards folder under My Docu...

Page 22: ...ntrol codes for the particular television VCR cable system DVD player or satellite system you have You can set up multiple rooms each with different devices 1 2 3 4 5 In the window that opens select a device type from the left column then choose the manu facturer of that device from the second column Aim the infrared transmitter on the top of the MiniMerc at the device and click the Try Code butto...

Page 23: ...793 9227 To use MiniMerc s remote controls click the Speed Button for Remote on the Mercury Control Panel see page 11 Click the Change Room button to select the room you are in 1 2 3 From the choices at the top of the Remote Control window click on the device you want to control Click the buttons on your MiniMerc s virtual remote to operate the device The buttons that are available depend on the t...

Page 24: ...alled in the SDP Sample Boards folder in the My Boards folder under My Documents To create a button action in a Speaking Dynamically Pro board that performs a Mercury Control Panel function 1 2 Open the board you wish to modify in Speaking Dynamically Pro and enter Design mode press ctrl D or choose Design from the Dynamic Boards menu if menus are showing Double click the button you want to add th...

Page 25: ...ginal file so you can make additional multi digit channel commands 5 From the File menu select Rename Type the desired channel number in place of 201 in the filename For example to make a command file to change the TV channel to 56 rename the file TV_56 or TV_56 vbs Note that the filename should begin with the name of the device you are controlling followed by an underscore character _ then the ch...

Page 26: ...net Service Provider before you can access the Internet Your ISP may provide instructions and installation disks If your ISP does not provide installation materials HowdoIconnectMiniMerctotheInternet 1 Open the Start menu Select the Communications submenu and then select New Connection Wizard 2 Follow the instructions and answer the questions as they appear Note if you have problems connecting to ...

Page 27: ...hingontheInternet 1 Click on the Start menu then click on the Internet Explorer shortcut 2 Click the Search button and type what you want to find 3 A list of Web sites will appear Click on the link to go to that Web site ...

Page 28: ...elect Startup Folder When you restart Windows the board you chose will load automatically If you would like to change the startup board simply follow the instructions above for the new board Windows startup settings will be changed to load the new board in place of the old one 1 2 Moving a File to the SDP Externals Folder To launch a file from SDPro you need to put a shortcut to that file in a fol...

Page 29: ...to set up the switch es to send the correct information to your software program Who uses a joystick A person who uses a joystick to drive a powered wheelchair or who finds the mouse or trackpad difficult to use due to limited dexterity may prefer to use a joystick as an input device It allows for direct selection as the user has control over mouse direction and speed Additional switches may be us...

Page 30: ...n Screen Keyboard choose Typing Mode The Windows On Screen Keyboard can be used in click or hovering dwell mode with a mouse or joystick for selecting characters or can be used in scanning mode using a keyboard or switch input For best results when accessing the keyboard directly from the touchscreen use the stylus included with your MiniMerc ...

Page 31: ...he Advanced button to select the Keyboard key Click the down arrow and select space Even though switch 1 is set to space it does not send a space to the application you are using when the On Screen Keyboard is running The space is only used to communicate with the On Screen Keyboard Note Click on the window of the program you will be typing into for example WordPad The On Screen Keyboard s keystro...

Page 32: ...ain Setup tab under Touchscreen click Touchscreen Setup Click the Calibration tab at the top of the window then click the large calibration target to start calibration The default CalibrationType is 4 point If this is not appropriate click Configure to change the number of points With your finger or a pointer touch the center of each crosshair as it appears Keep pressing on each target while the p...

Page 33: ...the touchscreen click the Click Settings tab and then the Enable right click emulation button If you need to change the way the touchscreen responds click the Touch Settings tab and then choose either Normal Touch Down or Touch Up AdditionalTouchscreenFeatures ...

Page 34: ...e plug into the Switch 1 2 jack on the side of MiniMerc Or using 2 single switches insert the plug from each switch into a splitter then plug the splitter into the Switch 1 2 jack The splitter or Y Adapter is available from RadioShack and the catalog number is 274 375B The jacks are color coded Nickel for left Switch 1 and Gold for right Switch 2 To use the Wheelchair Joystick input See page 34 fo...

Page 35: ...then click the Switches tab Use the program s documentation to choose the correct settings for either single or dual switch scanning Note when you click OK or Apply your settings are saved Check your software documentation to determine if a keystroke is required for scanning If you are using a switch with Discover Switch software click the Discover button to use the Mercury switch input to activat...

Page 36: ...niMerc wheelchair joystick port When your joystick is in switch communication mode see the documentation for your wheelchair electronics the joystick will move the mouse on the screen If you want to add a switch to click the mouse button connect a single switch to the Switch 1 2 jack on the MiniMerc or to the auxiliary switch input on the wheelchair ECU The normal setting for Joystick is Move Mous...

Page 37: ...lecting objects with a switch you will need a momentary contact switch with a standard 1 8 inch plug If you are not using a switch use a dwell utility such as Dragger32 from Origin Instruments Magic Cursor 2000 from Madentec or SmartClick from RJ Cooper Associates Call ATI at 1 800 793 9227 for product details The Custom Joystick Setup window will appear Choose the settings appropriate for you and...

Page 38: ... those available from Tash Inc requires ATI s wheelchair joystick cable With a USB hub you can to connect more than two USB devices at the same time To use a hub plug the hub into one of the MiniMerc USB ports then plug your other peripherals into the USB ports on the hub Some devices are powered by the USB port Other devices have or require their own power AC adapter Follow the manufacturers dire...

Page 39: ...eakers To hear the previews button clicks and button scan sounds on headphones only under Right Volume set Preview Sounds Button Click Sounds and Button Scan Sounds to Mute Only Normal Sounds will then be heard from the MiniMerc speakers To set up headphone previews in SDP add Recorded Preview actions to your buttons in your SDP boards Only Recorded Preview actions will be heard privately on your ...

Page 40: ...text size Display Control Panel To enlarge the size of the text that appears on windows and menus choose Control Panel from the Start menu At the Pick a Category screen choose Appearance and Themes Then choose Display from the Control Panel icons near the bottom of the screen Select the Appearance tab on the Display Properties window that appears Choose Extra Large Fonts from the Font size drop do...

Page 41: ...ier and Narrator To access Magnifier a feature that enlarges the mouse or pointer s current location to make boxes and buttons easier to see choose All Programs from the Start menu then Accessories then Accessibility then Magnifier To access Narrator a screen readback utility choose All Programs from the Start menu then Accessories then Accessibility then Narrator Folder Options Control Panel At t...

Page 42: ...just the level at which MiniMerc warns you of a low battery or shuts down the MiniMerc Optimize MiniMerc for economy longer battery life or performance faster processing speed with the Advanced Power Savings settings Choose which power buttons are available on the Mercury Control Panel main screen Choose the suspend mode you prefer Open the Windows Power Control Panel Restore the original Power se...

Page 43: ...sistive Technology Inc To preserve the life of your battery charge and discharge it frequently daily if possible Leaving it in the MiniMerc with it always plugged in will shorten the battery s life If the battery will not be used for a long period of time store it below room temperature at less than a 50 charge If you follow these guidelines your battery should last for several years Warning You w...

Page 44: ...o respond If not try to cancel what MiniMerc is doing n Press the ctrl alt delete keys simultaneously Choose Task Manager and then click on the End Task button n If the MiniMerc does not respond press the ctrl alt delete keys simultaneously and click on the Shutdown button in Task Manager If your MiniMerc still doesn t respond restart it n Press and hold the Power button for five seconds to shut d...

Page 45: ...f the device requires its own power check to see that its power supply is plugged in and turned on n Check to see if the device requires any software that needs to be installed n If that doesn t work contact the device manu facturer If your switch input doesn t work n Make sure the Mercury Control Panel is running and is loaded at startup n If that doesn t work restart MiniMerc If you have a probl...

Page 46: ...is within easy reach so that you can unplug your MiniMerc when you need to Warning To clean the case Disconnect the power plug and remove the battery Pull the plug not the cord Wipe the surfaces lightly with a clean soft cloth dampened with water Do not use any substance that contains any strong chemicals These can damage the touchscreen and case Electrical equipment may be hazardous if misused Op...

Page 47: ...round the MiniMerc power adapter n Lithium Ion batteries contain hazardous chemicals and should not be thrown out with household trash Check with local authorities for disposal n When using MiniMerc or when charging the battery it is normal for the bottom of the case to get warm The bottom of the case functions as a cooling surface that transfers heat from inside the device to the cooler air outsi...

Page 48: ...rly If the connector does not insert easily they do not match n Do not use sharp or pointed objects on the touchscreen Do not place heavy objects on the touchscreen Excess weight can cause damage to the touchscreen and display n Use only the battery that came with MiniMerc Batteries for other electronic devices may look similar but they can damage it n If your MiniMerc has been in a cold place for...

Page 49: ...ove the MiniMerc to one side or the other of the television or radio n Move the MiniMerc farther away from the television or radio n Plug the MiniMerc into an outlet that is on a different circuit from the television or radio That is make certain the MiniMerc and the television or radio are on circuits controlled by different circuit breakers or fuses If necessary consult Assistive Technology Inc ...

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