ACTIVslate User guide
4
© Promethean Ltd 2001
Chapter 1 - The ACTIVslate
1.1 Concepts
The ACTIVslate provides remote control of your computer mouse pointer. By
simply moving the pen over the ACTIVslate surface, you may move the mouse
pointer around the desktop. Pressing the pen nib on the ACTIVslate surface
produces a left mouse click at the computer. Clicking the button on the pen barrel
produces a right mouse click. Pressing the pen nib on the ACTIVslate surface
twice in quick succession produces a mouse double click (left button).
The ACTIVslate is designed to be (and can ONLY be) used in conjunction with an
ACTIVboard. Communication between the two devices takes place via infrared
signals. When you use the pen on an ACTIVslate, the information is transmitted
from the ACTIVslate (via a transceiver along its top edge) to the ACTIVboard (via
the transceiver located at its top left corner). The data is then sent from the
ACTIVboard to the PC (via the serial cable) and converted into mouse data. For
this reason, both the ACTIVslate AND the ACTIV board must be switched on.
Also, the ACTIVboard driver software must be installed and working correctly on
the computer. (See installation guide).
It is important that the ACTIVslate has a ‘line of sight’ connection to the
ACTIVboard, much in the same way as a TV remote control handset requires
visibility of the TV. In other words, when using the ACTIVslate, its top edge must
be pointing in the general direction of the ACTIVboard.
The ACTIVboard can be considered the ‘master’ device and it is the ACTIV board
that dictates which ACTIVslate (if any) is enabled. NB. Only one ACTIVslate can
be enabled at any one time. The decision as to which ACTIVslate is enabled is at
the discretion of the user and is selected via the ACTIVslate Control software (see
Chapter 2).
