1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 What is the Braille Sense U2 MINI?
1.2 Hardware
1.2.1 The Top Panel
1.2.2 The Right Panel
1.2.3 The Left Panel
1.2.4 The Rear Panel
1.2.5 The Front Panel
1.3 Hardware Specifications
1.4 Memory on the Braille Sense U2 MINI
1.5 How to use the Carrying Case and Protection Cover

1. Introduction

1.1 What is the Braille Sense U2 MINI?

The Braille Sense U2 MINI is a Braille note taker developed and manufactured by HIMS, for people who are blind and visually impaired. The Braille Sense U2 MINI has a variety of powerful capabilities, including the following.

1. Use the Word Processor and the Perkins style keyboard to create Braille documents.
2. Print your text documents using any compatible Bluetooth or USB ink printer.
3. Create hard copy Braille documents by connecting the unit to a Braille embosser.
4. Open Microsoft Word documents, and read them in contracted Braille. 
5. Send email messages to sighted colleagues and friends while reading incoming email messages in Braille without the need for translation.
6. Create a schedule of important appointments with the Schedule Manager and set alarms to alert you to these appointments.
7. Input contact information for colleagues, friends, and family into the Address Manager.
8. Surf the Internet with the Braille Sense U2 MINI's Web Browser and integrated Braille display. 
9. Listen to music, audio books, your own personal recordings, or even videos with the Braille Sense U2 MINI's integrated media player.
10. Listen to and record FM radio content.
11. Calculate algebraic equations, trigonometric functions, and other scientific calculations with the built-in calculator.
12. VIEW the flashdisk of the Braille Sense U2 MINI as a USB drive on your computer and transfer files. 
13. Use the Braille Sense U2 MINI as a Braille display with a compatible screen reader, such as Window-Eyes, JAWS, or VoiceOver.
14. Copy, move, and delete files on the Braille Sense U2 MINI with its intuitive, Windows-like File Manager.
15. Adjust the volume, speed, and pitch of the speech on the fly. 
16. Use the Database Manager to create your own Database for storing important information.
17. Use Google Talk and Twitter to keep up with what's happening and stay in touch with friends, family, and colleagues. 
18. If you are a sighted teacher or parent, use the optional external USB LCD to view what a student is doing without needing to know Braille.
19. Use the included Google Maps application, built-in GPS sensor and digital compass to navigate independently without the need for external devices.
20. Share files with other people and other devices using Dropbox.
21.  Download news and podcasts with the RSS Reader.
22. View and navigate complex Excel documents.
23. Search for and play informational or music videos on YouTube.

1.2 Hardware

To get the most from your Braille Sense U2 MINI, it is important to become oriented to the buttons and ports on your Braille Sense U2 MINI as well as learning their functions. 
This section explains the hardware configuration of the Braille Sense U2 MINI. The Braille Sense U2 MINI is 6.7 inches long by 3.5 inches wide by 1.1 inches high. The bottom of the unit contains rubber feet in order to prevent slipping while you are using it. Place the Braille Sense U2 MINI on a desk or table top with the Braille display nearest you. Its shape resembles a small, thin rectangular box. This section of the manual describes each side of the Braille Sense U2 MINI and the basic function(s) of each button and port. We will discuss the panels in the following order: top panel, right panel, left panel, rear panel, and front panel.

1.2.1 The Top Panel

On the top face of the Braille Sense U2 MINI is located a 9 key Perkins-style keyboard, consisting of Braille dots 1:6, "SPACE", "BACKSPACE", and "ENTER". When you are typing, you should place your fingers on these 9 keys in the following manner:

Place your index finger, middle finger, ring finger, and pinky finger of your left hand on the left four buttons. Then, place your index finger, middle finger, ring finger, and pinky finger of your right hand on the right four buttons. Finally, place both of your thumbs on the spacebar. 
The button where you placed your left index finger corresponds with dot one in Braille. The button under your left middle finger corresponds to dot two, and the button under your left ring finger corresponds to dot three. The button on which your left pinky finger is placed is the Backspace key.
The button under your right index finger corresponds with dot four in Braille. The button under your right middle finger is dot five, and the button on which your ring finger is placed corresponds with dot six in Braille. The button on which your right pinky is placed is the Enter key. And, the long bar shaped button under your thumbs is the spacebar.

On the same row as the Space bar are 4 rectangular function keys: two to the left of the spacebar, and two to the right. Moving from left to right, the key to the far left is the "F1" key, and the key to the right of it is the "F2" key. The key to the right of the spacebar is the "F3" key, and the key on the far right is the "F 4" key.

Below the keyboard is an 18 cell Braille display. Above the Braille display, there are 18 small, oval-shaped buttons corresponding to each of the 18 Braille cells. These buttons are called cursor routing keys. When you are editing documents, you can use these keys to route your cursor to the character of the corresponding Braille cell. The cursor routing keys also serve as shortcut keys for navigating lists and groups of fields in certain places on the unit.
On each side of the Braille display are two capsule shaped keys. These are the "UP" and "DOWN" scroll keys.  The scroll keys are used to scroll the Braille display through menus, fields, lists or text. You can use the scroll keys to scroll by display length, paragraph, line, sentence, or character. You can set the left and right sets of scroll keys independently in the "Global Options". (See chapter 3.) 
Near the top center of the unit's top panel,is the speaker for audio output.

1.2.2 The Right Panel
Toward the front of the right panel of the Braille Sense U2 MINI are located 2 small, round jacks. The one nearest the front is the stereo headphone jack, and the one nearer the rear of the unit is the stereo microphone jack for connecting a stereo microphone or line level recording source.

Continuing toward the back of the unit, you will find the "SD" slot used for housing an SD (secure digital) card. The Braille Sense U2 MINI supports SD HC and XC cards for auxiliary storage.
 
1.2.3 The Left Panel

NEAR the front of the unit on the left panel is located a 3-position slide switch. This is the key "Lock" switch. This switch is explained in more detail in section 2.11 of this manual.

Continuing toward the back of the unit on the left panel, you will find the USB OTG port. You can connect your Braille Sense U2 MINI to a personal computer via this USB port, and use it as a Braille terminal for the computer, transfer files to and from the computer, or to synchronize your calendar and contacts with Outlook.

The port closest to the rear of the left panel is the AC adapter jack. To charge the unit's battery or use the Braille Sense U2 MINI on AC power, plug the small, round end of the AC adapter in to this jack, and plug the larger box-like end in to a standard AC electrical outlet.

1.2.4 The Rear Panel

Near the center of the rear panel is a small, round recess, with a dot-like button inside it. This is the "RESET" button. If your unit is not responding properly, you can press this button to force a soft reboot of the unit. NOTE: do NOT press the "RESET" button for more than 5 seconds.  It takes about fifteen seconds for your unit to complete the reboot process. You can also perform a soft reset by pressing F2-F3-1-2-3-4-5-6. 
If you hold down dots 1-2 with the "RESET" button, while the power is on, the Braille Sense U2 MINI reboots without speech.

To the left of the "Reset" button on the rear panel is a rectangular compartment for housing the detachable battery. The battery is packaged separately from the unit when the Braille Sense U2 MINI is shipped. Insert the battery into this rectangular compartment until you hear a click sound to indicate the battery is fully connected. To remove the battery from the unit, locate the 2 switches on the underside of the unit near the far left corner. Using your left hand, click the left-most switch to the right to 'unlock' the battery. To the right of the Battery lock switch is a second, spring-loaded switch. Hold this switch to the left to release the battery, then slide the battery out of the compartment.

1.2.5 The Front Panel

On the far left of the front panel is another 3-position slide switch. This is the "Media Mode" switch, and determines which type of media the media buttons control. This switch is explained in more detail in the next section. 

To the right of the "Media Mode" switch, are five buttons of varying shapes. These buttons control media playback. As explained above, the type of content controlled by these buttons depends on the position of the "Media Mode" switch. These buttons can control media playback, DAISY playback, or the FM radio. These five buttons are explained further in the FM Radio, Daisy and Media chapters of this manual.
To the right of the media buttons is a small square with a GPS Logo embossed on it. This indicates the location of the internal GPS antenna. To the right of the GPS logo is the on/off switch. To turn on the unit, push the switch to the right. To turn off the unit, repeat this action.

Congratulations! You are now familiar with the basic functions of the buttons and ports of the Braille Sense U2 MINI. The rest of the manual discusses each function in greater detail to help you maximize the potential of your Braille Sense U2 MINI.

1.3 Hardware Specifications 

1) Operating system: Windows CE 6.0.
2) Flash memory: 32GB.
3) RAM: 256MB.
4) CPU: Mobile CPU (1GHz). 
5) Battery: Lithium Ion (detachable), backup battery and clock-battery installed.
6) Battery running time: About 9 hours (with Braille and TTS, middle volume of internal speaker)
7) Keyboard: 9 key Perkins-Style Braille keyboard, 4 function keys, 18 cursor routing keys, 4 scroll buttons.
8) Additional buttons and switches: key lock switch, audio mode switch, reset button, 5 audio buttons.
9) Braille display: 18 refreshable Braille cells.
10) Video output: Optional external USB LCD.
11) Wireless: WLAN (IEEE802.11 b/g/n), Bluetooth ver.2.0+EDR.
12) Sensor: 6-axis motion sensor
13) GPS: Internal GPS receiver
14) Interface: 1 USB OTG, 1 SD slot
15) Sound: Internal mono speaker, stereo headphone jack.
16) Voice recording: Internal microphone, external microphone jack.
17) Vibrate motor is installed

1.4 Memory on the Braille Sense U2 MINI

The Braille Sense U2 MINI has 256MB of RAM (random access memory) and 32GB of flash memory. The RAM is memory reserved for running programs. RAM is a temporary storage area for any program files that are running or any currently open documents. The data in the RAM area disappears if your battery depletes, and the AC adapter is not connected. The RAM data also disappears when Braille Sense U2 MINI reboots for any reason. This means, if you have an open document which you have not saved, the unsaved data disappears.

1.5 How to use the Carrying Case and Protection Cover

1) How to insert the BrailleSense U2 MINI into the carrying case. 
(1) Insert the front edge of the Braille Sense U2 MINI into the carrying case. 
(2) Press down slightly on the back part of the unit until it clicks into place.
2) How to remove the Braille Sense U2 MINI from the carrying case.
(1) Press gently outward on the small plastic piece on the center of the back of the carrying case. 
(2) Pull the back of the Braille Sense U2 MINI up and out of the case. 
3) How to install the protection cover on to the Braille Sense U2 MINI
(1) Locate two small holes on the elastic band
(2) Place the corners containing the small holes under the front corners of the Braille Sense U2 MINI. Stretch the cover over the face of the unit and secure the other 2 corners over the back corners of the Braille Sense U2 MINI. 
Note: the protection cover fits on to the unit much like a fitted bed sheet, and protects the Braille Sense U2 MINI from foreign substances or liquid. The cover is designed to be thin and snug enough so that the keys and Braille display can be operated with the protection cover installed. 
4) How to install the protection cover when the unit is in the carrying case 
(1) Insert the front edge of the Braille Sense U2 MINI into the carrying case. 
(2) Press down slightly on the back part of the unit until it clicks into place. 
(3) Place the 2 small holes around the metal rings on the front corners of the carrying case. (If the carrying strap is attached to the carrying case, please remove it before attaching the protection cover.)
(4) Stretch the cover over the face of the unit and secure the other 2 corners over the back corners of the Braille Sense U2 MINI.
