Discover:Board
by Gerry Kennedy
For Apple Macintosh and PC Compatibles
A TALKING KEYBOARD
The Discover:Board has been available on the Apple Macintosh platform a couple of years. The newly released PC version has a great deal to offer. The easy one step installation installs all of the software and overlay templates from the CD ROM provided. The 34 page A5 size manual guides you through the connection of the board, installation of the software and elementary usage. If you don’t have a CD ROM drive, you can request copies of the installation on disks.
The typical high quality Don Johnston “build” and materials used in designing the board are evidenced immediately upon removing it from their packaging. The attention to detail is obvious in the production of the six standard overlays. It gives immediate feedback, with voiced input and “click” sound when a cell reference is depressed. The board can be purchased in grey or the sky blue colour. It will definitely be a motivating and enjoyable experience accessing the computer using the Discover:Board, for both children and adult users.
GETTING STARTED
To connect Discover:Board, simply locate the keyboard port and connect the cable end (either PS/2 or 5 pin AT style) into your PC compatible or notebook. You then plug the keyboard cable into the empty socket on the back of Discover:Board. You then turn on your computer. After the complete booting-up procedure, a dialogue box asks whether you will be using Discover:Board. If you also have Discover:Switch, a dialogue box again requests that you choose between one or the other device, or none for that session. It is easy, straightforward and intuitive.
To change settings or modify performance of Discover:Board at any time, access the Discover Menu from the Task Bar. From the menu, you can elect to
- Choose the text-to-speech voice.
- Open a setup and use it without attaching it to the application program.
- Start from scratch and create your own custom setup.
- Create a new Smart Marker to mark an additional location on the screen.
- Make the Smart Markers appear so that you can see where they are located for the active setup.
- Make changes so that Discover:Board works appropriately for the user.
- Tell Discover:Board which setup to use every time you launch an application.
- Change the rate at which Discover:Board responds to a key press.
- Change how the active setup looks, sounds and acts.
- Print copies of the current overlay from your printer.
- Display information about the version of Discover:Board that you are using.
You can also set Discover:Board to automatically launch at start up. To do this, double click on the Windows 95 My Computer icon, and then double click on Control Panels. Locate the Enable/Disable Discover icon, double click on it and select the ‘Launch Discover at start-up’ option. At certain times, you can make Discover:Board inactive (as another user may not wish to have it running temporarily). You simply turn Discover off in the Discover menu. The board is so flexible in its operation, setup and modification facilities, without having to re-boot the computer or fuss with troublesome controls.
VOICE OPTIONS
You can change the voice settings to accommodate male and female users, young or old. You choose a speaking voice and volume that will work well for your user. Choosing one the ten voices does not affect the speech feedback that uses pre-recorded (digitized) voices. Most of the setups supplied with Discover:Board use digitized voices for feedback. In the voice dialogue box, you can:
- Click and drag to increase or decrease the speaking rate (or simply type a number in the text field).
- Click and drag to increase or decrease the speaking volume (or simply type a number in the text field).
- Click to save all changes on the OK icon.
- If you are just exploring, testing voices or experimenting with different settings, you can just click on the Cancel option and leave the current settings as they were.
Discover:Board in the Classroom
Discover:Board is an enlarged keyboard. It comes standard with colourful “overlays” that emulate either the keyboard or mouse and can be used with different programs or setups. Some of your students (or adults users) may not be able to use the conventional keyboard or mouse. Discover:Board lets a person access their computer. As well as keyboard and mouse functions, you can set up talking markers, pictures, whole words and phrases and talking keys for them! It has a flat, easy to access surface with large, colourful distinctive keys that are easy to see and press. It works alongside your standard keyboard and mouse, which are both fully functional as well. This provides for partners sharing the devices, for participation in inclusive classrooms and for teachers or aides to direct learning in special settings.
Using Discover:Board
Using the new PC Windows 95 Discover:Board is a dream. When you launch a new application, Discover pays attention and prompts you to “attach” a setup. Having done this, it remembers each time you use that program. You can re-attach setups, remove them or attach revised versions. It is so easy and flexible. You can accommodate multiple users and cater to individual needs.
An attachment is a behind-the-scenes link between a setup and an application so Discover knows which setup to use when you are running a specific program. All you need do is place the matching overlay on the Discover:Board, launch your program and everything is set to go. Additional overlays are available for the Living Book series as well. The printed keys on the Discover:Board itself, is its own setup. It is called the “Easy ABC.sub”. It is attached to most applications you might have on your computer. If a program has not been assigned a setup, it will prompt you with a dialogue box. You can attach a previously used setup, a new setup, opt to attach one next time or continue without using the board. You are always in control.
Ready, Setup, Go!
Setups contain text, pictures, icons, sounds and acts. You can modify and edit existing ones or create your own from scratch. A large number of images and digitized sounds are available. Every character on the keyboard plus numerous handy graphics representing actions such as “save” and “print” can be placed anywhere on your overlay, re-positioned, enlarged and given speech. Keys can contain both text and graphics, or a label only, with or without a sound or spoken text. You can import images (e.g. pictographs such as COMPIC) as well or images from the Internet, scanners or digital cameras. You can also import sounds. A number of blank setups (seven) are ready to be customised. It is up to you. You determine when you wish to use the board. Users can be totally independent and interact with their favourite software. Discover:Board – discover it for yourself soon.