Using the Focus 14 Blue and Focus 40 Blue with BrailleBack on Android

Pairing the Focus Blue Display

BrailleBack is an Accessibility Service that helps blind users make use of braille devices. It works together with the TalkBack app to give a combined braille and speech experience.

BrailleBack is not active by default. To turn it on and establish a Bluetooth connection between the Focus and an Android device, do the following:

  1. Power on the Focus Blue.
  2. Go to Settings, and select Accessibility.
  3. Select BrailleBack, and turn on the switch.
  4. Go back to Settings, and select Bluetooth. Make sure Bluetooth is turned on.
  5. Select the Focus display. BrailleBack only supports the Focus 14 Blue and Focus 40 Blue displays.
  6. When prompted for a pairing code, type 0000 into the edit field and then double tap the OK button to establish the connection.

Once the Focus has been paired, if you power on the display before taking the Android device out of standby, the display will automatically connect. Remember to lock the device before turning off the Focus to ensure that braille auto detection works properly the next time you want to use braille.

Focus Blue Commands for BrailleBack

The following sections list BrailleBack commands that can be performed from the Perkins-style keyboard as well as other controls on the Focus Blue displays.

Navigation Commands

Command Function
RIGHT PANNING BUTTON Pan Right
LEFT PANNING BUTTON Pan Left
RIGHT ROCKER BAR DOWN Navigate to the next item
RIGHT ROCKER BAR UP Navigate to the previous item
LEFT ROCKER BAR DOWN Navigate to the next line
LEFT ROCKER BAR UP Navigate to the previous line
RIGHT SELECTOR BUTTON Scroll forward
LEFT SELECTOR BUTTON Scroll Backward
CURSOR ROUTING BUTTON Activate current item
CURSOR ROUTING BUTTON press and hold Tap and hold current item

General Commands

Chord Command Function
DOTS 1-2 CHORD Activates the Back button, if present
DOT 8 CHORD Activates the Return key
DOTS 1-2-5 CHORD Activates the Home button
DOTS 1-2-3-5 CHORD Open the Recent Apps window
DOTS 1-3-4-5 CHORD Open the Notification Window
DOTS 1-2-3 CHORD Open the BrailleBack Keyboard Help

Visit the Google website for more information about BrailleBack.