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Does SuperNova or Dolphin ScreenReader work with any HumanWare Braille Displays?

Support is available for the HumanWare Brailliant BI, BrailleNote Touch, Mantis Q40 and Chameleon displays

The following steps need to be completed to setup the device for the first time:

Install the Braille Display windows driver

Connect the Braille Display to the computer.

Enable the SAM driver for use in SuperNova/Dolphin ScreenReader.

Select the HumanWare Braille Display in SuperNova/Dolphin ScreenReader.

Installing the Braille Display Windows driver

Before using a HumanWare Braille device for the first time, you must install the device driver.  You can find the drivers on the HumanWare website or they may have been supplied on a companion CD with the device. Follow the instructions that come with the device to complete the installation of the driver.

Connect the Braille Display to the computer

Refer to the Braille Device manual when connecting via USB or Bluetooth.  The device will need to be detected and configured for use in Windows before it can be selected in the Dolphin Software.  If connecting the device via Bluetooth the correct mode will need to be selected on the Braille Device and pairing will need to be completed in Windows while the device is in pairing mode.

Enable the SAM driver for use in SuperNova/Dolphin ScreenReader

Once the device is connected to Windows via USB or Bluetooth it needs to be detected in the Dolphin Software, to do this you need to:

  • Launch the Dolphin Software Control Panel (LEFT CONTROL + SPACE BAR).
  • Open the General Menu (ALT + G).
  • Open Advanced (A).
  • Open SAM Setup (S).
  • Launch Detect All Devices Now (D) and follow the onscreen instructions to detect the device.
  • The device should display a "1" to the right to indicate the device has been found, if it does not please carry out the steps in the troubleshooting section: Manually add the COM Port for the device
  • Now close SAM and proceed to selecting the Braille Display in the Dolphin Software.
Note: please ensure that the Brailliant BI is set to the HumanWare protocol.

Select the HumanWare Braille Display in SuperNova/Dolphin ScreenReader

To start using the device you need to select the Braille Display in your SuperNova/Dolphin ScreenReader, to select the device you need to carry out the following:

  • Launch the Dolphin Software Control Panel (LEFT CONTROL + SPACE BAR).
  • Open the Braille Menu (ALT + B).
  • Open General Preferences (P).
  • Select the Braille Device property sheet (CONTROL + TAB).
  • Open Select Braille Display (B).
  • Select the Humanware Braille Display from the available options and then apply all of the changes.
  • Now the device should be functioning in your Dolphin Software.

Troubleshooting - Manually add the COM Port for the device

If the device is not found in SAM then you will need to obtain the COM port being used by the device and add this into the SAM Driver.  

To obtain the COM Port number you need to:

  • Open System Properties by pressing WINDOWS KEY+PAUSE.
  • Open the "Device Manager" from the link.
  • In the tree view of devices, CURSOR DOWN to 'Ports (COM & LPT)' and then CURSOR RIGHT to open the Ports branch.
  • Obtain the port number being used by the "Standard Serial over Bluetooth link (COM x)" where x is the port number required. You will need the port number to configure the 
    display in SAM.

Add the COM port to the SAM driver for use in the Dolphin Software:

  • Launch the Dolphin Software Control Panel (LEFT CONTROL + SPACE BAR).
  • Open the General Menu (ALT + G).
  • Open Advanced (A).
  • Open SAM Setup (S).
  • Select the HumanWare Braille Displays driver from the list.
  • Open Configure (C).
  • Open Serial Ports (P).
  • Select the port being used by the braille display, if its not listed add the Port number.
  • Click OK to apply the changes and return to the configuration window.
  • Select the Manual Configuration radio, and the correct port number.
  • Click OK to detect the device and enable.