Note: Accent devices ship with two software options: Empower or NuVoice. For information on how to use head tracking with Empower software, see Empower: Setting Up Head Tracking.
After you have mounted your NuPoint module, you are ready to modify settings to suit the individual who will be using it. You will modify the settings using the NuVoice® software on the device.
Head Tracking Settings in NuVoice
Important: The NuPoint module must be mounted on the device to display all head tracking/NuPoint settings.
Select the Tools
key to the right of the text display area. The Tools menu will slide out from the left side of the screen.Select the Toolbox
key from the Tools menu. The Toolbox will open. Tip: You can also select the Tools key twice to open the Toolbox.
From the Toolbox select Access Method Menu.
Note: Some of the Toolbox keys shown above are not available on dedicated devices.
From the Access Method Menu, select Choose Different Access Method, then NuPoint/Joystick, and then NuPoint.
“Current Access Method: NuPoint” will be displayed to the right of the Choose Different Access Method key.
You can now begin customizing NuPoint settings. For details, see the following sections.
Basic NuPoint Settings
Basic NuPoint settings are available from the Access Method Menu.
Note: Menu options are slightly different on dedicated devices.
Setting the Selection Type
The selection type options are Auto and Manual. When Auto is selected, your device will make your selection for you automatically once your Acceptance Time has accumulated. When Manual is selected, you must make the selection with a switch.
Setting the Acceptance Time
This is the amount of time it takes for your device to accept a location you have selected and to select the key. The device beeps when your key is accepted. For example, if you set acceptance time for .50 seconds, you must hold your position for ½ second before the key will be selected and the device beeps.
Setting Averaging
Averaging helps you reduce accidental key activations caused by involuntary head movements or jitter. In effect, it creates a box that surrounds the average horizontal and vertical values of where an individual is pointing. The lower the value, the smaller the box, requiring less movement to change the cursor position. The higher the value, the larger the box, requiring greater movement to change the cursor position.
Turning Predictive Selection On or Off
When Predictive Selection is turned on, selections that do not produce messages are turned off; nothing will happen. Only selections that contain or are part of actual stored messages will work.
Adjusting Auto Repeat
Auto Repeat lets you choose how fast a key will repeat itself when selected continuously. If you do not want keys to repeat, you can turn Auto Repeat off.
Turning Activate Text Area On or Off
When turned on, Activate Text Area allows you to point at the text display area to activate it. If Speech is turned on, your device will speak any text that is in the text display area.
Cursor and Highlight Settings
The cursor moves with the user’s head movement. The highlight follows the cursor and highlights a key when it is selected. To modify the appearance of the cursor and highlighting, select Pointer Settings from the Access Method Menu. The Pointer Settings Menu will open.
For most of the menu options, use the arrow keys to adjust the settings up or down. Change the remaining menu options by selecting the option and then adjusting the settings.
Configuring the Cursor
Use the cursor settings to show or hide the cursor, change the cursor size and color, and set the cursor speed. The cursor is visible at all times unless the user shifts its position off the screen.
Showing or Hiding the Cursor
The cursor on your device is a hand. Show Cursor should be set to ON. If you turn Show Cursor off, you will no longer see the hand.
Changing the Cursor Size
Small is the default. You can change the size to Medium or Large.
Changing the Cursor Color
Use the Cursor Color key to change the color of the hand. When you select the key, the Cursor Color Menu is displayed. From this menu you can create custom colors by varying such factors as hue, saturation, and luminosity.
Configuring Key Highlighting
Use the highlight settings to set how keys appear when they are selected.
Turning Highlight Keys On or Off
Highlight Keys tells your device to place a red border around the key that you point to. This may help to make the selected key easier to see. When you turn Highlight Keys on, the Highlight Settings key becomes active, allowing you to define how keys are highlighted.
Configuring Highlight Settings
Highlight Settings provides visual feedback when a key is activated. Feedback is displayed by highlighting the key with a colored outline or colored fill. When you select the Highlight Settings key, the Highlight Settings Menu opens. The Highlight Settings Menu displays the options Highlight Style, Outline Width, Outline Color, and Fill Color. It also provides a preview of how a key will look with a particular style of highlight applied to it.
Highlight Style: Highlight Style allows you to select the style of visual feedback applied to a key. Use the arrow keys to choose one of the available selections:
Outline: The key is outlined in the selected Outline Color and width of the selected Outline Width. Fill Color is not available when this option is selected.
Invert: The key’s colors are inverted. For example, white appears as black. Outline Color and Fill Color are not available when this option is selected.
Outline and Invert: The key is outlined in the selected Outline Color and width of the selected Outline Width and is also inverted. Fill Color is not available when this option is selected.
Fill: The key is filled with the selected Fill Color. Outline Color is not available when this option is selected.
Outline and Fill: The key is outlined in the selected Outline Color and width of the selected Outline With and is also filled with the selected Fill Color.
Outline Width allows you to select the thickness of the outline when you select one of the outline options. Use the arrow keys to choose one of the available selections: Very Thin, Thin, Medium, Thick, or Very Thick.
Outline Color allows you to select the color of the outline when you select one of the outline options. Selecting the Outline Color key opens the Highlight Outline Color Menu. From this menu you can create custom colors by varying such factors as hue, saturation, and luminosity.
Fill Color allows you to select the color of the key fill when you select one of the fill options. Selecting the Fill Color key opens the Highlight Fill Color Menu. From this menu you can create custom colors by varying such factors as hue, saturation, and luminosity.
Off-Screen Keys Settings
Off-Screen Keys Settings allows you to turn the off-screen keys on or off, set key sizes, and set key colors. To access the Off-Screen Keys Settings Menu, select Off-Screen Keys Settings from the Access Method Menu.
For most of the menu options, use the arrow keys to adjust the settings up or down. Change the key color options by selecting the option and then selecting a color.
Off-Screen Pause Key On/Off: When Off-Screen Pause Key is turned on, you can pause or resume tracking by gazing just above the top edge (middle) of the screen. “Paused” or “Active” will be displayed on the screen.
Off-Screen Pause Key Size: Off-Screen Pause Key Size sets the size of the off-screen Pause key. Use the arrow keys to select Thick, Medium, or Thin. You can also select Off.
Off-Screen Tools Key On/Off: When Off-Screen Tools Key is turned on, you can select the Tools key by focusing just beyond the left edge of the screen.
Off-Screen Tools Key Size: Off-Screen Tools Key Size sets the size of the off-screen Tools key. Use the arrow keys to select Thick, Medium, or Thin. You can also select Off.
Off-Screen Tools Key Color: Off-Screen Tools Key Color allows you to create a custom color for the off-screen Tools key. When you select the key, the Off-Screen Key Color Menu is displayed. From this menu you can create custom colors by varying such factors as hue, saturation, and luminosity.
Right Off-Screen Keys On/Off: When Right Off-Screen Keys is turned on, you can access the off-screen keys by focusing just beyond the right edge of the screen.
Right Off-Screen Key Size: Right Off-Screen Key Size sets the size of the right off-screen key. Use the arrow keys to select Thick, Medium, or Thin. You can also select Off.
Right Off-Screen Key Color: Right Off-Screen Key Color allows you to create a custom color for the right off-screen key. When you select the key, the Off-Screen Key Color Menu is displayed. From this menu you can create custom colors by varying such factors as hue, saturation, and luminosity.
Bottom Off-Screen Keys On/Off: When Bottom Off-Screen Keys is turned on, you can access the off-screen keys by focusing just beyond the bottom edge of the screen.
Bottom Off-Screen Key Size: Bottom Off-Screen Key Size sets the size of the bottom off-screen key. Use the arrow keys to select Thick, Medium, or Thin. You can also select Off.
Bottom Off-Screen Key Color: Bottom Off-Screen Key Color allows you to create a custom color for the bottom off-screen key. When you select the key, the Off-Screen Key Color Menu is displayed. From this menu you can create custom colors by varying such factors as hue, saturation, and luminosity.
Setting Up Windows Access
Note: This functionality is available on non-dedicated devices only.
To configure Microsoft® Windows® access settings, select Windows Access Settings from the Access Method Menu.
Most of the menu options use the arrow keys to adjust the settings up or down. Adjust the Mouse Post-Select Settings by selecting the option and then selecting a color.
Use the arrow keys to turn Windows Clicks on or off.
Magnify Windows Settings
When Magnify Windows Clicks is turned on, you can select an area in your Windows application and it will appear in a magnified box. This makes it easier for you to select the options you want in your application.
Magnification Factor allows you to set how you want an area to be magnified—2 times larger (2x), 3 times larger (3x), 4 times larger (4x), or 5 times larger (5x).
Magnification Area allows you to select the size of the area you are magnifying by number of pixels. Selections range from 64 x 64 to 256 x 256. We recommend that you select different numbers for Magnification Factor and Magnification Area and try them out in an application on your device. You'll then have a good idea of what works for you.
When using magnification, click on the option or menu you want or select it with your access method. Then click it again to open or select it.
When Magnify Windows Keyboard is turned on, the on-screen Windows keyboard is magnified to make it easier to select keys. Magnify Windows Keyboard is only available when Auto-Hide Windows Keyboard is turned off.
Auto-Hide Keyboard Settings
Auto-Hide Windows Keyboard hides the on-screen Windows keyboard automatically when you aren’t using it. When Auto-Hide Windows Keyboard is turned off, Magnify Windows keyboard is available.
Windows Selection Type Settings
Choose the Windows Selection Type option that works best when you are working in Windows applications. The available options are Same, Auto, Blink, and Switch.
Same: The type you selected for the NuVoice application is used when you are working in Windows applications. If you find that you need to use a different type, select either Auto or Switch.
Auto: Windows Dwell Time is available.
Switch: Acceptance Time is available.
Windows Dwell and Acceptance Time
Setting Windows Dwell Time: When the selected dwell time has accumulated, the key you are looking at is selected automatically. The default dwell time is 1.0 second. If you need the time to be faster or slower, use the arrow keys to adjust the time.
Setting Windows Acceptance Time: Acceptance Time is the amount of time it takes to accept a location you have selected. Use the arrow keys to set the acceptance time for Windows only. For example, if you set acceptance time for .50 seconds, you must hold for 0.5 second before the item is selected when working in a Windows application.
Windows Access Inner and Outer Radius
Windows Access Inner Radius and Windows Access Outer Radius affect how broadly time is accumulated and thus how quickly or readily selections are made when using internal computer access within the Windows operating system, apps, or programs. For users who have a difficult time stabilizing the cursor over a specific target, adjustments to the Inner and Outer Radius can give the user the ability to make selections reliably.
Note: These settings have no effect on selections made within NuVoice.
The inner radius determines how close pixels must be to the currently gazed pixel to get full credit for the amount of time the user fixates on the target; the outer radius determines how close pixels must be to the currently gazed pixel to get at least half credit for the amount of time the user fixates on the target, assuming they are outside the inner radius. As you increase radius size, more movement is allowed when the user attempts to fixate on a target, making it easier to make selections within Windows. As you decrease radius size, the user must fixate on the target more precisely to make a selection.
Available inner radius and outer radius settings range from 2 to 32. As you adjust the radius settings, the Windows Access Inner Radius setting will change automatically as necessary to always be equal to or less than the Windows Access Outer Radius setting.
For most users, the default radius settings should work. For users who have a lot of uncontrolled head movement, the recommended settings shown below may work better. As with any settings, you may need to experiment to find the settings that work best for an individual.
Windows Access Inner Radius: default 9; recommended 18
Windows Access Outer Radius: default 18; recommended 32
Mouse Post-Select Settings
Note: This functionality is available on non-dedicated devices only.
To configure mouse post-select settings, select Mouse Post-select Settings from the Windows Access Settings menu.
When Mouse Post-select Settings is turned on, the Mouse-Post Select menu will open when you select a key in a Windows application. From the menu you can select the action you want to perform.
Configuration allows you to arrange the four Mouse Post-Select Menu buttons. Box arranges the buttons in a 2x2 box with two buttons in the top row and two buttons in the bottom row. Vertical arranges the four buttons vertically. Horizontal arranges the four buttons horizontally.
Button Size: Use Button Size to set the size of the four menu buttons: Tiny, Small, Medium, Large, or Huge.
Font Size: Each button has some text on it telling you what the button will do. The default font size is 12. Use Font Size to adjust the text size incrementally from 8 to 32.
To set up your mouse button, select Post-select Button 1, Post-select Button 2, Post-select Button 3, or Post-select Button 4.
Pausing NuPoint
You can pause NuPoint while you make adjustments to settings, or when you need to look longer at a screen or menu. There are a few options for pausing NuPoint.
Using the Off-Screen Pause Key
The quickest way to pause NuPoint is to use the off-screen Pause key. To display this key, select Off-Screen Keys Settings from the Access Method Menu. Then turn Off-Screen Pause Key ON.
When Off-Screen Pause Key is turned on, you can pause or resume tracking by gazing just above the top edge (middle) of the screen. “Paused” will be displayed on a red off-screen key, or “Active” will be displayed on a green off-screen key.
Using the Pause/Resume Key
You can also select Pause/Resume from the Access Method Menu to pause NuPoint. When you finish, select Pause/Resume to restart NuPoint.
Using the Disable Pointer Insertable Tool
Assign the insertable tool Disable Pointer to a key. Select the key to set Pause. Select it again to set Resume.
Using CCHP Mode
CCHP Mode blocks the device’s need to recalibrate when the user shifts his or her head position beyond the edges of the screen. This prevents accidental misalignment of the cursor due to uncontrolled or accidental movement.
CCHP Mode must be set up for a tool key or button on a page.
You should set both CCHP MODE ON and CCHP MODE OFF.
CCHP MODE OFF clears the CCHP Mode function and returns the device to normal operation.
Understanding CCHP Mode
When CCHP Mode is turned off, the user recalibrates the system every time he or she moves his or her head beyond the edges of the screen. When the user moves his or her head back within the screen, NuPoint is basically adjusted to a new point and the cursor is misaligned.
CCHP MODE ON turns off the recalibration that occurs when a user moves his or her head beyond the edges of the screen. To avoid using the edges for recalibration, a calibration needs to be created relative to where the user started. The system will not recalibrate when the user moves off the screen in any of the four basic directions. CCHP Mode can be very effective for users who have spastic movements that take them off screen and become misaligned.
When CCHP Mode is turned on, the user knows when his or her head is at midline and is able to move the cursor exactly where he or she is looking. The user can use the device, look away, and come back and NuPoint should be tracking as it had from the beginning. No more bobbing around to get the cursor aligned. For users who have significant cognitive impairments, this is helpful because the head tracking module only responds when they are looking at something. CCHP Mode works with any grid size (28, 36, 45, 60, 84, or 144).
Setting Up CCHP Mode Buttons and Calibration
Using a tool key or button on a page, set up one key or button for CCHP MODE ON and another key or button for CCHP MODE OFF.
From a storing menu, select the Spell Message or Define Key Function key.
Select Insert Tool on your storing keyboard. The All Tools List will appear.
Select the CCHP MODE ON insertable tool.
Repeat steps 1 through 3 for the CCHP MODE OFF insertable tool.
Turn on CCHP Mode by choosing the CCHP MODE ON button you set up.
Have the user hold as still as possible or stabilize his or her head while looking at the screen.
Choose the CCHP MODE ON button you set up. You have calibrated head tracking to the position the dot is in. Effectively, you have calibrated NuPoint to the user.
Have the user move his or her head around—move off the screen; move back to the calibration point. You should notice that the calibration did not change. Without CCHP Mode, the calibration would be misaligned and head tracking would be off to one side or the other.
Turn off CCHP Mode by choosing the CCHP MODE OFF button you set up. After CCHP mode has been turned off, the system will return to normal operation.