The Audio Menu
While you walk, BlindSquare reads out a lot of information automatically. However, often it is still necessary to request a specific piece of information, change a setting, or activate a BlindSquare function. Looking for the right button on a touch screen while walking can be difficult or even dangerous in some situations, as it can distract your attention from other clues around you that help you navigate. To alleviate this problem, you can operate BlindSquare using the Remote control features of your headset. The following section explains how these controls work on the Apple headset that comes with every iPhone. You can, however, also use any other headset that supports Apple’s remote control features. To follow the instructions in this section, consult the manual of your headset to locate the buttons for Play, Previous Track, Next Track, Fast Forward and Rewind on your headset. To make instructions in this section easier to read, the text will refer to the playback control functions when describing how to operate BlindSquare via the remote. This will also enable users of non-Apple headsets to find the corresponding buttons on their headsets.
The Apple Headset
The Apple headset has three physical buttons, the two volume buttons and the center button located between them. All of the playback control actions are performed by pressing the center button.
Table of Remote commands for the BlindSquare Audio Menu
COMMAND: Play/Pause
- OUTSIDE AUDIO MENU Activates the Audio Menu or exits
- IN AUDIO MENU: Sleep Mode if it is active.
- APPLE REMOTE COMMAND: Press center button once.
COMMAND: Next Track
- OUTSIDE AUDIO MENU: Skips to next sentence in speech buffer while BlindSquare is talking.
- IN AUDIO MENU: Skips to next menu item.
- APPLE REMOTE COMMAND: Press center button twice quickly.
COMMAND: Previous Track
- OUTSIDE AUDIO MENU: Announces your current location and additional information as configured in BlindSquare settings or if Look Around mode is active, exits it
- IN AUDIO MENU: Exits the Audio Menu.
- APPLE REMOTE COMMAND: Press center button three times quickly.
COMMAND: Fast Forward
- OUTSIDE AUDIO MENU: Increases BlindSquare radius.
- IN AUDIO MENU: Fast forwards the Audio Menu
- APPLE REMOTE COMMAND: Press center button twice quickly and hold when pressing the second time.
COMMAND: Rewind
- OUTSIDE AUDIO MENU: Decreases BlindSquare radius.
- IN AUDIO MENU: Rewinds the Audio Menu.
- APPLE REMOTE COMMAND: Press center button three times quickly and hold when pressing the third time.
As shown in table
As shown in the table, most remote control commands have at least two functions, depending on whether they are used inside or outside of the Audio Menu.
When you press the Play button, BlindSquare will begin to read the Audio Menu to you. Once you hear the item you would like to activate, press Play again. While the Audio Menu is active, you can press Fast Forward to move faster through the menu or Rewind to go back to a past item. You can also skip items by pressing Next Track and exit the menu by pressing Previous Track. Please note that the Audio Menu is only active while BlindSquare reads it to you. When all items have been read, the menu is inactive and you have to press Play again to open it and select one of its items.
The following sections will describe the menu items in more detail.
The Audio Menu also works when your screen is locked and will allow you to keep your device in your pocket or bag and still use most of the BlindSquare features you may need when you walk.