top of page

March 20, 2024 BT Speak® System Upgrade

Posted By: BT Development Team

Blazie Technologies is pleased to offer our newest update for the BT Speak and BT Speak Pro. 

How to Install the Update

  1. To install the newest update, first ensure that you are connected to Wi-Fi.

  2. Press O-chord to open the Options menu.

  3. Press S for the System menu.

  4. Press S for the System Administration menu.

  5. Press U for “Upgrade the System.”

  6. You will be asked if you want to perform the upgrade. To proceed press the letter Y (for yes) followed by the enter key (dot 8.)

During the update process your device will issue short vibrations. It will  also provide you with status updates as to what components are being downloaded. During this process you don’t need to do anything; just sit back and let your BT Speak install what it needs for the update. When the update is complete your BT Speak will restart. Once you hear the familiar “BT Speak Ready” message you’ll be able to enjoy the new improvements we’ve added.

What follows is a list of what’s new in this update.

New: Speak Information About a File

The A (About This File) command has been added. When used within the File Browser it provides information about the file you are pointing to in the file list. When used within the File Management menu it prompts for the name of the file to describe. The description or file properties includes:

  • File name

  • Directory location

  • File type

  • File size

  • Link count

  • The date the file was last modified

  • The date the file was last accessed

  • User permissions (such as is the file write-protected)

 We've added features for copying and moving files

  1. Files can now be copied or moved from one directory to another, including to and from removable storage devices. Use the new file management action X to select (or deselect) a file (or directory). You can select as many files as you want with the constraint that they all need to be in the same directory.

  2. Next, browse to the directory where you would like to copy or move them and type a plus sign (dots 3-4-6) to paste them. You'll be asked if the original files should be deleted. Answering "no" means that they'll be copied whereas answering "yes" means that they'll be moved. If there are any name conflicts, i.e. a file being copied or moved has the same name as one that's already in the target directory you'll be asked about this and be given these five choices:

    • Replace: The new file will replace the old file.

    • Rename Old: The old file will be renamed (by appending -original to its name).

    • Rename New: The new file will be renamed (by appending -pasted to its name).

    • Skip: Files with conflicting names won't be copied or moved.

    • Cancel: The entire operation will be cancelled - no files will be copied or moved.

  3. You will know if the file has been selected because you will hear the word “selected” when you are pointing to a file in the file browser. Additionally, a new directory listing filter - S (for Selected) - has been added so that you can easily review which files have been selected.

Changes to Folder Navigation now permits enhanced viewing of a file name's spelling

In the File Browser, 3-Chord (which browsed up to the parent directory) and 6-Chord (which browsed into the selected directory) have been changed, respectively, to 7-Chord and 8-Chord. This was done in order to allow dot 3-Chord and dot 6-Chord to perform their usual functions of moving to the previous and next character so that you can now inspect the exact spelling of a file's name.

Improvements to File Management Commands

  1. You can now delete a directory that isn't empty. You'll be warned that the directory isn't empty, and then asked if it should be deleted anyway.

  2. The file translator now supports the .md (Markdown) and .rst (reStructured Text) formats for both input and output. It also now supports the .rtf (RichText) format for input - this format was already supported for output.

Miscellaneous Fixes and Improvements

  1. The Read All command (ER sign or dots 1-2-4-5-6-chord) sometimes stopped unexpectedly when attempting to continuously speak some files when using DECtalk. This has now been fixed. For the curious, the main reason for this seems to have been caused by italicized words within braille files.

  2. The echoing of completed words when using the editor has now been implemented.

  3. When navigating by character when using the editor, uppercase letters are now prefixed with the (abbreviated) word "cap".

  4. Pressing Dots 7 and 8 together now interrupts speech.

  5. Requesting a system upgrade now first checks to see if there actually are new updates. If there aren't then you'll be told that "no new system updates are available" and nothing will be done. If there are then you'll be told that "new system updates are available" and then be asked if you'd like to proceed with the upgrade.

  6. The System Services menu now announces whether or not each service is currently enabled or disabled.

  7. The RSync - Remote File Synchronization - service has been added to the System Services menu. Like the others, it's disabled by default. When enabled, it provides an easy way to do things such as backing up the home directory to your computer.

  8. When pairing a Bluetooth device, only the names of the devices are listed. In other words, those annoying, ugly-looking, hexadecimal device addresses are no longer shown. This makes it much easier and faster to find the device that you're looking for.

  9. The voice command 'Time' now formats the time according to your current locale rather than conforming strictly to the 24-hour format.

  10. The Computer Braille help file now documents several additional characters that the BT Speak supports which aren't part of the formal computer braille standard.

  11. Sticky modifiers now work in Desktop mode. These include X-Chord (control) and U-Chord (uppercase), as well as all of the modifiers which can be added by pressing any of dots 1 through 6 along with dot 8 and Space. See the Keyboard Emulation help file for the list.

  12. Adding dot 8 to a character when in Desktop mode is a quick way to emulate holding the Left Alt key while typing that character. This only works for characters which have six-dot representations.

bottom of page