User Manual

Encore Plus

Index

Introduction

Encore Plus

Welcome to the Encore Plus universe! This user manual will help you get the most out of your Encore Plus, adapting it to your needs and you workflow. Please read these instructions carefully, and keep them for future reference.

What is Encore Plus?

One of the most common solutions for a person with reduced mobility to use a computer or tablet is to use switches. There is a great variety of models to match the user’s voluntary movement, but they still need an adaptation to pick up that movement and transform it into input commands for the device they are connected to: mouse clicks, key presses, etc.

Encore Plus (Encore+) is a Bluetooth 5.2 (Bluetooth Low Energy) interface that connects one or more switches to a computer, tablet or smartphone wirelessly, with minimal power usage. Compatible with Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and iOS, Encore Plus is a very flexible way to create custom adaptations. Each of its eight switch inputs can be independently configured to perform any of these actions:

  • Mouse: move the pointer, left, right or double click, drag and drop, scroll, etc. *
  • Keyboard: press a key or combination of keys.
  • Joystick: move the joystick bar, or press any of its buttons.
  • Multimedia: control the volume, play and pause, navigate through menus, etc.

Encore Plus can become anything you need: a switch-controlled mouse, a keyboard, an adapted joystick, a remote control for your audio and video applications… or a combination of all that.

* Mouse actions are available on iOS from version 12 on.

Who is it for?

Anyone who wants to access a computer, tablet or smartphone, but does not find it possible or comfortable to use the usual peripherals. Encore Plus encompasses many switch-button adapted devices in one single product. The adaptation can be made as simple or as complex as desired, it is only a matter of deciding the number of switches to be used, and what function will be assigned to each one.

How does it work?

Just connect as many switches as needed (one to eight) to Encore Plus, and pair it to any Windows, Mac, Linux, Android or iOS computer or tablet via Bluetooth, just as you would with a wireless mouse or headphones.

By default, Encore Plus is configured to behave as a mouse: four of its inputs move the pointer left, right up and down, and the other four generate left, right, double click and drag/drop. These settings can be changed with its custom application to tailor Encore Plus to the user’s needs.

What can be done with Encore Plus?

You can use any Windows, macOS or Linux program, or Android or iOS app, that can be controlled using a mouse, keyboard or joystick, with Encore Plus. That includes them all! Besides, you can configure one or more switches as multimedia keys to control music or videos applications on compatible devices.

Navigate the computer desktop, use a communication software like Verbo, control multimedia applications, play… For anything you want to do with a computer or mobile device, there is an Encore Plus configuration that allows you to do it comfortably.

Encore Plus is also an excellent companion to other computer access systems, such as enPathia.

See the Use cases section for some ideas on how to use your Encore Plus.

What types of switches can be used?

Any switch with a 3.5mm jack can be used. This is a standard connector, used by most commercial switches.

Connection

Encore Plus is a Bluetooh Low Energy device. You can connect it to your computer, tablet or smartphone just like you would with any other Bluetooth peripheral, such as a wireless mouse, keyboard or headphones.

Power on/off

To power Encore Plus on and off, just press the side button once. When on, the LED will blink for 1s. When off, it will blink three times in rapid succession.

Power button and LED

You can also turn on your Encore Plus by pressing one of the connected switches (smart wake-up).

If you have not previously paired this Encore Plus unit to your device

The first time you use your Encore Plus with a device (computer, tablet or smartphone), you will need to pair it to that device:

  • Turn on Encore Plus by pressing the side button or one of the connected switches once. The LED will light up for 1s and then start to blink, indicating that it is looking for a device to connect to.
  • Open your device’s Bluetooth settings.
  • Choose the option to add a new Bluetooth device.
  • When Encore Plus appears in the list, select it.

If this Encore Plus unit is already paired to the device

  • Turn on Encore Plus by pressing the side button or one of the connected switches. The LED will turn on for 1s and then turn off, indicating that it has automatically connected to a paired device.
  • If it does not connect automatically, launch Bluetooth settings, search for Encore Plus among the paired devices and select it.
  • If it fails to connect, make sure Encore Plus is not already connected to another device (e.g. a different computer).

Pair to multiple devices

It is possible to pair Encore Plus to multiple devices (e.g. a computer and a tablet), but keep in mind that at any given time it can only be connected to one of them.

When you turn on Encore Plus, it will initially try to connect to the last device it was connected to. If it can’t find it, it will try the remaining paired devices until it finds one that is available (on, with Bluetooth enabled, and within range). If it can’t find any after a few minutes, it will automatically turn off to save battery.

If you want to use your Encore Plus on a different device than the one it was last connected to, make sure the device is not discoverable (off, in another room, or without Bluetooth connectivity) before turning on Encore Plus. In some systems, such as Android, it is also possible to disconnect from a Bluetooth peripheral without unpairing it by clicking on it in the list of Bluetooth devices. You can use this option to switch, for example, from a tablet to a computer when both are on and within range of Encore Plus.

Connecting multiple Encore Plus to the same device

Multiple Encore Plus units can be connected to and used simultaneously on a single device. Just pair one after the other to your computer, tablet or smartphone.

Each Encore Plus unit has a unique identifier made up of numbers and letters. This identifier will appear next to the name in your device’s Bluetooth peripherals list (e.g. Encore Plus - ABCD). If you have several Encore Plus units, you may use this identifier to tell them apart.

Note that in order to use the application there must be only one Encore Plus connected, although once configured you can use as many as you want.

Application

Application

You can use the Encore Plus application to configure the action of each of its eight switches. This application works on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS, so you can configure your Encore Plus directly on any device you use it on.

Please note that the application is not necessary to use Encore Plus. The application will let you configure it, but when you are done you can uninstall it, or even take your Encore Plus to any other computer that has never installed the application at all. The device will remember its last configuration, even if you remove the batteries.

Download and install

Download the version of the application corresponding to your operating system here.

Switch configuration

Switch configuration

When you pair and connect your Encore Plus, as described in the Connection section, the application window will display an options menu and two sections: ‘Switches’ and ‘Mouse movement’.

The Switches section shows the current configuration for each Encore Plus switch input, identified by their symbol. Each input includes the type of action (e.g. Left mouse button, ‘A’ key or Volume up) and optionally some other parameters (e.g. whether the key should remain pressed after the switch has been released ).

To modify these settings for a given entry, click the pencil icon. That will open up the configuration window for that input, where you can select the action interface among mouse, keyboard, multimedia or, if they have been enabled in Settings, joystick or generic. The following sections describe all the options available for each type of action.

Please note that when you modify a switch configuration or any other parameter in the application, this change will be automatically saved in Encore Plus. That is, it is not necessary to press any button on the application interface for the configuration to be saved to the device.

Mouse actions

Configuring a switch

If you configure a switch as a mouse, the available actions are:

  • Left/Right/Middle/Aux button

Generate a click with the selected mouse button, just like a conventional mouse would.

If you use this action, you may configure what you want Encore Plus to do when the switch is activated and released. Release automatically causes the mouse button to be automatically pressed and released (i.e. clicked) regardless of how long the switch is held down by the user. Release manually causes the mouse button to follow the switch: it will be pressed when the switch is activated, and released when the switch is released. Alternate press/release causes the first switch activation to press and hold the mouse button, and the next one to release it.

  • Double click

Generate a double left click.

  • Move left, right, up or down

Move the mouse pointer in the selected direction.

As with the first action, you may configure what you want Encore Plus to do when the switch is activated and released. Stop when released causes the mouse to stop when the switch is released (that is, it keeps moving only for as long as the switch is held down). Alternate move/stop causes the first activation of the switch to put the mouse pointer in motion, and the next one to stop it.

In the Mouse movement section you may configure the speed and acceleration profile of this movement.

  • Wheel up/down

Move the mouse scroll wheel.

This action also has the Stop on release and Alternate move/stop options, with the same meaning as the previous action. In the Mouse movement section you may configure the speed of this movement.

Keyboard actions

If you configure an input with a keyboard action, you can select which key you want to be pressed. Note that you can configure both alphabetic and numeric keys as well as function keys or symbols.

Optionally, you may modify this key with any combination of Ctrl, Shift, Alt, AltGr or GUI (Windows/Mac key). It is also possible to generate key presses for one or more of these modifiers without any other associated key by selecting the ‘Empty’ key from the drop-down menu.

Again, you may configure what you want Encore Plus to do when the switch is activated and released. Release automatically causes the key to be automatically pressed and released regardless of how long the switch is held down by the user. Release manually causes the key to follow the switch: it will be pressed when the switch is activated, and released when the switch is released. Alternate press/release causes the first activation of the switch to press and hold the key, and the next one to release it.

Multimedia actions

The settings for multimedia actions are very similar to those for keyboard actions. Select the multimedia key or function you want to use, and what you want Encore Plus to do when the switch is activated and released.

Keep in mind that the behavior of multimedia actions will depend on the operating system you are using and the running application. For example, the Volume Up and Volume Down actions will work as expected on any device (Windows, Mac, Linux, Android or iOS), but the Play and Stop actions will only do something if the application that is running is a media player that has been programmed to honor them.

Joystick actions

Important: Joystick actions are disabled by default. If you want to use a switch as a joystick and the option does not appear in the configuration window, go to Settings to enable it.

If you configure an input as a joystick, the available actions are:

  • Button [1-8]

Generate a press of the selected button, just like a conventional joystick or gamepad would.

As in some of the previous actions, you may configure what you want Encore Plus to do when the switch is activated and released. Release automatically causes the button to be pressed and released automatically regardless of how long the switch is held down by the user. Release manually causes the button to follow the switch: it will be pressed when the switch is activated, and released when the switch is released. Alternate press/release causes the first activation of the switch to press and hold the button, and the next one to release it.

  • Move left, right, up or down

Move the joystick bar (or the directional arrows on the gamepad) in the indicated direction.

Stop on Release causes the joystick to stop when the switch is released (that is, it keeps moving only for as long as the switch is held down). Alternate move/stop causes the first activation of the switch to put the joystick in motion, and the next one to stop it.

Mouse movement

Mouse movement

In this section you can select the speed at which the mouse pointer will move when a switch with that action configured is activated. There are four modes (profiles) available:

  • Constant speed (slow). The pointer will always move at the same speed; in this case, slowly.
  • Constant speed (fast). The pointer will always move at the same speed; in this case, fast.
  • Accelerate. The pointer will start moving slowly, and after a few moments it will speed up.
  • Accelerate, decelerate. This is the default option. Same as ‘Accelerate’ option, but after a few moments it will return to a slower speed.

Choose the mode that best suits you workflow from the drop-down menu. The ‘Accelerate’ and ‘Accelerate, decelerate’ modes can make it easier to access both near elements on the screen (requiring fine pointer control) and distant elements (where higher speed is more convenient).

Here you can also select the speed at which the mouse wheel will move, if applicable. You can choose between ‘Slow’, ‘Medium’ and ‘Fast’.

Settings

Settings

Enter this section via the application options menu. Here you can configure the application language and find relevant information about the application and the connected device, such as the software and firmware version.

You may also optionally enable the joystick and generic interfaces.

The joystick interface allows you to configure Encore Plus to perform joystick or game controller (gamepad) actions, such as moving the game bar or pressing its buttons. This interface is disabled by default because iOS devices (iPad and iPhone) are not compatible with it, but if you plan to use Encore Plus with a Windows, Mac, Linux or Android device, you can use it without restrictions.

Important: iOS devices do not support the joystick Bluetooth profile, so if you enable this option, Encore Plus will no longer be compatible with iPad and iPhone devices. You can enable and disable the joystick interface as many times as you need.

The generic interface allows Encore Plus to send HID events not associated with any particular peripheral. This functionality is intended for developers and advanced users, and usually not of interest to most users.

Use cases

Your Encore Plus supports many different applications. This is just a list with some ideas, but you can configure Encore Plus any way you want to suit your needs, mobility, and workflow.

Switch Access on Android

In recent versions of Android it is possible to control the tablet or smartphone using switches natively, without any external application. Android calls this access method ‘Switch Access’, and it allows the user to scan through the interface elements (buttons, menu, etc.)

To use this system with Encore Plus, configure one or more switches as key presses. You can use any key you want, e.g. ‘A’ and ‘B’.

Next, go to Android Settings > System > Accessibility > Switch Access. Depending on the model of your device and the Android version, the path may be slightly different. You can use the search field in the ‘Settings’ bar to find this section by typing ‘switch access’.

Once there, enable the access method by pressing the ‘Yes’ toggle. At this point, Android may run a setup wizard to guide you through the next steps. If it does not, press ‘Settings’ and enter the ‘Assign switches for scanning’ section.

When prompted by Android, press the switches connected to Encore Plus one after the other to assign them whatever action you need. For example, you can use a single switch to start scanning and select the highlighted item (as in ‘Automatic scanning’ in Verbo), or a switch to scan through the elements and a different one to select them (as in ‘Manual scanning’) .

Switch Control on iPad and iPhone

Starting with iOS 7.0, it is possible to control iPad and iPhone devices using switches natively, without any external application. iOS calls this access method ‘Switch Control’, and it allows the user to scan through the interface elements (buttons, menu, etc.), or even assign complex combinations of actions to each switch.

To use this system with Encore Plus, configure one or more switches as key presses. You can use any key you want, e.g. ‘A’ and ‘B’.

Then go to iOS Settings > Accessibility > Switch Control or, in older versions of iOS, iOS Settings > General > Accessibility > Switch Control. Once there, enter the Switches section.

For each action you want to use, select Add new switch… > External and press one of the switches connected to Encore Plus. You can give them a name to help you identify them later, such as ‘Yellow switch’ and ‘Red switch’ or ‘Left’ and ‘Right’. Then select the action you need. For example, you can use the ‘Next item’ action with one switch and ‘Select item’ with another (as in ‘Manual scanning’ in Verbo).

Finally, go back to ‘Switch Control’ and enable the access method by pressing the ‘Switch Control’ toggle.

This system supports many different options. You can even assign different actions to short and long press. See also the ‘Recipes’ section to create more complex combinations of actions.

Access dynamic communicators

Many augmentative and alternative communication systems (AAC), such as Eneso Verbo, support several access modes using switches. Verbo, for instance, supports several scanning modes (manual or automatic, with or without spoken feedback, cell by cell or by rows/columns, etc.), as well as accessing the communication board using navigation.

To use Encore Plus with Verbo, just configure the following number of switches as left or right mouse click, key press, or joystick button actions:

  • Automatic scanning: one switch.
  • Manual scanning: two switches.
  • Navigation: four switches.

Then, in the Preferences > Access section within Verbo, select the same actions that you have configured in Encore Plus for the corresponding mode. For example, for scanning: Next - Left click, Activate - Right click.

Multimedia control

You can use Encore Plus as a remote control for your multimedia content. Most music and video applications support multimedia keys, such as Play, Stop or Volume Up/Down. Just configure one or more switches with the corresponding Multimedia type actions, and enjoy your content on any platform.

Note that you can use the Play/Pause action to start and pause playback with just one switch, instead of two.

Some applications or web pages may accept other keys for certain functions (e.g. ‘M’ for mute). In that case, you can configure some of the switches as keyboard actions to generate those key presses.

Read books and documents

Most electronic book apps (ebook readers) support using the ‘Page Down’ and ‘Page Up’ keys to move navigate their content. You can configure your Encore Plus with these two keys to read your books autonomously and comfortably.

This solution also works with other applications and formats, such as PDF documents or presentations.

Games

Many simple games designed to be controlled with a joystick, gamepad, or keyboard can be easily adapted with Encore Plus. For example, a simple racing game or a flight simulator can usually be controlled with joystick movements, the W, A, S and D keys, or the arrow keys. In this case, it is usually advisable to activate the ‘Release manually’ option so that the character or vehicle keeps moving for as long as the switch is held down.

Encore Plus is also an excellent way to access different computer games and learning activities. For example, you can use it to control an interactive activity created with Eneso Verbo, such as those found in the Community, by scanning.

A wide variety of cause and effect games can be created with Encore Plus, for both single and multiple users.

More information

Contact us

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us.

About Eneso

Eneso Tecnología de Adaptación S.L., is a Spanish company dedicated to the development and distribution of products for people with disabilities. Created in 2009 by professionals from the fields of engineering, psychology and speech therapy, Eneso has become a reference in advanced systems for sensory stimulation, augmentative and alternative communication, and computer access.

All the information contained in this manual is subject to modifications without prior notice and does not represent a commitment on the part of Eneso Tecnología de Adaptación S.L. Eneso Tecnología de Adaptación S.L. will not be held liable for any errors that appear in this manual or for accidental damage resulting from the supply or use of this manual.

Eneso is the commercial name of Eneso Tecnología de Adaptación S.L.

Visit www.eneso.es to see the entire product catalog.