Palm Writer™
User Guide and Warranty
Important Notice: This user guide and warranty (“User Guide”) contains instructions and important information about the use and handling of your Palm Writer™. Please familiarize yourself with the entire contents of this User Guide before using your Palm Writer™. This User Guide contains instructions on how to use and how to handle your Palm Writer™. It also contains important warranty and safety information.
Your Palm Writer has been developed by Morgan Dynamic Research, LLC – based in New Hampshire, USA. This premium product is the result of rigorous research and expertise and is designed to assist in your environmental navigation for years to come! Please read this User Guide carefully to make sure that you understand it completely to get the best out of your Palm Writer.
Morgan Dynamic Research, LLC – Advancing the Scientific Frontiers of Tomorrow
Indications for Use
The Palm Writer is intended to be an assistive support tool for individuals with blindness or vision loss. The Palm Writer is designed to assist with environmental navigation and for detecting various objects without direct physical contact.
Product Images
Important Product and Safety Information
Please read the information on the following pages before using your Palm Writer.
Only use your Palm Writer as directed in this User Guide.
A Palm Writer will not restore vision and will not prevent or improve a vision impairment resulting from organic conditions. Only use your Palm Writer in safe areas and in conjunction with a cane or sighted companion for at least the first few months and/or until you have calibrated your spatial orientation while using your Palm Writer.
Morgan Dynamic Research is not responsible for any injury or property damage that may occur during, or result from, Palm Writer ownership and/or use. Palm Writer is not intended as a replacement for a navigation cane. Palm Writer is an assistive support tool. The intended use of a Palm Writer is the detection of various objects without direct physical contact. This feature is primarily useful for directly detecting delicate or sensitive objects that you would not normally scan for with your cane such as people, pets, wine glasses, etc. A Palm Writer is also useful for scanning surfaces, such as floors and tables, for small objects that would otherwise be difficult to locate, such as pens, markers, etc.
While a Palm Writer can be used for navigation, Palm Writer is not a safety device. You should only use Palm Writer in conjunction with a navigation cane in unfamiliar environments. In such a configuration, the user would scan the ground with their cane, and scan everywhere else with their Palm Writer. The Palm Writer excels at finding forward obstacles such as walls and people. The Palm Writer can also be useful at detecting doorways and low hanging objects. However, the Palm Writer can have difficulty detecting deviations in floor height, which may present trip and fall hazards that could be better detected by a navigation cane.
Do not depend on Palm Writer for navigation in dangerous circumstances. A variety of situations can interfere with the accuracy of Palm Writer detections. Changes in air temperature, scanning angle, object shape, and material composition, can all create false readings due to the nature of sound reflection, upon which Palm Writer technology is based. Much of your ability to identify Palm Writer detections will come from experience with its use. Palm Writer training is best with the assistance of a sighted companion.
Battery
Your Palm Writer contains a high capacity rechargeable Lithium Polymer battery. Your Palm Writer indicates the battery charge status as a series of beeps on startup. Four (4) beeps means that it is fully charged and one (1) beep indicates it is low on charge. You should recharge you Palm Writer by placing it on the charging station. The charging station charges you Palm Writer wirelessly so there are no wires to plug in or connect. However, there is a micro USB jack located on the wireless charging side of the Palm Writer for charging when away from home with most android phone chargers and mobile power packs. We recommend only using this charging method occasionally and instead using your Palm Writer Charging Station for day to day charging for maximize battery life.
Push button On/Off
Turn the Palm Writer on and off with the metal power button on the top of the unit. The top has brail writing and painted company and product names. The button must be pressed firmly and fully in to engage the lock. This will turn your Palm Writer on. Press again to turn it off. When you switch on the Palm Writer, you will hear a start-up melody.
Holding your Palm Writer
The Palm Writer is ambidextrous and can be used with either hand. The first step is to clip the wrist strap to the neck lanyard and place the lanyard around your neck. This will ensure that if you drop the Palm Writer, it will remain connected to you and is less likely to become damaged. You can also slip your hand through the wrist strap and tighten it using the tensioner to allow you to release and retain the Palm Writer closer to your hand.
The Palm Writer comes with an ergonomic grip kit consisting of an elastic hand strap with hook and loop fastener and a wrist rest. The wrist rest is the bump up at the back of the unit where the wrist strap attaches. The hand strap is designed to stick to the outside of itself when wrapped around the Palm Writer and your hand. Just pick a wrap direction that will cover the back of your hand and the top of the Palm Writer towards the back end, and wrap it around both. Attach the hook and loop fastener at an angle over your thumb if using left handed or over the back or far side of your hand for right handed use. The wrap should form a sort of two point webbing over your hand. Next, experiment with the most comfortable grip position that results in the bottom of your hand just above your wrist resting on the Wrist Rest. When the grip position is correct, you should be able to fully release the Palm Writer with no expectation that it will fall. You must also be sure not to obstruct either of the holes on the front plate as that will negatively affect the ranging units’ performance. Once the elastic hand strap is wrapped around your hand and fastened using the hook and loop fasteners, you can simply slip your hand out and not need to readjust the hand strap on next use.
To best understand the motions of the tactile feedback wheel, or writer, when picking up a Palm Writer for use you should first perform a calibration procedure. The calibration procedure consists of first placing the palm of your other hand within one inch of the ranging unit to allow you to identify what minimum distance will feel like. Next, place your other hands thumb gently over the bottom hole on the ranging unit, which is the hole closest to the bottom plate where the writer moves. When the unit emits a steady stream of chirps, you now can feel what maximum distance, 8 or more feet, will feel like. Regular practice of this procedure is advised.
Using the Palm Writer
The best practice is to have your cane in one hand and Palm Writer in the other. Scan around you to find and explore signals that indicate that an object is within eight (8) feet of the Palm Writer. Practice finding objects and reaching out and touching them as a training exercise. This will help calibrate your sense of spatial orientation while using your Palm Writer. Palm Writer works in the dark, in the snow, and in fog. The blue LED light on the front of your Palm Writer is designed to alert the sighted that you are using a Palm Writer.
The on-board computer actively filters sound reflections to give reasonable results to the user through the toothed wheel that is connected to the Tactile Feedback Unit. This is called the Writer. The Palm Writer will also alert the user with a short beep when it is unable to determine the distance to what it is pointed at. Regions that give this result repeatedly should be considered dangerous. For example, when you aim your Palm Writer down a long stairway, the Palm Writer will emit an almost constant series of beeps to alert you of this danger. But, please be aware that you will get a similar result just aiming your Palm Writer at the sky. This is due to the fact that Palm Writer does not receive a return of its ranging pulses in both cases. Morgan Dynamic Research does not recommend using a Palm Writer in potentially dangerous areas.
Care and Maintenance
Do not immerse or submerse Palm Writer in water or any other liquids. Liquids can cause irreparable damage to a Palm Writer and may cause it to malfunction in a potentially dangerous manner. We recommend that you turn Palm Writer off when unattended or not needed. Keep the Range Finding Unit holes in the front of the unit clean and free of debris. Avoid getting any foreign material into the Tactile Feedback Unit slot. If anything gets caught on the Feedback Wheel, turn the unit off and gently try to remove what is caught. If you cannot do this, seek help from a sighted friend. It is important that the Tactile Feedback Unit is not forcibly obstructed as this may damage your Palm Writer.
General Cleaning
Treat your Palm Writer like any other delicate electronic device and make sure that it does not come in contact with moisture or water. Periodic cleaning with a damp cloth is sufficient to keep your Palm Writer clean in most cases. For the removal of grease or oil, soak a cloth in a soap and water mix and then gently scrub the Palm Writer clean. Always avoid getting water or any liquids into the range finding unit holes on the front of your Palm Writer. The Range Finding Unit holes are best cleaned out with gentle application of compressed air. Be sure to spray canned air from an upright position only. Also, please make sure that the unit is off when cleaning. Never use household cleaning products (washing powder, soap, etc.) or harsh chemicals directly on your Palm Writer. Do not immerse your Palm Writer in water or other liquids.
You may clean the elastic hand strap while is it attached to a Palm Writer, by wiping its length down with a damp cloth. However, you must use caution not to get the Palm Writer wet. For full cleaning of the hand strap, you must carefully remove the small Phillips head screw that attaches the hand strap by turning it counter-clockwise until it releases. Please do not lose this screw or you will be unable to reattach your hand strap. We advise that you only hand wash the hand strap to ensure a long service life. Allow the hand strap to air dry. Once dry, you can reattach the hand strap to the Palm Writer by carefully inserting the screw back through the hole in the thick square at one end of the hand strap and then inserting it into the front top hole on the right plate of the Palm Writer and gently tightening it until it is snug. Be careful not to overtighten the screw.
Operating Conditions
The Palm Writer is designed to function without problems or restrictions if it is used as intended, unless otherwise noted in this User Guide. The Palm Writer is designed to be used in most daily life situations. However, the Palm Writer is not intended to be used in activities that may come into contact with water or other liquids such as use in the rain, while swimming or bathing.
The Palm Writer is designed to operate in temperatures between: 0° to +40° Celsius (32° to +104° Fahrenheit) and a humidity of up to 90% (non-condensing).
For storage, Palm Writer should be kept in the same temperature range but humidity should be between 30% and 70%. For use and storage, Palm Writer should be kept within normal atmospheric pressures.
Palm Writer may not be thrown away as normal household waste. Please dispose of a Palm Writer at waste disposal sites intended for electronic waste, or return your Palm Writer to Morgan Dynamic Research for disposal. Proper disposal protects the environment and the health of everyone.
Troubleshooting Problems
If your Palm Writer is not functioning, this may indicate a problem in the internal systems or the Palm Writer may be switched off or completely out of power. Press the power button fully in order to turn the Palm Writer on and off. If your Palm Writer emits no sound and does not move the Writer when turned on, please place it on its charging station. You should hear the seating beep upon correctly seating the Palm Writer on the charging station. If you do not hear this beep, either the charging station is unplugged, malfunctioning, or the Palm Writer has a critical electronic issue. If you do hear the seating beep from the charging station, please let your Palm Writer charge for at least 4 to 6 hours. If the Palm Writer still will not turn on then it has an internal electronic issue and requires service from Morgan Dynamic Research. If you do not hear any sound coming from your Palm Writer but it operates normally otherwise, there is an issue in the sound system and your Palm Writer requires service.
There are no user serviceable parts inside a Palm Writer. All repairs and services must be performed by Morgan Dynamic Research or you may invalidate the product Warranty and the operation of you Palm Writer may be compromised.
If your Palm Writer is unusually quiet, but you still can hear it, this may indicate a blocked sound outlet at the back of the device. The sound outlet is a series of small holes immediately above the wrist strap mount block on the back of your Palm Writer. If the area is clear of tape or other debris, there may be an issue in the sound system and your Palm Writer may require service.
The Palm Writer plays beeps as indicators of internal status. For specific information regarding error codes for Palm Writer and its charging station, please refer to the Sound Guide section of this User Guide.
If your Palm Writer switches on and off (intermittently) it may indicate a loose wire connection or other failure in the internal power systems. This mean that your Palm Writer requires service.
In all cases of persistent problems, please contact Morgan Dynamic Research for assistance and an over the phone evaluation. If your Palm Writer requires service, Morgan Dynamic Research will send you a prepaid mailer for ease of service. Simply mail your Palm Writer back to Morgan Dynamic Research in the provided mailer, and we will contact you as soon as possible for diagnosis and service information.
Hazard Warnings
Changes or modifications to the Palm Writer that were not explicitly approved by Morgan Dynamic Research are not permitted. Such modifications may adversely affect the performance of your Palm Writer and may also invalidate your product Warranty.
Do not use the Palm Writer in explosive areas, such as mines or industrial areas with danger of explosions, oxygen-rich environments or areas where flammable anesthetics are handled.
Palm Writer batteries are internal, but they are toxic if ingested and dangerous if damaged. Keep out of the reach of children, individuals with cognitive impairment, and pets. If batteries are ingested, consult your physician immediately. If the batteries are damaged in any way, move them and all attached electronics outside to a fire safe area and contact your local town or city hall for proper disposal. Damaged lithium polymer batteries pose a serious fire risk.
The Palm Writer is not for children below 5 years of age. It contains small parts that could come loose and cause a choking hazard, if swallowed by children.
The following is only applicable for persons with active implantable medical devices (i.e., pacemakers, defibrillators, etc.): Keep your Palm Writer at least 30 cm (12 inches) away from the active implant.
Please note that a Palm Writer may be interfered with by proximity to power lines, electrostatic discharge, airport metal detectors, etc. Avoid strong physical impacts to the device. The stability of the device shell is designed for normal use. A strong physical impact or blunt force to a Palm Writer (e.g., during sports) may cause damage to your Palm Writer.
IMPORTANT NOTICE
CARING FOR YOUR PALM WRITER
Your Palm Writer is a sophisticated device that can provide years of benefit when cared for properly. The following are a few simple reminders about the care of your Palm Writer:
- Use proper care and maintenance to ensure reliability and safe performance of your Palm Writer.
- Do not use your Palm Writer during medical procedures such as X-ray, CT/MR/PET scanning electrotherapy or surgery, as your device may be damaged when exposed to strong fields.
- Do not expose or immerse your Palm Writer to water or other liquids.
- When handling your Palm Writer keep it on a soft surface to avoid damage if dropped.
- To preserve battery life, make sure your Palm Writer is switched off when not in use.
- Your Palm Writer must never be exposed to extreme heat or moisture.
- Always store your Palm Writer in a safe place out of the reach of pets or small children.
- Be aware of the possibility that your Palm Writer may stop working without notice. Keep this in mind when you are depending on warning sounds.
Product Safety
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Palm Writer must never be immersed in water or other liquids! Protect it from excessive moisture. Never use your Palm Writer while showering, bathing, or swimming, as the device contains sensitive electronic parts.
Protect your Palm Writer from heat (never leave near a window or in the car). Never use a microwave or other heating devices to dry your Palm Writer. Air drying is the only approved method. When you are not using your Palm Writer, leave in the off mode.
Make sure that you always completely dry your Palm Writer after use. Store the Palm Writer in a safe, dry and clean place. Do not drop your Palm Writer. Dropping onto a hard surface can damage your Palm Writer.
Special medical or dental examination including radiation described below, may adversely affect the correct functioning of your Palm Writer. Keep your Palm Writer outside the examination room/area before undergoing: any medical or dental examination with X-rays, CT scans, or medical examinations with MRI/NMRI scans, which generate magnetic fields.
Palm Writer may need to be turned off when going through security screenings at airports, etc. If X-ray is used at all, it will be in very low doses, and will not affect the Palm Writer.
Do not use your Palm Writer in areas where electronic equipment is prohibited.
Note: The performance of individual Palm Writers may vary.
Palm Writer Information and Instructional Materials
Morgan Dynamic Research provides many additional informational and instructional audio-centric videos and documents for the benefit of Palm Writer users and their support team. For first time Palm Writer users we recommend the “Palm Writer Setup and Basic Use Guide” video and “Palm Writer Sound Guide”. More advanced use videos regarding scanning methods and feedback interpretation will be posted as they become available. To access the videos please visit the Morgan Dynamic Research website at MorganDynamicResearch.com or request either a video CD or Braille information packet, a nominal fee may apply.
LIMITED WARRANTY COVERAGE
Included in the purchase price of your Palm Writer is a one (1) year Warranty valid starting from the date of purchase.
Morgan Dynamic Research provides limited warranty coverage for defects in workmanship or materials on its Palm Writer (the “Product”) sold for use by customers in the United States, as described in this Limited Warranty. This Warranty gives you specific legal rights; you may also have other rights, which vary from state to state. The terms of this Warranty cannot be changed or modified without Morgan Dynamic Research’s express, written consent. There are no other Product warranties or conditions provided by Morgan Dynamic Research.
Warranty coverage runs from the date of purchase of the Product, and applies only to warranted defects that first manifest themselves and are reported to Morgan Dynamic Research within the applicable one (1) year Warranty period. Morgan Dynamic Research reserves the right to determine to its reasonable satisfaction whether a claimed defect is covered by this Warranty.
NOTE: Never attempt to repair your Palm Writer. Do-it-yourself repairs usually cause more damage than good. Any problems with your Palm Writer should be reported immediately to Morgan Dynamic Research.
WHAT YOUR WARRANTY COVERS
This limited Warranty covers defects in material and workmanship for the Palm Writer, which includes the Palm Writer device, internal components, charging station, charging cord and plug, within the limited Warranty period. Any malfunctions of the parts of the Palm Writer, not related to the abuse or misuse of the Product, are covered under this Warranty.
LIMITATIONS AND EXCLUSIONS FROM WARRANTY
This Warranty is provided only to the original purchaser of the Product from an authorized Morgan Dynamic Research reseller. This Warranty does not extend or apply to anyone else.
This Warranty:
- Only applies to defects in workmanship or materials and does not cover damage from improper handling or care.
- Does not apply to damage due to moisture or debris, exposure to corrosive chemicals or conditions, physical shock, excessive wear and tear, improper or inadequate storage or maintenance, or undue stress.
- Does not cover repairs made by an unauthorized party. Repairs made by an unauthorized party render this Warranty null and void.
- Does not apply to a Palm Writer purchased from an unauthorized online retailer. Purchase of a Palm Writer from an unauthorized online retailer voids this Warranty.
- Does not apply to a Palm Writer that has been damaged or abused, intentionally or unintentionally.
- Does not cover the loss of a Palm Writer.
- Does not apply to a Palm Writer that has excessive damage. Excessive damage includes, but is not limited to, a Palm Writer that has been: physically damaged, crushed (e.g., stepped on or run over); immersed in water or exposed to excessive moisture (e.g., submersion in a pool or bath, laundered, or prolonged exposure to high humidity areas); and overexposed to heat (e.g., stored in glove compartment of car or dried in a microwave or oven).
This Warranty does not cover the loss of a Palm Writer that is damaged beyond repair (i.e., a Palm Writer that would require all new internal components to repair).
Tampering with and/or altering the Palm Writer will void the Warranty. Morgan Dynamic Research shall, at its sole discretion, determine if a Palm Writer is damaged beyond repair and therefore not covered under this Warranty.
Under the laws of certain states, there may be no implied Product warranties from Morgan Dynamic Research, and ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS (INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE) ARE DISCLAIMED AND EXCLUDED WHERE ALLOWED BY LAW. If any implied warranties are applicable to the Product under state law, they are limited in duration to the applicable provisions of this written Warranty. Some states do not allow limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts, so the above limitation may not apply to you.
REMEDIES
The remedies under this Warranty are limited to the free repair or replacement of the Palm Writer. The Warranty only comes into force if a proof of purchase is provided. This Warranty does not affect any legal rights that you might have under state warranty laws or applicable federal laws governing sale of consumer goods.
If a defect covered by this Warranty occurs, Morgan Dynamic Research will repair or replace the defective Palm Writer. All replacements will be with an equivalent Product. This repair or replace remedy is in Morgan Dynamic Research’s sole discretion, and is the exclusive remedy under this Warranty. Morgan Dynamic Research has no responsibility or liability for any incidental or consequential damages (such as loss of use, the cost of buying other components, or travel costs to obtain Warranty service) which are excluded and disclaimed from this Warranty. Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitation or exclusion may not apply to you.
For valid repairs, Morgan Dynamic Research pledges to secure functionality at least equivalent to the original Product. At the discretion of Morgan Dynamic Research, a Palm Writer may be replaced by a new Product or repaired using new or refurbished replacement parts.
OBTAINING WARRANTY COVERAGE
To obtain warranty coverage, you must return the Product to Morgan Dynamic Research within fifteen (15) days after any defect occurs. To initiate a repair, you must contact Morgan Dynamic Research at (603) 276-1648, 10 Benning Street, Suite 284, West Lebanon, NH 03784.
“Palm Writer” is a trademark of Morgan Dynamic Research, LLC. The Morgan Dynamic Research wordmark and symbol are trademarks of Morgan Dynamic Research, LLC. ©2018 Morgan Dynamic Research, LLC.