About Digit-Eyes:  Digit-Eyes is the application ('app') for the iPhone and iPad that lets you use your device to scan bar code labels and to voice the results of the scan to you.  Digit-Eyes runs on both the iPhone and iPad. Most people use it on the iPhone so throughout this discussion, we'll use the term "iPhone". There are two versions of Digit-Eyes:

• the full version ('Digit-Eyes'), which scans many types of bar codes, and
• an abbreviated version ('Digit-Eyes Lite' or 'DE Lite') which scans only Digit-Eyes bar-code text labels (also called 'QR codes'). 
  
  DE Lite is free.  It is intended to be used by people who live or work with someone who has the full version of Digit-Eyes and who need to be able to read the bar-coded text labels created by the person who uses the full version.

If you have the full version of the Digit-Eyes app on your iPhone or iPad, you will be able to:

1. scan the manufacturer's codes (UPC / EAN / APN / JPN / codes) on items and find out what those codes mean;
2. scan bar code labels of your own that you make using this website.  To do so, you just request bar codes from this website and, using the printer attached to your computer, print the codes on inexpensive address labels.  You'll then use these bar code labels to identify items. You can request bar codes that contain text that the Digit-Eyes application on your iPhone can scan and read aloud to you or ones that allow you use the Digit-Eyes application on your phone to record audio messages about the item ('audio labels'.)   When you make audio 'labels', the audio message you create is saved on your iPhone, retrieved from your device and played back each time the label is scanned with the Digit-Eyes application on your device.

If you have Digit-Eyes Lite on your phone or iPad, you'll be able to

1. Scan Digit-Eyes text bar code labels that you or anyone else has made using this website and view the contents of the label or have the app on your iPhone read the label aloud to you.

Using this website: From this website, you'll be able to learn how to use the Digit-Eyes application on your iPhone, to get help if you need it and, when you are ready, to make your own bar code labels. 

When you are using the Digit-Eyes application on your phone, you will not generally need to connect to this website.  This is because label content is saved on your phone, not on the website. The only reason your device will need to contact the website is to look up the UPC codes in the database. This is a very quick operation and happens automatically when a UPC or EAN code is found. The rest of the time, you won't need either a phone connection or an Internet connection to be able to scan and hear your labels.

Why do the training? We want your experience to be a success!  After putting Digit-Eyes on your iPhone, you may want to just try and use it to scan some manufacturer's codes without further ado, and you'll probably find that this works perfectly! The true advantages of Digit-Eyes are realized, however, when you make your own text or audio labels.

This section contains step-by-step training on using the product. We strongly suggest that you go through all the steps in this section as soon as possible.  You do not have to do the steps in order, but it will probably be easier if you do.

Assuming that you have already purchased your labels, doing the training exercises will take between 10 and 25 minutes.  You can stop at any step or resume the process at any time.  And you can repeat any step as many times as you like

When you've completed these steps, you'll be comfortable with the process of using the camera and you'll be assured that when you make and use your own barcode labels that they'll be produced correctly.

Until you have done all the training steps, the label-making options will not be accessible; when you have, they'll appear at the top of the menu on the left.

If you have questions or need help, please contact us.  We will attempt to answer your questions by email and, if you need more training, will work with you on Skype to make sure the app is working for you.

Training Process:  The setup and training exercises allow you to become become familiar with using the camera on your phone, with scanning labels and with the process of printing labels. You will print a sample of each of the three different kinds of codes and learn to scan them using the Digit-Eyes application on your iPhone.   You'll also be able to make sure that your printer is set up so that your own  Digit-Eyes bar codes will be aligned correctly on the labels you print.

There are eight quick steps in the setup and training procedures and you'll find it easiest if you complete them in order. You will:

1. Set up Your iPhone (this step);
2. Using the printer attached to your computer, print a sample UPC code from the Digit-Eyes website and practice scanning it with the Digit-Eyes application on your phone;
3. Using the website and printer attached to your computer, you will make and print your first Digit-Eyes text label and practice scanning it;
4. Using the website and the printer attached to your computer, you will make and print your first Digit-Eyes audio label. You will use this label to practice scanning, making a recording on your phone and playing back what you've recorded;
5. Buy some real labels if you have not done so already;
6. Set up your printer so that your labels will print correctly;
7. Print test sheets to validate the alignment on your computer printer.   The test sheets show the expected outlines of your labels and are compared against your actual labels to verify that the printer margins are set correctly;
8. Using the test sheets rather than real labels, print some practice labels as a final verification that the printer is set up correctly.

Setting up Your iPhone:

1. If this is the first time that you've used the iPhone, you may want to read the documentation on the Apple website. Click here for a link to the Apple website that explains how to use the iPhone.
    
2. Locate the camera on your phone: The camera on the iPhone is located on the side away from the display.  If you are holding your phone with the home key towards you and the headphone jack at the top, you'll find the camera on the side away from you and on the top right.
   • On the iPhone 3GS, the lens of the camera is perceptible as a small, round opening about 1/8 inch / 30 mm across and feels not unlike the headphone jack.
   • On the iPhone 4 and 4S, it is located under the glass on the back and is perceptible as an area in the glass that is very slightly depressed.
   If you have not used the camera before, the lens may need cleaning. You can clean it using the same solution that you would use to clean lenses of any sort.
   
   Helpful Hint:  When using the camera, you may at first find it helpful to hold the iPhone so that your index finger is on the top edge above the camera. Then point the camera at the item you want to scan as if you were pointing your finger at it. Soon, this action will be so natural that you will not think about it.
    

Turn on VoiceOver: Digit-Eyes uses the VoiceOver screen reader to announce the contents of the UPC and the Digit-Eyes text labels.

If you have some vision or a sighted person at your disposal, the simplest way to activate VoiceOver is to use the options on the iPhone or iPad; if you do not, it is easiest to do the initial setup by connecting your iPhone to your computer and using the browser on your computer.

On the iPhone or iPad:

1. Click the "Settings" icon the Settings option
2. Select "General" from the menu
3. Select "Accessibility" from the next menu (it is down the page a ways)
4. Select "VoiceOver" from the next menu to access the VoiceOver options
5. Tap the 'On' button. VoiceOver will announce that it is on and read the buttons that are available on the screen. Run your finger lightly down the screen and VoiceOver will announce the options available to you on the screen.
6. VoiceOver and Zoom and incompatible. If you want to switch from one to the other, we recommend that you return to the prior screen (double tap the 'accessibility' button at the top left of the screen) and then, using three fingers, make an upwards flicking gesture to navigate down the page. At the bottom, select the option titled "Triple Click Home" and set it to VoiceOver. This will allow you to rapidly click the "home" button three times ato turn VoiceOver on or off.

1. Using the USB connector, plug your iPhone device into your computer;

2. Plugging in the device will automatically bring up iTunes on your computer; at first the device and computer will synchronize (sync) with each other. If this is the first time you have done a sync, it may take some time if you have a lot of music on your computer. Eventually, your computer should say “Library, Music, 1 of 6” or something similar. This is a Tree View. That hint may or may not be voiced by your speech synthesizer. If you arrow down, you will hear things such as movies and the iTunes Store. Keep going until you hear “Devices”.

3. Arrow down just one or two more times until you hear the name of your device, something like "John Smith’s iPhone"

4. Tab across until you hear “Summary” and click on it.

5. Now, tab a ton of times until you reach a tab that says Options. Keep tabbing more until you hear “Configure Universal Access”. Hit enter.

6. Your Speech should say something like “seeing” then give you a list for checking “VoiceOver”, Zoom and Neither. Press space bar when VoiceOver is spoken.

7. Back tab or tab until you hit Okay and click on it.

8. You will hear a message that says 'VoiceOver changes the gestures used to control your iPhone. Are you sure you want to continue?'. Click 'Continue'

9. Your phone will confirm your choice by voicing to you "VoiceOver On".

10. Remember this, because it is important:
    
    VoiceOver changes the gesture language for your iPhone from the way that sighted people do things. Before you do anything else, you should read the documentation in the VoiceOver section on your device that describes the gestures and use the movement or gestures on the buttons on your iPhone to practice the VoiceOver gestures until you are comfortable with them.
    
    You'll find the “how tos” on your phone by going to the VoiceOver page on the iPhone: (on the main screen click 'Settings', then 'General', then 'Accessibility', then 'VoiceOver'.)

11. Click here for a link to the Apple website that explains the VoiceOver gestures for the iPhone. Click here for a link to the Apple website that explains the VoiceOver gestures for the iPad.

To turn on VoiceOver using a graphical browser:

1. Bring up iTunes on your computer;

2. Using the USB connector, plug your iPhone into iTunes on your desktop;
3. Click the 'Devices' link on iTunes' left side menu to access your device;
4. Select the 'Summary' Tab
5. In the 'Options' section of the main portion of the page, click the button titled 'Configure Universal Access';
6. You will get a popup titled 'Universal Access'.   In the section titled 'Seeing', click the option for Voiceover to activate it.
7. Click 'Ok'.
8. You will see a message that says 'VoiceOver changes the gestures used to control your iPhone.  Are you sure you want to continue?'.  Click 'Continue'
9. Your phone will confirm your choice by voicing to you "VoiceOver On"
    
10. If you have used an iPhone before, please note that
    
    VoiceOver changes the gesture language for your device.  Before proceeding further, you should read the documentation in the VoiceOver section on your device that describes the gestures and use the option on the iPhone to practice the VoiceOver gestures until you are comfortable with them.
    
    Click here for a link to the Apple website that explains the VoiceOver gestures.
     

1. Click the 'settings' icon on your iPhone.
2. Having selected the 'Settings' icon, the rest of the labels are text. Select  the 'general' button. This is the top button in the third group of buttons;
3. Scroll down the page and select 'accessibility', This is the last button in the third group of buttons;
4. Select 'VoiceOver'. This is the first button on the Accessibility menu;
5. You'll see some options you can change, such as whether hints are presented to you by VoiceOver. After you've become familiar with Digit-Eyes and VoiceOver, you will probably find that you want to do so.

1. Turn on hints: Start out with hints on; after you are more familiar with how Digit-Eyes works, you can turn this feature off. You'll find the option for hints on the VoiceOver menu on your iPhone; if you have just activated VoiceOver, hints will automatically be turned on.
    

2. Turn on voice: If you have just activated VoiceOver, the sound will automatically be on. A double tap with three fingers in VoiceOver toggles sound on or off.

Did this section answer your questions?  If not, please click here to contact us.