Synapptic Smartwatch PLUS User Manual

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User Manual

Synapptic Smartwatch PLUS

1. About this booklet

Thank you for purchasing a Synapptic product. This booklet gives instructions on how to setup and use your new watch for the first time.

Please read this booklet fully before using the device

This booklet is also available as a Microsoft Word document, a Text Only document, Audio MP3 files or an Audio CD.

2. Around the block

Before switching on your new Synapptic Smartwatch, let's take a moment to explore its layout, including the screen, buttons and other key parts.

Watch layout showing Touchscreen, SIM Card Tray, Action Button, Power Button.

Hold the watch so the flat touchscreen is facing up, with the large Action button positioned at the top right corner. In this position, the top strap has a metal clasp at the end, while the bottom strap contains the holes where the clasp fastens.

2.1 The Action Button

The Action button is the large, tactile button on the right edge of the watch, at the 2 o'clock position. It's customisable and can be used to select items on the screen, adjust the volume or quickly call an emergency contact.

2.2 The Power Button

The Power button is a flatter, less raised button on the right edge of the watch, at the 4 o'clock position. It can be used to turn off the screen, end a call or to go back, closing the current screen and returning to the main menu.

2.3 The screen

The screen is flat and located on the front of the watch. It's responsive to touch, allowing you to navigate through menus, select items and interact with various features. You can swipe and tap the screen to control the watch. The screen is also designed to be bright and high contrast, making it easy to read and interact with.

2.4 The loud speaker

The loudspeaker is located where the bottom strap meets the watch, at the 6 o'clock position. It's conveniently placed so you can easily bring it to your ear in noisy environments. Spoken announcements, information and alarms are played through the loudspeaker.

2.5 The microphone

A small hole, located just past the 3 o'clock position on the right edge of the watch, is the microphone. Be careful not to cover this hole when recording a voice memo or during a call.

2.6 The charging connector

The charging connector is located on the back of the watch and consists of four small metal contacts. The magnetic charging dock attaches to these contacts to charge the device. If the contacts become dirty, the watch may not charge properly.

2.7 The heart rate sensor

A small raised dome on the back of the watch houses the heart rate monitor. When wearing the watch, it presses gently against your skin to measure your heart rate.

2.8 SIM card tray

The SIM tray is located at the 9 o'clock position on the side of the watch and is designed to slide out for easy access. To insert a SIM card, remove the watch and place it face down. Use your fingernail to gently pull the tray out from the small gap at the top. Place the SIM card into the tray with the metal contacts facing up and the cut-off corner in the top left. Then carefully slide the tray back into the watch and push firmly into place.

3. Do I need a SIM card?

A SIM card is needed to use text messaging and call features on the watch. It's also useful for receiving weather updates when you're away from your home Wi-Fi.

If you don't have a SIM card installed in the watch, all other features will continue to work as normal.

? If you need a SIM card for your watch, ask us about our special low-cost SIM options that only need topping up once a year!

4. Charging the watch

The watch charges using a small magnetic charging dock that aligns with the contacts on the back of the watch. The dock will only attach in one specific direction. To charge, place the dock on a table with the cable pointing to the left, then place the watch on top so the cable lines up with the 9 o'clock position on the watch.

If the watch is powered on when it connects to the charging dock, it will announce the current battery level and confirm that it's charging. If the watch is turned off, a battery symbol will appear on the screen, but no voice announcements will be made.

Charge the watch daily, just like you would a phone. From a completely empty battery, a full charge takes around 90 minutes. Depending on usage, the watch will last up to 2 days on a full charge.

5. Turning the watch on and off

The watch can be in one of three states: fully powered on with the screen active, powered on in standby mode with the screen off or completely powered off.

Fully powered on:

In this state, the watch display is on and responds to touch. It actively monitors your heart rate, steps and can receive incoming calls and text messages.

Standby mode:

When in standby, the display is off and does not respond to touch but the watch is still active in the background. It continues to monitor your heart rate, steps and remains ready to receive calls and messages. Standby mode uses less power and is activated automatically if the screen is not used for 30 seconds.

Fully powered off:

When the watch is completely turned off, it does not use any battery power. It will not monitor your heart rate or steps. It cannot receive calls or text messages.

5.1 Turning the watch on

From fully off: To turn the watch on when it is completely powered off, press and hold the Power button for 3 seconds. The watch will vibrate and play a short jingle. After a few seconds a loading screen will appear, followed by the main watch face.

From Standby mode: If the watch is in standby (screen off but still powered on), press the Power button or Action button briefly to wake the screen.

5.2 Turning the watch off

Turn off the screen (Standby Mode): To turn off the screen and place the watch into Standby mode, briefly press the Power button on the edge of the device. You'll hear the voice announce "Screen off" when this happens.

If you are not on the Main Menu, pressing the Power button once will first close the current screen and return you to the Main Menu. Press it a second time to turn off the screen and enter Standby mode.

Fully turn the watch off: From the Main Menu, select the Turn Off option at the end of the list. An Android confirmation screen will appear with three choices: Power Off, Restart, and Aeroplane Mode. The Power Off option will be highlighted with a [green outline] – double tap the screen to select it.

A second confirmation screen will then appear. Swipe down until you hear "OK button", then double tap to confirm. The watch will play a short jingle, vibrate, then shut down completely.

See Chapter 12. "Using Synapptic Reader", for more details on navigating Android screens with Synapptic Reader.

6. Operating the touch screen and menus

The touch screen on your Synapptic watch allows you to navigate menus, select options and interact with features easily.

All menus scroll vertically, so you only need to [swipe up or down] to browse through the available options.

The Watch Face screen is an exception. You can [swipe left] for quick access to useful information such as battery level, voicemail and call logs.

6.1 Navigating the Menus

The Main Menu consists of the watch face at the top, followed by a number of menu items below. Each menu item completely fills the screen, so you have to scroll the menu to bring different items into view.

To move the menu upwards and reveal the next item, place your finger roughly in the middle of the screen. Keep your finger pressed, slide it up towards the top of the screen, then lift your finger off the screen.

To move the menu downwards and reveal the previous item, place your finger roughly in the middle of the screen. Keep your finger pressed, slide it down towards the bottom of the screen, then lift your finger off the screen.

When a new menu item displays, the voice will speak out a description for it. If you need to hear the description again, just [long press screen] – hold your finger roughly in the middle of the screen for more than a second.

6.2 Navigating sub menus and lists

After selecting a main menu option, a sub-menu or list may appear – for example, a list of messages or saved weather locations.

To navigate sub-menus:

[Swipe up or down] anywhere on the screen to move between options.

Visual arrows at the top or bottom of the screen help guide you:

This consistent gesture system ensures that browsing through lists is intuitive.

6.3 Selecting a menu option

To select a menu option, simply [tap screen] once. A new menu or screen will then appear.

By default, the [Action Button] will also select the current menu option.

6.4 Backing out of a menu

There are several ways to cancel the current screen or menu and move back a stage:

Swipe the screen to the right Place your finger on the screen, slide it towards the right, then lift your finger off the screen. This will go back to the previous screen or menu.

Use the Back menu option At the end of each menu is a Back option. Selecting this option will take you back one step.

Press the Power Button Pressing the [Power Button] will exit the current screen and return directly to the Main Menu – this may skip over several levels of menus.

(Once you're back on the Main Menu, pressing the Power button again will turn off the screen and place the watch into Standby mode).

6.5 The Action Button

By default, the [Action Button] selects the current menu option, the same as tapping the screen.

This can be customised in the Settings menu, with options to back out of a menu, stop the current voice announcement, or quickly open the Voice Memo menu.

6.6 Menu Feedback

As you navigate through the menus, the watch provides voice feedback, announcing the current menu item.

To repeat an announcement, [long press screen]. The speech will stop as soon as you release your finger.

Some menu items include additional information, such as the number of unread messages. When this happens, the watch will vibrate to alert you, then speak the item's name along with the additional information.

7. The Main Menu

The Main Menu is the central list of options on your Synapptic watch. The following options are available:

7.1 Watch face

The Watch Face is the main screen on your device. It displays and speaks the time.

You can [tap screen] or [long press screen] to repeat the announcement.

You can customize the watch and select what information is spoken aloud from the Settings menu.

After 5 minutes of inactivity, the watch automatically returns to the Watch Face the next time the screen is turned on.

You can [swipe left] for quick access to the Watch Info menu, making it easy to check your battery level, Wi-Fi or mobile signal. See the Watch Info section below for further details.

7.2 Alarms

? Set and manage alarms on your Synapptic watch to help you stay on track with important tasks, such as taking medication or attending appointments.

Alarms are customisable and can repeat on specific days or at a particular time.

New Alarm

To set a new alarm, select the New Alarm option from the bottom of the Alarms menu.

You can [swipe up or down] to choose the hour, then [tap screen] to confirm. Repeat the same process to select and confirm the minutes.

To set the alarm to repeat on specific days, [swipe] through the list of days and [tap] each day you want the alarm to repeat. Selected days will be confirmed with an announcement.

When you've finished setting the time and repeat days, [select Done] at the end of the list to save the alarm.

Alarm Screen

When an alarm sounds, a screen will pop up – even if you're using another part of the watch.

Tap the screen to acknowledge and clear the alarm, or [swipe left] to snooze it for 5 minutes.

Manage alarms

To manage an existing alarm, select it from the list in the Alarms menu. The following options are available:

For details on how to type alarm names using the on-screen keyboard, refer to Chapter 9. "Using the keyboard".

7.3 Timer

⏱️ Countdown timers are useful for various tasks, such as cooking, exercise or remembering to do something. The timer will alert you when the countdown reaches zero, providing both visual and audio notifications.

New timer

To set a new timer, select New Timer option from the bottom of the Timer menu.

You can [swipe up or down] to choose the number of hours, then [tap screen] to confirm. Repeat the same process to select and confirm the minutes.

The timer will start to count down and both speak out and display on screen.

Timer Screen

When the timer completes, a screen will pop up – even if you're using another part of the watch.

[Tap screen] to clear the timer, or [swipe left] to snooze it for 5 minutes.

Manage the timer

Select the active timer to open a menu where you can pause or clear it.

7.4 Steps

? This allows you to monitor your physical activity over the past week, helping you stay on top of your fitness and mobility goals.

For each day, the menu displays the total number of steps taken, the distance walked, and an estimate of calories burned.

You can [swipe up or down] to move through the menu, starting with today at the top, followed by a list of the previous 7 days beneath.

For a more accurate calorie estimate, set up your profile in the Settings menu with your age, weight and height.

To learn about tracking step goals, movement reminders and streaks, see the Goals section.

7.5 Goals

? Steps goals are a target number of steps to achieve in a day. Movement reminders alert you if you've been inactive for a certain period, to encourage you to get up for a stretch or keep moving throughout the day.

When you reach your step goal or are inactive for long enough, the watch will vibrate and a screen will pop up. [Tap or swipe right] to dismiss it.

At the top of the Goals menu, a summary screen displays your goals summary and includes:

Below the summary screen are the following options:

7.6 Heart rate

❤️ Monitor your heart rate throughout the day and review your heart rate history, including highs and lows, over the last 7 days.

At the top of the Heart Rate menu, your current heart rate is displayed and spoken aloud, updated live.

Below this, a 7-day history displays heart rate data for each day, including:

You can [swipe up and down] to move between different days.

Heart rate is monitored continuously when the watch is worn. For the most accurate readings, ensure the watch is fitted snugly against your wrist and the sensor area on the back is clean.

7.7 Contacts

? The Contacts menu lets you add, edit, call and message people easily from your watch.

Contacts are listed alphabetically, and any marked as important will display a star icon. You can [swipe up and down] to move through the list of contacts.

[Tap on a contact] to access the following options:

At the end of the Contacts menu, there is an option to Add New Contact.

See Chapter 9. "Using the keyboard" for details on how to type names using the on-screen keyboard.

Note: If the watch is set up with the same Google account as other Synapptic devices (including phones and tablets), contacts will be automatically synchronised across all devices.

7.8 Messages

✉️ The Messages feature lets you easily view, reply and delete text messages. They are listed with the most recent at the top.

You can [swipe up and down] to scroll through or [tap a message] for the following options:

See Chapter 9. "Using the keyboard" for more details.

Delete – Delete the message from your list.

New Message Notifications When you receive a text message, the watch will vibrate and announce the sender.

When showing Messages while scrolling through the Main Menu, if you have any unread messages then the watch will vibrate, show an icon and announce how many.

7.9 Weather

☁️ From here you can get a summary or a 7-day forecast of the weather.

The Weather menu shows the list of locations you have added, followed by an option to Add a New Location.

Add a location

Use the [on-screen keyboard] to type some or all of the location name. You must type at least 3 characters but can use postcode or town name.

[Select the Done button] on the keyboard and a list of results will display. Select one of the results to add it to the Weather menu or navigate to the bottom of the list and select Edit to edit the search text.

See Chapter 9. "Using the keyboard" for details on how to type place names or postcodes with the on-screen keyboard.

Weather forecast

Pick a location from the Weather menu to display the 7-day forecast for that location.

Each entry shows the day, the weather and the temperature. The top option in the list is for today, followed by the forecast for the next six days of the week.

Selecting one of the daily forecasts shows a more detailed forecast for that day, broken down into 3-hour intervals. Each interval includes the time, the weather, chance of rain, wind speed and temperature.

Note: An Internet connection is required for weather updates. This can be through Wi-Fi or SIM card mobile data.

7.10 Voice Memos

? Whether it's for reminders, ideas or quick messages, voice memos are a simple way to capture important information on the go.

The Voice Memos menu displays the Record Memo option at the top, followed by a list of all previously recorded memos with the most recent at the top.

Record new memo

[Tap the Record Memo option] to begin recording. The watch will announce when recording starts and a [flashing square] will appear on the screen.

Speak your message, then [tap screen again] to stop recording. The memo will be saved and the menu will automatically scroll to show the newly recorded memo.

Playing and deleting memos

Selecting a memo shows a menu with options to Play or Delete the memo.

Select Play to begin playback. [Tap screen] to pause or resume playback. [Swipe up] to skip forward 10 seconds or [swipe down] to rewind 10 seconds.

To exit the playback screen, [swipe right].

7.11 SOS emergency call

? The SOS Emergency Call feature allows you to quickly contact a chosen emergency number in urgent situations.

To trigger an SOS call, either [tap the SOS Emergency Call option] from the menu or [press and hold the Action button] for 5 seconds.

Make sure to set your emergency contact number in advance via the Call Settings menu. The contact must be saved in your Contacts list in order to be selected as an emergency contact.

7.12 Info

ℹ️ The Watch Info menu provides a summary of key details, helping you stay informed about your device's status.

The Watch Info menu includes the following options:

Quick access to Watch Info For quick access the Watch Info menu, simply [swipe left] on the Watch Face screen.

7.13 Settings

⚙️ The Settings menu allows you to customise various features of your Synapptic watch. The following options are available:

The voice volume can also be adjusted by holding the [Action Button] for 1 second. A volume slider will appear on screen. Rotate the [Action Button] [clockwise] to increase the volume and [anticlockwise] to decrease it.

7.14 Help

Provides brief on-screen guidance for key features such as using the keyboard, the layout of the watch, navigating the menus and top tips.

7.15 Turn off

? Fully power down your Synapptic watch. When turned off, the watch will not use any battery and will not receive calls, messages or alarms.

Selecting the Turn Off option opens an [Android confirmation screen] with three choices: Power Off, Restart and Aeroplane Mode. The Power Off option will be highlighted with a [green outline] – [double tap screen] to select it.

A second confirmation screen will appear. [Swipe down] until you hear "OK button," then [double tap] to confirm. The watch will play a short jingle, vibrate and shut down completely.

To turn the watch back on, [press power button] for 3 seconds.

8. Configuring Wi-Fi

? An internet connection is required to receive weather updates. If a SIM card is installed, you do not need to connect to Wi-Fi, unless you prefer to reduce the amount of mobile data used.

From the Main Menu, select the Settings option, then choose the Wi-Fi menu. In the Wi-Fi menu, select the Wi-Fi List option to view all available networks within range.

Scroll through the list and find the network you wish to connect to. Tap on the desired network, and a menu will appear with options to connect (and forget if a previously saved password exists). Select Connect to join the network. If asked for, type in a password using the [on-screen keyboard].

See Chapter 9. "Using the keyboard" for details on how to type passwords using the on-screen keyboard.

Top Tip! If you experience any issues connecting to Wi-Fi, contact our friendly technical support team. With your permission, they can even remotely control the watch and configure Wi-Fi for you.

9. Using the keyboard

[keyboard icon] The Synapptic on-screen keyboard is specially designed for simplicity and ease of use on a small screen, where a full-sized keyboard wouldn't be practical. Instead of displaying all the keys at once, it shows just one character at a time.

How It Works

The keyboard is split into two parts:

You navigate the keyboard using simple swipes:

When the character or control you want is spoken aloud:

Extra Features

[Press and hold screen] anywhere on the screen to hear the full text you've typed so far. Characters and actions are always spoken aloud before you select them, helping reduce errors.

10. Reading messages and longer text

[message icon] When reading long messages, text is broken into clear, easy-to-read pages, and each word is highlighted as it's read aloud.

How it works

When a message or some longer text opens, it's displayed one page at a time in large, readable text. The voice will automatically read through all pages.

Pause/Resume: [Tap screen] once to pause or resume reading.

Manual scrolling: [Swipe up or down] to manually move between pages. When you swipe to a new page, it will read that page aloud but won't continue to the next page automatically.

Cancel reading: To exit, [swipe right] – this will return you to the previous menu.

11. Answering and ending calls

This section applies when a SIM card is inserted in the watch.

[call icon] When a call comes in, your Synapptic watch will ring, vibrate and announce the caller's name or number.

To answer the call, either [tap screen] or [press Action Button].

To reject or end the call, briefly [press Power Button] or [swipe right].

Once a call is connected, you can talk directly through the watch's speaker and microphone. If you need to use the number pad during the call – for example, to "press 1 for sales" or "press 2 for support" – [swipe up] on the active call screen to display a list of numbers, then [tap screen] to select the one you need.

12. Using Synapptic Reader

[Android settings icon] Synapptic Reader is a simple yet powerful screen reader built into your watch. It's designed to read out Android screens that aren't part of the main Synapptic interface, making it easier for anyone with any level of sight loss to use those screens easily.

It starts and stops automatically as needed. For example, when confirming that you wish to power off the watch, Synapptic Reader guides you through each step. It reads out each block of text, heading, or button on the screen, one by one, helping you interact with the device seamlessly.

How it works

Each heading, button, and piece of text is highlighted with a green outline as you move through the screen. A description of the item is also spoken aloud.

If you reach the top or bottom of the screen, Synapptic Reader will loop around to the other end so you can continue navigating without interruption.

As an alternative to swiping, you can also explore the screen by touch. Simply run your finger over the screen, and Synapptic Reader will speak aloud whatever you touch. To select an item, [double tap screen].

To back out of an Android screen while Synapptic Reader is active, [swipe right] from the far left of the screen using two fingers. This will take you back to the previous screen or menu. To quickly return to the main watch menu, briefly [press Power Button].

13. Adjusting the date and time

The date and time are set before you receive the watch. Once connected to Wi-Fi or with a SIM card inserted, the time will automatically set. When connected to Wi-Fi or roaming with a SIM card in a foreign country, the time will adjust accordingly.

14. Synapptic help and support

If your watch isn't working as expected, the first thing to try is updating the software. From the Settings menu, select the Updates option to check for and install the latest version. This often resolves many common issues.

If updating doesn't fix the problem, don't worry – we offer three easy ways to get help and support:

  1. Help option on the Main Menu. The help option on the Main Menu contains basic information about the operation of the Synapptic system.
  2. Synapptic website. The Synapptic website has additional help, news and support information. Visit www.synapptic.com for details.
  3. Free lifetime technical support. When you purchase from us and become part of the Synapptic family, you also get free lifetime technical help and support for your Synapptic device! Contact technical support by email, telephone or through our website.

Email: help@synapptic.com
Web: www.synapptic.com
Tel: 0191 909 7 909

15. Product safety and care

About Synapptic

Synapptic is dedicated to creating easy-to-use and innovative solutions that help anyone with sight loss use smartwatches, phones, tablets and other mobile technology.

We're a family run business, formed in 2012 and based in Durham, in the north east of England.

[UK flag icon] All our products are designed and developed in the UK.

[Image: Landscape view of Durham with a castle and river]

We're proud that Synapptic is award winning!

[RNIB See Differently Awards logo] [Macular Society Best Technical Innovation logo]

Models: Synapptic Smartwatch PLUS, Smartwatch PLUS

File Info : application/pdf, 40 Pages, 1.04MB

Watch-PLUS-User-Manual

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