(Latest Version: 9.01)

What is Lunar?

For partially sighted computer users who find themselves straining to read the screen, whether it is text, graphics, toolbars, icons or emails, Lunar can offer the ideal magnification solution.

Who uses Lunar?

Lunar benefits people with low vision or deteriorating sight.

•  

• Key Benefits:

  • Reduce eye strain and increase the magnification during the day as your eyes become tired or to suit levels of visual impairment.
  • Choice of magnification style with many options such as split screen, whole screen, lens and window so you can set it up to suit you.
  • Highly magnified objects and text are smoothed to remove pixelation and preserve readability.
  • Provides magnification from the point of login on the PC so you can see detail from startup.
  • Multiple focus highlighting options - for clearer identification of cursor, mouse pointer, line, focus.
  • Always stay in focus with Lunar’s automatic tracking of the mouse and keyboard presses.
  • Create specific settings for certain applications and save them to use again.
  • True multi language support, switch interface to choice of over 20 languages at any time.
  • Automatic software updates via the Internet ensure you always use the latest version.
  • Compatible with a range of digital CCTVs such as Optelec, Clearnote & LVI MLS Student.
  • Runs on many operating systems and can be installed in a Network environment.
  • Choose from high contrast colour schemes or build your own to meet your sight requirements and replace problem colours.
  • Smooth scrolling when moving around the screen and down long documents, avoids screen jitter.
  • Intuitive hot keys for easy keyboard operation and an easy to use point and click interface.
  • Choice of control panel for accessing features and functions provides ease of use and requires minimal training.

US English User Guide for version 8.01 (PDF format)

US English Manual for version 8.01 (PDF format)

We offer advice to people all around the world, and Dolphin's international presence and support for a wide range of languages is particularly useful to us. Dolphin is also able to offer compatible products for magnification, speech and Braille users on all of the major Microsoft operating systems, making it much easier for employers, schools and universities to provide an accessible IT system which caters for different needs.
Richard Orme - (Head of Technology in Learning and Employment, RNIB) - 18-07-06

I have just purchased a pen drive from you with Lunar on it and I wouldn't change it for the world, its a brilliant bit of kit. I hope to recommend it to anyone that's moving from PC to PC, need speech or large print.
Phillip Baker - (UK) - 08-08-07

What's New in this Version?

New in version 9.01 (released: 12/03/2007)

New Dolphin List Utility

Version 9 offers a consolidated list of popular document elements into one handy single multi-page List Utility.

To launch the new multi-page dialog with a single hot key press CAPS LOCK +TAB from all the applications that are currently supported, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Word.

The new dialog can easily be navigated using standard Windows conventions CONTROL+TAB and CONTROL+SHIFT+TAB to move between the various tab sheets.

These Tab sheets offer the user a convenient list of the following document elements:

• Links
• Headings
• Revisions
• Objects
• Comments
• Frames
• Tables
• Controls
• Spelling errors
• Grammar errors.

Each of these lists can be sorted in document order or alphabetically. In addition the user can choose to perform a variety of actions on each element including route Virtual Focus, Left Click and Right Click.

The utility can also be launched on the expected page with legacy hotkeys such as CAPS LOCK + 1 for the list of Links etc.

Support for Terminal Services

Version 9 reintroduces support for Windows Terminal Server and Citrix MetaFrame operating systems, allowing blind and visually impaired computer users the same excellent access to applications running on remote thin clients, as well as Windows desktop terminals.

New in version 8.02 (released: 18/12/2007)

• The installation process has been redesigned to ensure a fluid and quick process of installing Lunar.
• A large selection of bug fixes have also been included that improve the user experience for XP and Vista users.

New in version 8.01 (released: 09/07/2007)

Lunar version 8 has been developed following an extensive customer research and feedback programme. All of the new features and functionality have been designed to make your software even more user-friendly and intuitive. Many new and powerful features have been added that will ensure you get the best out of your computer, whatever your level of sight.

• The operating systems supported by Lunar have changed. Lunar supports Windows XP (SP2) and the very latest offering from Microsoft, Windows Vista. Windows 98, Windows ME, Windows NT 4.0 and Windows 2000 are not supported by this version of Lunar. Please contact your Dolphin dealer to learn more about Dolphin's solutions for these operating systems.

New in version 7.01 (released: 30/05/2006)

Lunar version 7.0 has been developed following extensive customer research and feedback. All of the new features and functionality have been designed to make your software even more user-friendly and intuitive. Many new and powerful features have been added that will ensure you get the best out of your computer, whatever your level of sight.

Doc Reader.

Doc Reader lets you read the full text document in a special environment window where the text is reformatted and customised for easier viewing. The document text can be presented as a single line or word wrapped lines, with your choice of fonts, colours, word highlighting, and magnification level. All the features are easily selectable from the Doc Reader toolbar.

To activate Doc Reader use Caps Lock + Numpad Plus.

Control Panel.

Lunar now comes with a new optional style interface. Change the way the control panel looks with this new stylish and intuitive Button Bar. The new Button Bar is perfectly suited to mouse users and those who prefer a more compact view. To switch to the new style, open the "Control Panel" dialog from the "configuration" menu in the Lunar control panel. Within the "Control Panel Settings" you are able to choose the user interface that suits you best. You can select either the "Classic Style", "Menubar Style" or the new "Button Bar Style".

Automatic Update System.

Lunar can now be set to check automatically for product updates daily, weekly or monthly. Now you can be sure you always have the latest updates installed. If you don't want to automatically check for updates then this can be disabled.

Product Activation.

Your serial number is now protected for use on the computer hardware of your choice and may not be used by other people on other computers.

Your Dolphin software will run as a 30 day demonstration version until such time as it is activated. Product activation is required in order to obtain a software licence and upon activation your product will automatically become a full unlimited version. You can activate your product at anytime during he first 30 days, by selecting to "Activate now", alternatively you may choose to "Remind me later". Product activation can be done automatically online or over the telephone within 30 days of installation.

Increased Mouse wheel functionality.

The mouse wheel can now be used to adjust the magnification level, where applicable. When using magnification, by simply pressing the Caps Lock key and moving the mouse wheel you can increase and decrease the magnification level.

The mouse can also be configured to perform any other hotkey operations, usually performed using the keyboard. Simply select "Hot Keys" from the "Configuration" drop down menu and then add any new hotkey combinations for the mouse. Now you can perform your popular shortcuts directly from the mouse, perfect for people who prefer to use their mouse.

Cicero Integration.

If you use Dolphin's Cicero hardcopy text reader and it is installed on your computer (version 3.02 and above only), you will now be able to operate Cicero from within the Control Panel. When installing your latest Dolphin access software an Icon will automatically appear within the Control Panel for Cicero.

Mouse Pointer Management.

An extensive range of user selectable mouse pointers have been included within the latest version of Lunar. You can choose extra large mouse pointers in a range of different high contrast colours, to help you locate the mouse on the screen.

CCTV compatibility.

Lunar is compatible with a range of CCTVs, including the MLS range form Low Vision International and the ClearNote from Optelec.

Visually impaired CCTV users now have the ability to use the magnification split screen feature to magnify both the PC and the camera screen at the same time without any need to adjust the settings. Please note: you may require the latest software update from your CCTV supplier.

New in version 6.50 (released: 10/02/2005)

• Fractional Magnification
  Fractional Magnification allows fine tuning of the magnification levels between 1 - 4 times. Simply select the Fractional Magnification checkbox in the visual property sheet and then select your magnification level as normal. New choices include; 1.2x, 1.33x, 1.5x, 1.66x, 1.8x, 2x, 2.25x, 2.5x, 2.7x, 3x, 3.5x, 4x. We still offer up to 32x magnification (more than anyone else), for those who need it.
• Line View Position
  Dolphin's Line View mode has been improved at the request of our many CCTV users. Line View displays your document as a continuous scrolling line of magnified text across the screen. You can now position this line at the top, middle or bottom of the screen. A perfect solution if you have your document displayed in the other half of your split screen CCTV.
• International Keyboard Manager
  Your Dolphin software will automatically select your keyboard layout according to the language edition you are using. If you want to choose a different keyboard, simply select your keyboard language from the list.
• Hot Keys sets for cross-over users
  As more people make the move, full hot key lists are now available for people switching from JFW, Magic or Zoomtext. Quick internet navigation keys (H for Heading etc.) are also supported. This keeps the learning curve short so it's easier to switch to Dolphin software!

New in version 6.0 (released: 15/04/2004)

• New Control Panel
  Version 6 has been redesigned with a stylish new control panel making all the most common controls easy to find and more advanced features no more than two clicks or key presses away. The Dolphin control panel can now be run in full view mode, menu mode or from the system tray.
• Focus highlights
  New focus highlights make it easy to see where the mouse, the cursor, the live focus or the virtual focus are at any time, and include crosshairs, bar highlights and pointers with a huge selection of colour, size and shapes to choose from.
• New Help
  Online Help is easier and more useful than ever! A self-playing DAISY book is now included so you can also listen to your manual on your DAISY hardware or software player and find just what you're looking for. Version 6 also comes with a free copy of Dolphin's own 'EaseReader' DAISY software player, which incorporates the full user manual in a DAISY book, so users are able to playback their manual using the latest technology. New Users will also appreciate the Getting Started Guide.
• Easy Settings Files
  Making settings files is now easier than ever. Supernova can automatically remember your speech, magnification and Braille preferences for every program you use. A settings file matches your preferences to the current application; you can also match your preferences to the current window or dialog with a situation setting.

OS Compatibility:

Can be installed on wide and local area networks
Windows Vista Business (pre Service Pack 1)
Windows Vista Enterprise (pre Service Pack 1)
Windows Vista Home Basic (pre Service Pack 1)
Windows Vista Home Premium (pre Service Pack 1)
Windows Vista Ultimate (pre Service Pack 1)
Windows XP Home (with Service Pack 2 or later)
Windows XP Pro (with Service Pack 2 or later)

NOTE: We recommend using the latest version available in your language. However, Windows Vista is supported from version 8 onwards, Windows 2000 is supported up to version 7.03

Recommended System Requirements:

The hardware requirements shown below are to be used as guidelines only. The actual performance of your PC will vary according to the application software, memory, sound and video hardware that you use.

Recommended hardware requirement

The computer equipment you intend to use needs to conform to the Microsoft hardware compatibility list for the operating system you intend to use. The Microsoft Hardware Compatibility List (HCL) for Windows Vista can be located at http://winqual.microsoft.com/HCL

The recommended Vista PC specification for Lunar version 8 is:

• Processor - Intel® Core 2 Duo™ 2.1Ghz, or Intel® Pentium™ D Processor 925 3.0Ghz, or Intel® Centrino Duo™ Mobile 1.66, or AMD® Athlon™ 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 3600+, or equivalent or higher.
• Memory - 1Gb or higher
• Graphics card - "add in" AGP or PCI Express or PCI card with 256 MB memory or higher.
• Sound card - "on-board" or "add in".
• Hard disk - 500 MB of free space, if multiple Text To Speech (TTS) engines are to be installed then more free space will be required
• Internet connection

The recommended XP PC specification for Lunar version 8 is:

• Processor – Intel P3 750 Mhz or AMD Athlon 750 or higher
• Memory – 512 MB or higher
• Graphics card – AGP "add in" card with 8 MB memory or higher (not on board)
• Sound card – Sound Blaster 1024 or equivalent (not on board)
• Hard disk – 125 MB of free space
• Internet connection

Other Operating Systems

Note: 64-Bit Editions of Windows Vista operating systems are currently not supported.

Please contact Dolphin to check compatibility before attempting to install this product on any operating system other than those listed above. Customers running Windows 2000, Windows NT, Windows Me and Windows 98 should contact ILT Support to receive the correct version.