Cosmo Onboarding

Step-by-step guidance to set up Cosmo Dots and start running activities or AAC access with confidence.

You can use your Cosmo Dots in two ways

Cosmo Learning App

With Cosmo Learning activities via the Cosmo Learning app (formerly Cosmo Training)

Cosmo Dot Setup App

With 3rd-party apps via the Cosmo Dot Setup app (formerly Cosmo Switch Setup)

Cosmo Learning system

Your Cosmo Learning app (formerly Cosmo Training) account gives you access to almost 40 activities across 6 categories: Cause & Effect, Physical, Speech & Language, Music, Cognitive and Numeracy. You can preview selected activities in this video. Explore more about the
Cosmo Learning Suites here.

How to connect Cosmo Dots

Step 1

Download the Cosmo Learning app
(formerly Cosmo Training) (iPad with iOS 15 or later required).

Step 2

Enable Bluetooth on your iPad.

Step 3

Create a new account.

Step 4

Press the blue button on the bottom of each Dot

Step 5

The Dots and on-screen icons will light up in colors 1–8. This indicates that the Dots are successfully connected.

Step 6

Launch the Warm-Up activity to learn how a typical Cosmo activity works.

Step 7

Go to the Home Screen to explore all other Cosmo activities.

If you encounter any technical issues, please refer to the Troubleshooting page.

Personalising Cosmo activities

  1. Adjust colours, touch sensitivity, LED brightness (1–100%) of your Dots in the Dot Settings screen.
  2. Enable distraction-free settings (e.g., the Distraction-Free background in Fireworks).
  3. Select how many Dots you want to use (1–8) by tapping the Dot number icons within each activity.
  4. Toggle Sound and Music on or off.
  5. Add your learners’ favourite music by importing tracks from iTunes or Apple Music within the activity’s Music Track field.

Cosmo Dot Setup App

Any Cosmo Dot can act as a Bluetooth controller for 3rd-party apps and devices (Windows, iOS, Chromebook, Android, Linux). See examples on our YouTube channel.

Settting up Cosmo Dots with 3rd party apps

Step 1

Connect with the Cosmo Dot Setup app
(formerly Cosmo Switch Setup)

Note: Make sure no other Cosmo apps are running on this or nearby devices.

  1. Download the Cosmo Dot Setup app from the AppStore or Google Play.
  2. Create a new account. (Cosmo Learning Suite users can log in with the same credentials.)
  3. Ensure Bluetooth is enabled on your device.
  4. Press the blue button on the bottom of the Dot until it lights up white ( My Dot doesn’t light up white.)
  5. Follow the on-screen prompts to reach the Settings page.
Step 2

Customise the Dot settings

  1. Adjust the settings as desired (colour, brightness, touch sensitivity etc.).
  2. Scroll down and tap Save.
  3. The Dot will light up in alternating blue or rainbow colors—this means it is ready to pair with a 3rd-party device.
Step 3

Connect with a 3rd-party device

  1. On the 3rd-party device, open Bluetooth settings.
  2. Under Other Devices, select Cosmo HIDxxxx (matching the serial number on the Dot).
  3. Tap Pair.
  4. Once paired, the Dot will display the colour chosen in the Cosmo Dot Setup app.

Note: Depending on which 3rd-party app / device you wish to use, you may need to adjust additional Accessibility settings on your device.

Using Dots With AAC Apps

Before pairing with an AAC app, configure the Dot via the Cosmo Dot Setup app.  You can connect your Dot with an AAC app in two ways:

Single-Dot Scanning
  1. Set the Dot to Enter or Space in the Cosmo Dot Setup app.
  2. Go to your device’s accessibility settings > add a new external switch as Select Item.
  3. Use the AAC app’s screen-scanning feature and press the Dot to select when the scanning grid highlights the symbol you need.
  4. See this instructional video for guidance.
Two-Dot Scanning
  1. Assign one Dot to Space (move to next item).
  2. Assign the second Dot to Enter (select).
  3. Go to your device’s accessibility settings > add two new external switches as Next and Select Item.
  4. In the AAC app’s scanning settings, select two-switch scanning and assign the two Cosmo Dots as Next and Select Item.

Cosmo Dot Setup Features

  1. Select Colour (12 colours)
  2. Select Character:
    – Space: Play/Pause; Move to the next item (AAC apps)
    – Enter: Select an item (browser, AAC apps)
    – Tab: Move to next item (browser, AAC apps)
    – Arrow up/down/left/right: Mirrors the keyboard arrow keys, usually used for playing games.
    – Left/Right click: Mirrors the mouse left and right button.
    – Volume up/down: Controls volume
    – Play/Pause: Controls media
    – Mute/Unmute: Controls media
    – F7/F8/~1/~3: Specific Windows functions
  3. Responsiveness: Adjust how sensitive the Dot is to touch (0-100%).
  4. Brightness: Control how bright the Dot’s light is (0-100%)
  5. Light Mode: Choose how the Dot lights up when pressed (five modes available).
  6. Output:
    -On press: The chosen character/action is triggered when the Dot is pressed down.
    – On release: The chosen character/action is triggered when you lift your hand off the Dot.
  7. Activation Delay (press and hold activation): Sets how long the user must press the Dot before it activates an action. Helps prevent accidental or repeated activations caused by uncontrolled or involuntary movements (0 to 1.5 sec).
  8. Battery Saving:
    – OFF: The Dot will automatically power off after 4 hours of inactivity.
    – ON: After 20 minutes of inactivity, the Dot’s light will turn off, but the Dot will remain connected. The Dot will fully power off after 3 hours of inactivity.
  9. Sound Level: Adds a soft “click” sound to support users with low vision (Off, Low, Medium, High).
  10. Ignore Repeat: Treats continuous pressing as a single activation—useful for users who may rest on the Dot or press for longer
than intended.

Supported Keyboard Functions

Space: Play/Pause; Move to the next item (AAC apps)

Enter: Select an item (browser, AAC apps)

Tab: Used to move to the next item.

Arrow up/down/left/right:
Mirrors the keyboard arrow keys, used for playing games.

Left/Right click: Mirrors the mouse left and right button.

Volume up/down: Controls volume

Play/Pause: Controls media

Mute/Unmute: Controls media

Numbers: Used in specific AAC apps.

F7/F8/F9: Specific Windows functions

~1/~3: Specific Windows functions

Switching between Cosmo modes

Each Cosmo Dot can be connected both with the Cosmo Learning Suite and 3rd-party
apps and devices. Therefore, each Dot operates in two modes.

Learning Mode 

Used with the Cosmo Learning or Cosmo Dot Setup app. The Dot lights up white when powered on.

Accessibility Mode

Used to connect as an accessibility switch with external devices via Bluetooth. The Dot lights up in alternating blue or rainbow once configured via the Cosmo Dot Setup app.

Important: To be able to connect with either of the apps, your Dot has to be in the Learning Mode. To restore it to the Learning Mode, press the blue power button continuously for 7-8 seconds until the device blinks white.