MultiMail Overview
MultiMail Features and Limitations
The MultiMail Interfaces
The MultiMail User Options
Hardware and Software
Requirements
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MultiMail is an electronic mail (email) program with many accessibility features. MultiMail lets you use your computer and a modem to write, send, and read email messages. You can use email to communicate with people who are next door, in another town, or in another country around the world!
MultiMail is different to other Email programs. With MultiMail, you can access your computer the way you want using mouse and/or keyboard, a touch screen, or a switch device. MultiMail also has many user options such large text, choice of colours and fonts, a simple email program option, speech synthesis, on-screen keyboard, and word prediction. Choose the features you want in the Setup Program. Settings that you choose are used throughout the MultiMail program. More than one computer user can choose settings for MultiMail; each person has an icon for their particular settings.
MultiMail consists of two separate programs: 1) User Options including interface options, user options, word prediction choices and email account details, and 2) the MultiMail Program (actual email program).
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MultiMail does not support some email functions including:
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You can customise MultiMail to suit your needs. MultiMail has a choice of interfaces for mouse, keyboard, switch device and touch screen.
Each interface can be set up with different options. These include: large print, highlight text, speech synthesis, word prediction, talking buttons, and a variety of colours, fonts, and button placement. See MultiMail Options for more details.
MultiMail interfaces use buttons rather than the pull-down menus of Windows. Buttons facilitate scanning for switch device users and simplify keyboard operation for those who use single key strokes. Buttons also provide a larger target area for mouse users.
The interfaces are listed below. Use the MultiMail Setup program to select the interface you want.
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The Default interface can be used by people who use the keyboard or a mouse. If you use the keyboard, all actions can be carried out with a single key press or mouse click. Default has buttons for all MultiMail functions. The Default interface can be used with large print, speech synthesis, talking buttons and highlighted text. If you like the Default screen and access options the way they are, choose Default and make no other changes.
The Mouse/Keyboard interface is identical to Default except it does not include navigation buttons on the screen (e.g. line up/down, page up/down). This interface is for users who choose to use the keyboard to move up or down on the screen. The Mouse/Keyboard interface can be used with large print, speech synthesis, talking buttons and highlighted text.
The Simple Interface can be used with a mouse and/or keyboard. It includes the most basic email functions. It does not include folders or attachments. The Simple Interface can be used with large print, highlighted text, speech synthesis, and talking buttons.
This interface is based on the Default interface and has the same functions as the Default and TouchScreen interfaces. Switch Device has been designed to work with a switch adapted mouse. You may choose one of four on-screen scanning keyboards (all with built-in word prediction) for writing messages. The speed of keyboard scanning and the number of scan cycles performed before sleeping is fully customisable. The Switch Device interface can be used with large print, speech synthesis, talking buttons and highlighted text.
The Touch Screen interface is identical to the Default interface but it includes large dialog boxes and on-screen keyboard. All functions are available in this interface. This interface requires the use of a touch screen. The interface can be used with large print, speech synthesis, and highlighted text.
MultiMail is an email program you can customise to suit your needs.
MultiMail has a choice of interfaces for mouse, keyboard, switch device and touch screen users. See MultiMail Interfaces for more details.
In addition, each interface can be set-up with a number of different options including large print, highlight text, speech synthesis, talking buttons, word prediction, a variety of colours, fonts, and button placements.
The MultiMail Options are listed below. You can select your options using the MultiMail User Options program.
The Large Print option is available for all interfaces. This option gives large text on the buttons with abbreviated button captions. It also gives large cursors for mouse navigation and a font size of 24 for the text. You can customise this using the Colours and Fonts selection page in the Setup Program.
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Highlight Text can be used for all interfaces. It highlights the line with the cursor. It is useful when combined with large print or speech for people who have difficulty keeping their place in a document.
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MultiMail has its own built in speech synthesiser which needs a standard sound card. This lets users select speech without needing extra equipment. The Speech option is available for all interfaces. When you choose this option the current document can be read. Use the Page Up/Down and Line Up/Down buttons to choose sections of text you want read. You can set the speed, volume, and pitch of this option by using the Speech toolkit icon in the Setup program.
Talking Buttons say the name of the onscreen button that is ready for activation. The Talking Buttons option can be used with the Default, Mouse/Keyboard, Simple, and Switch Device interfaces. If using a switch device, the button caption is read as the button is scanned. For other interfaces, use the TAB key to move from button to button. The caption on each button will be spoken.
The activated button:
The Colours and Fonts selection page of the MultiMail User Options program lets you choose your colours and fonts. You can choose:
There is also a choice of colour schemes that have chosen in consultation with computer users who have disabilities.
A number of Fonts are available. Choose the type of font you prefer. You can also choose a font size from 6 to 24.
If you choose the Switch Device or Touch Screen interfaces, you can select text through an on-screen keyboard. Four keyboard options are available in the Setup Program:
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Buttons are on button bars. Button bars can be placed at the right, left, top or bottom of the screen. The default position of the button bar is on the right.
Word prediction is included in MultiMail to assist with spelling and typing of words. Word prediction can be a helpful feature for people with literacy difficulties. In MultiMail, you can choose:
These options are set in the User Options program.
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Page maintained by Susan Keller. Last modified 1 July 2005