Point-and-Chat™ Instant Messaging -- Quick Reference Guide

Point-and-Chat runs on a desktop or laptop computer that uses either the Microsoft Windows XP or the Microsoft Vista operating system. Point-and-Chat comes bundled with DesktopChat, but DesktopChat is actually a separate program from Saltillo Corporation. In some versions the two programs come on one disk, in other versions they come on separate disks. This Quick Reference Guide assumes that they come on separate disks.

DesktopChat can turn your computer into an Alternative / Augmentative Communication Device (often called an "AAC device or abbreviated as "ACD"). DesktopChat can also be used instead of the computer keyboard to create written messages that you can use for Point-and-Chat Instant Messaging. However, if you are already using another stand-alone AAC device, you may be able to use that device to create written messages for Point-and-Chat, and perhaps even operate Point-and-Chat. For example, this version of Point-and-Chat contains experimental helper programs so that Point-and-Chat can be run from a Dynavox Series 4 (DV4) device. If you will be operating Point-and-Chat only from a stand-alone AAC device, then you will not need to install DesktopChat on your computer. Also, if you already have DesktopChat on your computer, in most cases you do not have to install it again.

Insert the Point-and-Chat CD into the computer. For most computers the installation will begin automatically (this may take a few moments). You will be given on-screen prompts for the rest of the installation. If installation does not start automatically, you will need to navigate to your CD through Windows Explorer and then choose the file: setup.exe .

The CD will install one or more pieces of software including Point-and-Chat ("PnC"). Each piece of software may have its own installation wizard. Follow each wizard. After a wizard or program installation, the process may pause up to 30 seconds before the next wizard or program installation begins. The installation wizard may give you choices to check or uncheck during installation.

The installation will place an icon on the computer desktop (if not already there). This is a picture of a smiley face talking with the title Point-and-Chat Instant Messaging ("PnC IM").

After installation, you can start Point-and-Chat by double clicking on its desktop icon.

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Installing DesktopChat (first time only):

Insert the DesktopChat CD into the computer. For most computers the installation will begin automatically (this may take a few moments). You will be given on-screen prompts for the rest of the installation. If installation does not start automatically, you will need to navigate to your CD through Windows Explorer and then choose the file: autorun.exe

The CD will install several pieces of software including DesktopChat. Each piece of software may have its own installation wizard. Follow each wizard. After a wizard or program installation, process may pause up to 30 seconds before the next wizard or program installation begins. The installation wizard may give you choices to check or uncheck during installation. Select the appropriate checkboxes.

The installation will place an icon on the computer desktop (if not already there): DesktopChat.

After installation, you can start DesktopChat by double clicking on its desktop icon. When you are using DesktopChat with Point-and-Chat, Point-and-Chat will start DesktopChat automatically the first time you indicate that you want to create a text message.

When you are installing DesktopChat, or later when you first use DesktopChat, the program will ask you to enter the Registration Code that can be found on the outside of the CD jewelcase that came with it.

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When you run DesktopChat, it turns your computer into an AAC device. When you click on or activate one of the buttons in the DesktopChat window, the computer will speak the word out loud and place the text for the word in the text box at the top of the DesktopChat window. When you end a sentence with a punctuation mark (from a DesktopChat button), the computer will repeat the entire sentence. You can use certain buttons to erase the last word in the DesktopChat text box and other buttons to erase all text in the DesktopChat text box.

You can create your own screen layouts and vocabulary files using DesktopChat editing features, or you can use the vocabulary files included with DesktopChat. These vocabulary files include the PalmChat screen layouts and vocab files developed by Nancy Inman. You can load other screen layouts and vocab files too.

DesktopChat can be used to export screen layouts and vocab files to Saltillo's ChatPC, a handheld AAC device. For more information, start DesktopChat and look at the Help file at the menu heading Help > Help Index.

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When you run Point-and-Chat, and first try to enter text for Email or Instant Messaging by clicking on the text editing box in the bottom half of the Point-and-Chat window (or when the computer first focuses on the text editing box), the computer will look to see if DesktopChat is running on the computer. If not, the computer will launch DesktopChat. In this case, the computer is expecting all text to be entered through the DesktopChat interface.

This is the default setting, but it can be changed.

If you use a keyboard to write, and do not need DesktopChat to create text and sentences for email and instant messaging, you can turn off the DesktopChat functions of Point-and-Chat. If you are using a stand-alone AAC device to create written message and transmit them to Point-and-Chat, you should also turn of the DesktopChat functions of Point-and-Chat.

To turn off DesktopChat functions of Point-and-Chat use the menu heading Settings. Just uncheck the option Settings > Use Desktop Chat.

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You need a screen name - and you need to register it with the AOL Instant Messaging network (also known as the "AIM" network). There is no charge for this. It enables you to exchange instant messages with anyone using Point-and-Chat *and* anyone using AOL Instant Messaging, as well as anyone using other IM software that is compatible with the AIM network.

To get a screen name, you need be on a computer with an Internet connection. (It does not have to be the computer where you have installed Point-and-Chat.) Go to http://www.aim.com/. Click on the "Get a Screen Name" link near the top. Follow the instructions. Write down your new screen name and password. You can also go to this website from Point-and-Chat. Just click on the menu heading File > Get a Screen Name.

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Double click on the Point-and-Chat Instant Messaging icon. It is on the computer desktop with the other program icons. The icon will have the caption "PnC IM". It looks like a yellow smiley face talking. Point-and-Chat can also be started from (and controlled by) some stand-alone AAC devices, including the DynaVox Seris 4 (DV4).

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The first time PnC IM starts, a small window will pop up that requires you to enter your screen name and password. (An Instant Message screen name is often called a "buddy name".) This window includes a "Remember Me" checkbox. We recommend that you check this box. If this box is checked, the next time you start Point-and-Chat IM, the program will automatically log you on as this screen name (and the small window will *not* pop up). If the box is not checked, the small window will pop up each time you start Point-and-Chat Instant Messaging, and you will have to type in your screen name and password each time you start up Point-and-Chat Instant Messaging.

When you first log on, you can also tell the computer how to pronounce your screen name. This can be helpful if you use the computer to read back Instant Messages to you. Often screen names have words squeezed together with numbers. The computer might not read them correctly unless you separate them. You do not need a pronunciation guide to log on - and you can change it later. To enter or change your screen name just go to the menu heading: File > Log In As. You can also go to File > Log In As to uncheck the Remember Me checkbox.

If your attempt to log in is unsuccessful, the computer will tell you (using the computer synthesized voice), " Please try again."

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To chat with a someone (often called a "buddy" on instant messaging networks), you must first add the person (your "buddy") to your contact list. And, if your buddy is using Point-and-Chat Instant Messaging, he or she must add you to his or her contact list.

Here is why we do this. Some of the people for whom Point-and-Chat is designed are members of vulnerable populations, so we do not allow them to receive messages, advertisements, or spam from strangers.

How to add a person to your contact list. Go to the menu heading: File > Add Contact. A small window will pop up. You type in the person's screen name. Then choose a category from the drop down menu: Buddies, Family, or AIM Bots. This allows you to group similar types of contacts together on the contacts pages.

You can always edit this contact information by going to File > Edit my contact list… and then clicking on the name of a particular contact. The screen will then show you the contact information you can change or edit.

What is an AIM Bot. An "AIM Bot" is a computer program on the Internet that will have instant message conversations with you. "Bot" is a shortened form of the word robot or chatterbot. Most bots do not really engage in conversations. Some give out useful information, like headlines, stock quotes and movie times. Others let you play trivia quizzes. You can find out more about AIM Bots at http://www.aim.com/.

How to remove a person from your contact list. Go to the menu heading: File > Remove Contact. Then enter the person's (or the bot's) screen name and click OK.

You can also go to the menu heading: File > Edit my contact list… then click on the contact name. The screen will show the person's (or bot's) contact information. You can then click the delete button.

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You can send people a picture of yourself. (This picture is often called a "buddy icon".) When you send them an instant message, it will show up on their computers to help them know who you are when they look at their contact lists. This doesn't have to be a photograph, and can even be just a graphic design that you want people to recognize as yours. To choose a picture, go to the menu heading: File > Choose my Buddy Icon.

1. Click on Browse Local Files and select the picture from your computer that you want to use as your public face.
2. If you are happy with the way it looks, click Save to upload the image to AOL.
3. If you want to undo the change you made, click Previous.

You do not have to have a picture or buddy icon to have IM conversations.

Many people will not want to send their pictures through the IM software. (AOL computers store copies of the buddy icons.) Instead, you can give your friend your picture (or email it to your friend). Your friend can then attach that picture to the contact list on your friend's computer. (See below about "Adding a picture to a contact listing.")

You can create a buddy icon on your own computer. There are many kinds of illustration and photo editing software that can help you do this.

You can also create a buddy icon on the AOL website. For example, you can create cartoon-like pictures of yourself called WeeMees. If you create or choose a buddy icon from the AOL website, it will automatically be broadcast over the AIM network as your buddy icon.

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You can always change your own buddy icon. Go to menu heading File > Choose My Buddy Icon… Then follow the directions above for adding your own picture or buddy icon.

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If someone has chosen a buddy icon, it will automatically be sent to you and show up in the Contact list. This is the person's default buddy icon. If this picture or graphic does not remind you of the person, you can change it to one you have on your computer. (This will not change the picture for any other contact listed on your computer, and it will not be sent over the IM network.) Just go to the menu heading: File > Edit my contact list…, then click on the contact's name. The screen will show the contact information. You can click on the "Browse" button to find and use a picture that is on your computer. This will put a new picture in the "preferred" icon that will show on your contact list page. Click on the "Use Default" button to return to that contact's public buddy icon.

Changing Pronunciation: You can also use this editing function to change how the computer pronounces the person's screen name. You can even use this function to have the computer to not speak the person's screen name, but instead pronounce the name you associate with that person, such as "Uncle Bob", instead of a screen name like "bob52341".

Changing grouping: You can use this editing function to move a contact from one grouping to another, such as from "buddies" to "family".

Deleting contacts: You can use the editing function to delete contacts. You can also remove contacts by going to the File menu: File > Remove contact ... Then, when the new screen opens, type in the screen name of the contact you want to remove.

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1. Click on the Contacts button. This will show your contacts by screen name and screen image. Some people choose a screen image from images offered by the AIM network. Some people choose an image from their own computer, maybe even their own photo. Point-and-Chat lets you associate an image of your choice with the contact, even if the contact uses a different image for AIM. For example a relative may choose a smiley face, but you might want to associate that relative's photo with the screen name. If the contact's picture is covered by a red circle with a line slashed through it, this means that the contact is not online, and cannot receive messages. You can only start a message with someone who is already online.
2. Click on the tab for the group of contacts of interest - buddies, family or AIM bots. Each group has one or more pages of contact information.
3. Click on the contact. This will open a conversation window with a tab containing the name and picture of the contact.

Once you have started an IM conversation with a person, if that person logs off and goes off-line, the conversation window will still remain open. However, Point-and-Chat will tell you (using the computer synthesized voice) that the person has logged off.

1. Enter some words in the text editing box. You can use either DesktopChat or the computer keyboard. In some case you can use a stand-alone AAC device such as the DynaVox Series 4 DV4. See Integration file on the Point-and-Chat CD.

a. Entering text with DesktopChat (the default setting). AAC users can use the DesktopChat interface to enter the words and sentences they want to send to their friends. First, click on the text editing box in Point-and-Chat; this will open DesktopChat. Wait until it is open, then use DesktopChat to choose words and sentences. These words and sentences will appear at the text box at the top of the DesktopChat window. Point-and-Chat will automatically move the text from the DesktopChat text box at the top of the DesktopChat window to the text editing box in the lower section of Point-and-Chat.
b. Enter text using the computer keyboard. To do this, you must uncheck the "Use Desktop Chat" option in the "Settings" menu heading. (See DesktopChat functions within Point-and-Chat.)

2. Edit the text. You can erase any sentence in the Point-and-Read text editing box using the Erase button. This is the button with a picture of a pencil's eraser.

a. After you have entered new text, clicking on the Erase button will erase the last sentence (or partial sentence) in the text editing box. Clicking on the Erase button again, will erase the new last sentence. You can continue erasing one sentence at a time until all sentences are erased.
b. If you use Point-and-Chat to read part of the text in the text editing box (see below about hearing and reading a message), clicking on the Erase button will erase the sentence that was last read aloud by the computer.
c. You may also be able to edit the text before it leaves DesktopChat if DesktopChat has a Clear button or a Delete Word button. There are 4 special options for how words produced in DesktopChat are transferred and "locked in" to Point-and-Chat. These affect how much the Clear button will affect text transferred to Point-and-Chat. You can find these options in the Settings menu: Settings > DestkopChat text mode.

i. Lock in all new text when cleared. Using the Clear button will lock in new text into Point-and-Chat, but clear the DesktopChat text box.
ii. Lock in all new text when cleared -- if punctuated. Using the Clear button will only lock in to Point-and-Chat the portion of the new text that has an end-of-sentence punctuation mark. The remaining sentence fragment will not be locked into Point-and-Read. The DesktopChat text box will be cleared.
iii. Lock in all new text when cleared -- add missing punctuation. Using the Clear button will lock in all new text into Point-and-Read, but add an end-of-sentence punctuation mark to any last fragment of a sentence. The DesktopChat text box will be cleared.
iv. Lock in all new text as soon as it's punctuated. As soon as an end-of-sentence punctuation mark has been entered into the DesktopChat (and echoed on the Point-and-Chat text editing box), that sentence will be locked in. Of course, locked in sentences can still be erased by using the Erase button.

3. Send the Instant Message. Click on the Send button - with a picture of a smiley face talking. The message will be sent to the contact whose picture appears on the tab to the left of the window. The message will also appear in the message box above the text editing box.

1. Receiving an Instant Message in the currently active conversation. New instant messages will appear in the message box of the currently displayed conversation.
2. Receiving an Instant Message in a conversation that is not on top. When a conversation receives a message, the tab for that conversation (with the screen name and image of the contact) will be highlighted in green. Click on that tab to see or hear the message.
3. Receiving an Instant Message that starts a new conversation. A tab with the screen name and image of the contact that sent the Instant Message will appear, and will be highlighted in green. Click on that tab to see or hear that message.

By default, the computer reads out loud the first part of a new Instant Message -- automatically. (This might be just the name of the message's sender or the entire first sentence of the message, depending on the message's punctuation.) The user can have the rest of the message read using the Previous, Next and Repeat buttons. (See below for more information.) The user can also use the computer mouse to read messages (see below).

1. This automatic reading ("auto read") can be turned on or off. Go to the menu heading Settings, then uncheck the "Auto read incoming IM" option.
2. All text to speech can be turned off as well. Go to the menu heading Settings, then uncheck the "Speech On" option.

The buttons can be used to have the computer read sentences out loud from any text box in Point-and-Read that has a blue border (i.e that has the computer's focus).

1. Previous. The button shows a blue arrow pointing to the left. Clicking or activating this button will use computer synthesized speech to read the previous sentence aloud.
2. Next. The button shows a blue arrow pointing to the right. Clicking or activating this button will use computer synthesized speech to read the next sentence aloud.
3. Repeat. The button shows a blue arrow pointing in a counter-clockwise circle. Clicking or activating this button will use computer synthesized speech to read the currently highlighted sentence again, or re-read the sentence that the computer just read aloud.
4. Toggle.The button shows a white arrow that loops down and then to the right (like a backwards “J”). Clicking or activating this button will move the focus of the computer (for purposes of text-to-speech reading) between the two text boxes. More specifically, the focus will move from the current box to the other box. A blue border will show which box has the focus.
5. Close. The button shows a big red "X". If you are in a conversation window, clicking or activating this button will close the current IM conversation. If you are on the contacts window, clicking or activating this button will close the Point-and-Chat Instant Messaging program. The Close button will also close a pop-up log-in window. (This is the same as cancelling the window.)

You can also close the whole IM program by going to the menu heading File > Exit.

If you want to close out the current IM session, but log in under another screen name, you can go to the menu heading File > Log out. This will log you out of the AIM network, but not close the Point-and-Chat program. Then you can sign in again under another name by going to the menu heading File > Log In As.

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The Point-and-Chat software knows what a sentence is. When you move the computer mouse over text in the message box or the editing box, the computer will highlight any sentence that the mouse travels over. When the mouse stops over any part of a sentence for about a second, the computer will read that sentence aloud. We call this "Point-and-Read" technology, and it is patented.

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Make sure the conversation that you want to close is "on top" and is showing on the screen. (You can do this by clicking on the tab with the contact's picture or name.) Then click on the Close button with the big red" X".

1. You can go to the contacts page and click on the Close button with the big red "X".
2. You can click on the little "X" button in the upper right corner of the Point-and-Chat Window.
3. You can click on the menu heading File > Exit.
4. You can also log off as this user by clicking on the menu heading File > Log off. Then you can sign in under the same or another name.

AOL prohibits people from sending Instant Messenger-delivered SPAM (sometimes called "SPIM") over their networks.

You are not allowed to send SPAM. If you send SPAM, AOL may stop you from using their network, and Point-and-Chat will stop working. Do not give your screenname and password to people who you don't know.

If someone sends you SPAM you can remove that person's screen name from your contact list. For instructions see above. You can also report SPAM to AOL by sending an email to ReportDevAbuse@aol.com.