Multimedia Calculator.Net

Multimedia Calculator XP is an onscreen calculator optimised for the numeracy or basic maths student.

This software is free to download, but please consider a small donation to assist with the development costs.

Download

Firstly you need to download the latest version from here.

This is one of a set of educational programs

1. MouseMaster.Net
2. KeyboardMaster.Net
3. Multimedia Calculator.Net

When you click the link above save the file 'setup.zip' to somewhere where you can find it again, such as the 'Desktop'. Once the download has completed find the file and double click on it. You will need to 'Extract' all the files into a folder. If you are using Windows XP or Vista this should be an option on the left hand side of the screen. If you are using a program such as WinZip then there will be a tool button to extract the files.

The extracted can be burnt to CD or DVD at this point if you wish to share the software with others.

Once you have the extracted files, Double Click on Setup.exe and follow the online instructions.

Key Features

Multimedia Calculator features:

New in Version 2

• You can select whether to invert the number pad or not whilst using the calculator.
• Sounds can be turned on or off at will.
• The colours match the Big Keys Keyboard.
• Add a +/- sign changing key.
• The help is a full web browser in a seperate window.
• Higher contrast display.

Also: (includes version 1)

• An inverted numerics pad makes it easier to key in sums.
• You can control the accuracy of the output to show remainders or decimal results.
• The calculator can work to either 2 or 6 decimal places.
• Colour coded keys, yellow for numerals, green for operations, red for cancel keys and blue for program control.
• System sounds help differentiate the types of keys pressed and confirm that the key was pressed.
• The operators (+,-,x and  /) need to be selected on the opening screen and can be changed between sums. This encourages consideration of which operation is needed for each sum in turn.
• Unneeded operators can be turned off to simplify the display.

Getting Started

When you start Multimedia Calculator; by using the start button, All Programs and then finding the Multimedia Calculator program group, you will see the screen below. The program features are seperated into three groups, Select Functions, Accuracy and Options.

The Select Features

Here you choose which function buttons you want the calculator to display. This is to encourage the student or user to consider what type of calculation they need to carry out. If the sums to be completed are only addition or subtractions, then you can just turn on those one or two features. Of course you can always just turn on everything and use it as a normal calculator.

Accuracy

Only one of these options can be selected; either remainders, two or six decimal places. These settings reflect real world situations where somethings are smply not divisable, two decimal places for money and six for converting between up to two major metric units (Km to mm).

Options

You can turn the system sounds on and off using this control. The calculator uses three sounds, one for numbers, one for operations and a third for program controls. this just gives an audible confirmation that the key was pressed or clicked and registered.

You can also invert the number pad here or change it back again if you prefer. the top row in 123 format is more accurate to use and the one we normally encounter in telephones, ATMs and chip and pin machines. The top row in 789 layout is the one used for calculators and computer keyboards.

The continue button.

This will apply all the option selections and start the calculator.

The Help Browser Window

The Help browser is now a seperate window and opens behind the calculator. You can minimize the browser and bring it back again either from its restore button or fromthe prgrams notify icon beside the clock on your taskbar. The icon is a small Godrey Lighthouse! Right click on the lighthouse and choose show help to restore the help window.

You can access all of the program help though this window and download the latest version of the software. This help browser gets its content directly from the Internet and will only work whilst you have an active Internet connection. The help window also has a banner advert at the top of each page and this is the sole source of support for this software.

The Calculator Window

The calculator window works like any other calculator. The features you need to be aware of are that the numeric keys are inverted compared to a normal desk calculator. The keys are all colour coded to reflect their function. If you cannot see a function  that you require use the "Back<-" button and turn on the needed function.

Using the Keyboard

You can use the keyboard to enter sums into the calculator by holding the ALT key down at the same time as pressing any of the number or function keys on the keyboard. The appropriate key to press will highlight itself on the calculator by underlining itself. This method of keyboard entry works for every control on Multimedia Calculator.

The back Button

You can hit back at any time to change the options you have selected but this will clear the current sum from the calculator.