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Software Vault: The Games Collection 1
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CDR07
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PLDIAG11.ZIP
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DIAGDM.ZIP
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STUDENT.DOC
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1992-05-14
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DIAGNOSIS (1.1): Student Instructions
--------------------------------------
A successful diagnosis depends on acute observation combined with a sound
knowledge of plant health. This program aims to assist you in learning and
practicing these skills.
You will find yourself in a situation where a correct diagnosis is required.
You will need to examine and manipulate things both in the field and the
laboratory in order to reach a successful conclusion. Specific diagnostic
techniques are not assessed, rather it is your powers of observation and
deduction that are put to the test.
Unless instructed otherwise, start the game by typing "DIAG" at the DOS
prompt. A graphics title screen should appear and a request for your
initials. Type them in and press <ENTER>. The main program will then load.
If running the software from a diskette, it should not be write-protected
otherwise an error will result.
Communication with the computer, unless otherwise specified, takes the form of
a menu selection or simple ONE OR TWO WORD commands consisting of a verb often
followed by a noun. If, for example, you wanted to look closely at the leaves
you would type "examine leaves". If you wanted to ask the grower about
something then you would type "ask grower" and the computer will respond "Ask
grower about what...?". You can't carry out all the tasks you can in real
life, but the computer will allow more than enough to make a successful
diagnosis.
The program has a limited vocabulary. Typing 'Help' may or may not give you
this depending on how the scenario has been set up. Just imagine yourself in
the real world, and convert your intended action into a one or two word
command. If one word is not accepted, try another that is more general or has
a similar meaning. For example, if the scenario is concerned with a lettuce
disease, "examine lettuce" might not be accepted but "examine plant" or
"examine leaves" definitely would be.
There are also many implicit actions built into the tasks you may do. For
example, "get roots" assumes the roots are dug up, cut into manageable pieces
and stored in the appropriate way for later diagnosis. Similarly, when in the
lab it is assumed the correct agars etc. are used for whatever the problem is
likely to be.
There are only two locations in the program. You will normally start out in
the field where the problem exists. The program assumes you have all the
necessary field equipment such as a knife, a spade, magnifying glass, sample
bags etc. After assessing the problem in the field, you can go to the
laboratory simply by typing "go lab" or (more rarely) give a final diagnosis
by typing "diagnose". You should only use the latter if you are convinced a
lab examination would not reveal anything more. For fungal, bacterial and
nematode diseases, it pays to confirm in the lab any suspicions which you may
have in the field.
If a further examination in the lab is selected, you will be asked to make a
preliminary diagnosis from your field observations before continuing on.
Once you are in the lab you can't go back to the field so make sure you take
with you whatever samples you may wish to examine more closely. Once the
"assess" option in the lab has been selected, you can not set up any cultures,
extractions etc. so make sure you set up everything you want to BEFORE making
this selection.
There is a temptation to treat these programs simply as games to play for fun.
Resist that temptation. The software can be enjoyable to use, but bear in mind
the objective - i.e. to assist in learning observation skills for diagnosis.
AS YOU GO THROUGH THE PROGRAM, ALL INPUT AND OUTPUT WILL BE RECORDED TO DISK
TO BE MARKED LATER.
To finish the program, either type "diagnosis" when in the field or select the
appropriate choice from the lab menu. You will be asked what you think the
problem is and why. As you are writing your justification you can edit each
line with the arrow, <INS> and <DEL> key before it is entered. After you
press <ENTER> however, the line is written to disk and cannot be re-edited.
The same editing functions are available for the preliminary diagnosis between
the field and the lab.
Your mark will be based on the logic of your observations and the reasons you
give for coming to the conclusions you did.
Good luck!