If you need help using Knowledge Adventure, read the following informaton. When necessary, click on the down button at the bottom of this text box to continue reading. Keyboard Users: move the cursor to the down button using the arrow keys, then press Enter.
The Picture Window
By clicking on elements in the picture window, you can travel to a time and place somehow related to the object you click on. If nothing happens, try clicking elsewhere in the picture.
The Text Window
You are now using the text window. Move forward or backward in the window by using the up and down arrow buttons below.
By clicking on words in the text window, you can access the index to find other references to that word in other screens.
The Timeline
The timeline below the picture window changes to reflect the date of the current screen. To travel to a specific time in history, click anywhere on the timeline. To move forward or backward one screen at a time, click once on the right or left arrowheads at either end of the timeline. You can also pick up the slider by holding down the mouse button and dragging it to any other time in history.
The Globe Window
The globe window reflects the current location of the screen you are viewing. Click on any point in the globe window to travel to the nearest point geographically. Move closer to or further from the earth using the slider bar. You can click anywhere on the slider or on the arrowheads at either end of the slider. You can also pick up the slider by holding down the mouse button and dragging it. KEYBOARD USERS: Press PgDn to move closer to the earth and PgUp to move further from the earth.
When the earth is pictured by itself in the globe window, you can rotate it using the four arrow buttons below the window. Or, you can rotate it by holding down the mouse button at any point on the globe. When you let go of the mouse button, the screen will change to reflect your current location. KEYBOARD USERS: Hold down Shift and press the up, down, left, or right arrow keys.
The Category Buttons
The six buttons at the upper left of the screen are category buttons. From the left, they are: Art, Science, Literature, Architecture, Music and Nature.
You can move sequentially through the history of a category by clicking repeatedly on a category button with the left mouse button. Or, you can select categories (or unselect them) by clicking on them with the right mouse button. When a category is selected, a red box appears around the button and your travels using the globe and timeline will be limited to those categories.
The Operations Buttons
Retrace takes you to the previous screen.
Library takes you to the library. (More below.)
When active, Sound plays a sound associated with the picture.
Print prints the contents of the text window.
Stop ends your Knowledge Adventure session.
The Library
Using the library you can access the help system (as you are now) by clicking on the librarian or the Help sign, look up a topic alphabetically by clicking on a drawer in the card catalog, or play a game by clicking on the game board.
To find a topic, click on a drawer and move through the catalog to a topic that interests you. (You can move more quickly through the catalog list by clicking on the down or up arrow button using the right mouse button.) When you click on the topic you will travel to the screen in which it is discussed.
To play a game, click on the game board and select a level of play from the buttons that appear in the picture window. A clue will appear. Try to travel to the screen that answers it using as few clicks as possible. For a hint, return to the game screen and click on the Hint button. But remember, it will cost you points!
