The Unsorted BBS Collection/thegreatunsorted.tar/thegreatunsorted/misc/fixes

Text File | 1994-11-06 | 8KB | 160 lines

The FREEWARE program Morse Academy is a Computer Aided Instruction (CAI) based
program  that  teaches Morse code through  various games  and  sessions.   The
Learning session  introduces  characters from the keyboard and via a flashcard
mechanism  that relates sounds  and images  of the characters.   The Receiving
game  provides  immediate  feedback  for  characters  sent  and  copied.   The
Endurance session helps the student extend his  skills  by playing against the
computer in an attempt to build the length of time he can copy correctly.

The  Proficiency  session  allows  longer  session  copying text either on the
computer keyboard or with paper and pencil.  Actual tests generated by  MA can
be  used  for  practice.   The quality of the tests allows them to be used  to
administer examinations.   Actual  ASCII  files  for tests and keys for use by
VE's (Volunteer Examiners) are produced and can be printed.

MA is distributed by the ARRL VEC, NARA, TIARA, W5YI, and other organizations.
Organizations wishing to  distribute  MA  can obtain a royalty free license to
distribute the program with their "advertisement" on the main menu.

MA supports sound output via the PC's sound chip,  the Disney Sound Source, or
an ADLIB/Sound Blaster compatible music card.   There are also instructions on
how  to build your own sound card that operates from the printer port  (useful
for notebook portable operation). The quality of audio output from music cards
is  good  enough to produce professional  code  test  tapes.   If anyone has a
suggestion for adding additional sound boards or other keying devices,  please
let me know.  We are interested in extending support for more sound boards.

MA  now  supports  RS232  and  parallel  port  keying,  compatible with N3JT's
interface designed for K1EA's CT (Contest Logging program).

MA supports family or group  sign-on's so that students at different levels of
skill can independently save their own options and history logs.

There are many other features described in detail with on-line HELP and in the
50 page ASCII manual included in the release.

Version 5.2a of MA can be found in LIB 7 ("CW/Morse") in the file MA.ZIP.   If
you want to learn CW or just upgrade your skills, Morse Academy can help you.

Best 73 de Joe Speroni, AH0A/7J1AAA

The following is a recent history for changes made to MA.  Many of the changes
were the result of suggestions from users.  Your inputs would be welcomed.

Changes from 5.1s to 5.1t
  1. Corrected code in the Receiving game (where the problems was first
     reported) to take care of elapsed time calculations when the gane
     is being played just prior to midnight.  (the elapsed time clock
     resets to zero at midnight).  This correction was also made to other
     timer measurements in the program.

15 Feb 94
Changes from 5.1t to 5.1u
  1. Corrected minor keyboard check for (P)roficiency menu options that
     incorrectly treated characters less than hex 20.

27 Mar 94
Changes from 5.1u to 5.1v
  1. Change (P)roficiency menu handling of ESC key to give one additional
     intermediate menu before returing to main menu (as all other sub menus
     do).
  2. Changed timing at start of (R)eceiving game so it is a constant wait
     before the first character is sent (regardless of the character speed
     selected).
  3  Added frequency parameter to the <ss:cc> in the (K)eyboard files
     so that two or more voices on different frequencies can be simulated.
     (parameter was added, but not being used -- maybe the next release).

09 May 94
Changes from 5.v to 5.1w
  1. Correct line number of display of port address for ADLIB (Sound Blaster)
     tone genrator when using othe than default 388h port address.
  2. Increased maximum number of characters for user weighting input from
     20 to 40 characters.
  3. Added code to complete multiple voice (different CW notes) when sending
     from the (K)eyboard session.  Also allowed colon, comma, semicolon, or
     slash (division sign) as delimiters between values inside brackets, e.g.
     <20,30:1200> and <20:30;1200> are identical and mean an average sending
     speed of 20WPM, a character speed of 30WPM and the note frequency of
     1200 Hz.

04 Sep 94
Changes from 5.1w to 5.1x
  1. Fixed problem when typing ahead on the Endurance session that caused the
     next trail to continue with the speaker off.
  2. Changed all speed setting from all menus to be global.
  3. Added a short word option to the (R)eceiving game
  4. Improved the screen painting time for the (R)eceiving game.
  5. Reviewed and edited the MANUAL.PRT with corrections and to reflect
     feature added recently.
  6. Saved index to .KB files so that the student can easily know which
     test was last used.
  7. Disabled space input into the (R)eceiving game.

01 Oct 94
Changes from 5.1x to 5.1y
  1. Added English words option to (E)ndurance game.
  2. Changed timeout value in the endurance game to 10 seconds to allow
     copying behind a longer period at fast speeds.
  3. Changed format for displaying the copied string to show up to 50
     characters for each trial.
  4. Fixed (R)eceiving game so that the initial sending speed is always
     returned to the speed at the start of the game.
  5. Added a prompt to the (G)enerate menu to remind the student that the
     (P)roficiency sessions will send tests generated.
  6. Added prompt information to the (O)ption (C)olor menu to show
     the current color selections, and extended the border color option
     to the full range of 15 available colors.

01 Nov 94
Changes from 5.1y to 5.1z
  1. Added (F)inal speed options to the (R)eceiving and (E)durance menus
     which are now the maximum average sending speed resulting from
     one WPM increments every 20 correct answers.
  2. Implemented fixed and random length groups, as well as short English
     word transmit options for the (E)ndurance session.
  3. Changed the names of the (T)ransmit options for all menus to longer,
     hopefully clearer names.
  4. Changed the random length character algorithm to make the selection
     of lenghts more like English word length.
  5. Changed minimum number of characters for study in the (L)earning
     menu from one to two.  Fixes a program hangup problem when generating
     random characters strings where the rule on not sending the same
     character twice can not be satisfied when only character is selected.
  6. Change the Group size to be universal across all menus, rather than
     different for each menu.
  7. Added the short English word option to the (P)roficiency session and
     changed the mode transmission selection to be via a new (T)ransmit
     option [deleting the old (U)se file option].
  8. Changed option selections display using low intensity video to
     indicate those options not applicable for a given transmit mode.
  9. Made the (D)uration options in the (R)eceiving game and (P)roficiency
     sessions integer inputs from 1 to 9 minutes.
 10. Corrected minor errors in error messages handling in (G)enerate
     tests file name processing.

08 Nov 94
Changes from 5.1z to 5.2a
  1. Updated the on-line help and MANUAL.PRT to match the changes in the last
     few versions.
  2. Changed logic to remove delay in sending first character from all
     sessions.
  3. Removed printing of extraneous "0" from (L)earning menu screen when
     keyboard was enabled.
  4. Optimized code to reduce size.


The following features have been requested and are candidates for
implementation in future releases:

        - a method to take tests on the screen.
        - a modified Farnsworth method to possibly allow easier copying
          of code (an experiment to be tried)
        - addition of a test generation option for practice tests to the
          (P)roficieny session
        - Modifications to allow MA to be used as a Keyer for on-the-air
          use

Please drop me a note  if you have any suggestions of ideas to improve MA,  or
make it easier to use!