Welcome to Computer Kids! This program is a great way to introduce young children to basic computer skills. This is my first public release of Computer Kids and I hope you find it an enjoyable and educational program for both you and your child.
Through fun activities and games, children can learn and practise mouse skills. The first few times they use the program, parents should help them along. After a short while, kids soon learn to navigate their way around the stack and will eventually be able to use the program entirely on their own. I made an earlier version of this program and gave it to my then two year-old sister who, in less than a year, learned how to use the computer fluently--even skills such as booting up and shutting down.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the system requirements?
This program should run on any Macintosh with System 7.0 or higher, colour, and HyperCard or HyperCard Player 2.1 or higher. It hasn't been tested at all on other Macs besides the one it was developed on, so you may find it doesn't work. If you do have a problem, please tell me and include information about your system number and model of computer, if possible.
How do I use to use this program?
First, start your kids off by going into the "Moving the Mouse" section. Help them move the mouse over the different pictures, gradually letting them try it on their own. When they have mastered that section, introduce them to "Clicking". Explain that pressing the button on the mouse over one of the buttons will produce an animation and sound. Help them to click and then let them try on their own.
When kids are comfortable with pointing and clicking, there are three small games they can play to help them practice. Funny face is the easiest, in which kids can click on eyes, ears, and noses to create their own funny face. Reading is not harder than funny face in terms of mouse skills, but it does require children to be able to read (or at least have a parent who can read the words for them). Maze is the hardest game of all, for the child must recognise where they can click to move forward or backward (in the second maze, try clicking on the objects).
Why can't I see the menu bar?
When Computer Kids starts up, it automatically hides the menu bar so you don't have to worry about kids going into unknown menus. To turn the menu bar back on, press Command-spacebar.
When I opened the program, the Computer Kids colour picture (or the picture on the main menu) moved and is in the wrong spot.
The two colour pictures are windows I programmed to open and they stay "above" the HyperCard stack. When the Computer Kids window is moved, this window stays in the same place. Go to a different card by clicking on one of the buttons and return to the main menu. The window will close and then re-open in the right spot.
Why is the program mainly in black and white?
This program was made in HyperCard--which is usually in black and white. There are ways of using colour, as you will see when the program starts up, but I only know one way to use colour as of yet, and it's pretty hard to use throughout the stack. If I do get any money from this program, it's going to be used to buy a new version of HyperCard (mine is pretty old) and manuals or guidebooks. Hopefully, if this program is a success, I will be releasing more shareware which is full of colour.
How much do I have to pay?
For this program, the price is entirely up to you. If you feel the program was very good, you can send what ever amount you want. If you thought it wasn't very useful, feel free to not send money at all. You won't find many shareware programs that make this claim.
However, I am asking that people who use this software send me a note via e-mail or post about any problems they encountered, any things they especially liked or disliked, or any suggestions they might make.
Enjoy the program!
7/13/98
Tanya Whyte
9817-88 Avenue
Edmonton AB Canada
T6E 2R2
pooney@shaw.wave.ca
P.S- This program is dedicated to Andrea, the one for whom I originally created this program;
the cutest, friendliest, and best little sister possible (•:
