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VENDINFO | 1996-01-08 | 26.3 KB | 521 lines |
- ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
- │ DC Challenge Electronics Training System v2.0 │
- │ SEE BELOW FOR PRODUCT INFORMATION │
- └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
- ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
- │ This is a VENDINFO Product Information Record │
- │ │
- │ This record is a means of conveying information about a software │
- │ product from the author to distributors and users. It contains a │
- │ normal, "human-readable" section (you're reading it now), followed │
- │ by a compressed data record. The data record contains a great │
- │ deal of information in a form useable by automated tools. This │
- │ allows BBSes, disk vendors, etc. to test automatically for │
- │ permission to distribute, and to automatically extract product │
- │ information for use in BBS files databases, vendor catalogs, etc. │
- │ │
- │ The VENDINFO file standard is published and is freely useable. │
- │ │
- │ The VENDINFO toolset includes a free end-user viewer, processing │
- │ tools for use by distributors (BBSes, shareware disk vendors, │
- │ etc.), and the editor used by author/publishers to produce these │
- │ records. These tools are either free or very-low cost shareware. │
- │ The toolset can be obtained from many sources, including the │
- │ originators of VENDINFO: │
- │ │
- │ Rams' Island Software Voice: 303-841-2848 CompuServe: 76244,324 │
- │ 7644 E. Lakecliff Way BBS: 303-841-6269 FidoNet: 1:104/333 │
- │ Parker, CO 80134-5904 USA RIME: RAMSISLE │
- └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
- VENDINFO standard v1.00, produced by VendEdit v1.00, 24-Oct-1994
-
- ===== Product Information ==============================
- Product: DC Challenge Electronics Training System
- Version: 2.0
- Version Date: 28-Sep-1994
- Product Type: Software
- Basic Distribution Policy (see License, below, for details):
- Shareware, subject to distribution restrictions
-
- Product Description: DC Circuits Training System v2.00 <ASP> (ESC)
- 13 exercises to help you learn or teach
- electricity or electronics. Features random
- problem generation, extensive graphics,
- context sensitive help, and instant scoring.
- Supports mouse, EGA and VGA graphics.
- Suitable for use in high school, college, and
- trade school. By C. E. Ormon. $29.00 single
- copy, site licenses available at reduced
- prices.
-
- Category: College
- Keywords: DC Circuits ELECTRONICS ELECTRICITY SERIES
- PARALLEL OHMS LAW TRAINING AVIONICS
- Required Packages: DCC200
- This Package: DCC200
-
- Required Configuration
- Processor Family: Intel 80x86 (minimum 8086/8088)
- Clock Speed: 10 MHz
- Minimum OS: MS-DOS 3.1
- Standard RAM: 512K
- Hard Drive Space: 650K
- Required:
- Keyboard
-
- Orders:
- Address: ETCAI Products
- P. O. Box 1046
- Gautier, MS 39553
- USA
- Phone: 601-497-2566
- FAX: 601-497-5147
- CompuServe: 72714,1770
- Internet: 72714.1770@compuserve.com
-
- Support:
- Address: ETCAI Products
- P. O. Box 1046
- Gautier, MS 39553
- USA
- Phone: 601-497-2566
- FAX: 601-497-5147
- CompuServe: 72714,1770
- Internet: 72714.1770@compuserve.com
-
-
- ===== Information for Users ("READ-ME") ================
-
- _______
- ____|__ | (R)
- --| | |-------------------
- | ____|__ | Association of
- | | |_| Shareware
- |__| o | Professionals
- -----| | |---------------------
- |___|___| MEMBER
-
-
-
- The DC Challenge System consists of a set of 13 exercises useful for
- aiding instruction of electricity and electronics. A significant feature
- of the exercises is that each problem presented consists of randomly
- selected component values and parameters. Further, the sequence of
- presentation is randomized where possible. The topics covered are
- appropriate for high school, community college, and technical school
- electrical and electronics training. The exercises can be used for drill
- & practice, testing, remediation, and placement determination. Each
- exercise prints out a "certificate" after each run with the student's
- name, elapsed time, and grade earned. DC Challenge is a good first
- introduction to computer use since the interface is so easy to learn.
- Graphics are used extensively in the exercise set.
-
- DC Challenge uses an intuitive push-button shell named DC. Students need
- only type DC to start the DC Challenge System. The exercises are
- selected from the menus using either a mouse, the keyboard, or both.
- Where useful, the ESC key will evoke an on-screen calculator. All DC
- Challenge programs have full-screen editing while accepting answers from
- students. This allows students to make any number of changes prior to
- selecting READY. Most of the exercises have a QUIT option which can be
- found on the ESC menu. Pressing the ESC key in general either produces
- an innocuous action or will offer options.
-
- The set of exercises within DC Challenge were developed to aid and
- supplement training, not act as the primary instructional method.
- Instructors should find some exercises useful whether the main
- instructional method be self-paced, lecture/laboratory or CAI. The
- exercises can play various roles in a training program including
- competency testing, drill and practice, and placement determination. In
- any application, the exercises provide varied on-line activity with the
- advantages of immediate feedback and scoring. More and more students are
- enrolling in Electronic Technology training programs with weak math and
- academic backgrounds. The typical student today requires more practice
- and individual attention to reach an acceptable level of competence than
- was required in times past. Computers and suitable software can help
- students reach their competency goals. A computer and DC Challenge can
- present a student with any number of problems which are instantly
- corrected and graded. Rapid feedback, which immediately points out errors
- and/or congratulates success, encourages mastery of the subject. With
- computers having infinite patience, the diligent student can practice as
- long as needed to master a procedure. A cost of several hundred to
- several thosand dollars per user has kept many schools from using CAI.
- DC Challenge was developed to make computer aided instruction available
- for electrical and electronics training at a very reasonable cost.
-
- MAKING DC Challenge EASIER TO USE
-
- Beginning students who are unfamiliar with DOS can more easily use the
- program if the batch file below is created and stored in the root
- directory of the hard disk.
-
- REM Batch File DC.BAT
- @ECHO OFF
- CD DCCHAL REM (Change to the directory containing DC Challenge)
- DC
-
- Name the batch file DC.BAT. Now all a student need do is boot the
- computer, then type DC to start DC Challenge. The above program assumes
- that DC Challenge is in the DCCHAL directory. Change the CD line if a
- different directory name is used.
-
- OPTIONS
-
- PRINTING - DC Challenge is delivered with printing set to the text mode.
- This produces a rapid but plain student certificate. A graphic print
- mode can be installed which prints a more attractive certificate with
- graphics. The graphic print mode is considerably slower than text mode
- printing. The print mode can be easily changed by starting DC Challenge
- in the setup mode. The setup mode is evoked by typing the command line
- DC SETUP in response to the DOS prompt while in the directory containing
- DC Challenge. A menu will appear which will allow you to choose either
- graphic or text printing. Some printer models may not be compatible with
- the graphic printing mode. Use the setup mode to set your system back to
- text mode if the printer does not produce a proper graphic printout.
-
-
- SCREEN PRINTING - The graphics screens produced by DC Challenge can be
- printed. The DOS file GRAPHICS.COM must be made active prior to running
- DC Challenge in order to get graphic output to the printer. This can be
- done in two ways. (1) Execute the command GRAPHICS/R in response to the
- DOS prompt prior to running DC Challenge. (2) Edit your AUTOEXEC.BAT
- file adding the line GRAPHICS/R. The second method is preferred in that
- the graphics capability is installed upon booting your system. The /R
- option tells DOS to print a reverse image to the printer which appears
- as dark on light as in DC Challenge. A graphic screen print-out can now
- be requested at any time by pressing the PRINTSCREEN key or Shift/PrtSc
- combination (which one depends on the keyboard type). Move the mouse
- cursor to the edge of the screen before requesting graphic printouts
- unless you want to use it as a pointer. Being able to print screens is
- useful to both students and instructors. Students can get printouts of
- problems missed to determine how they went wrong off-line. Instructors
- can use screen printouts to "cut and paste" handouts, examples, and test
- items. For example, display a problem on the screen. Do a screen print
- with the requested answers blank. Next, select the ready button. DC
- Challenge will, of course, say you are wrong on all items and print the
- correct answers. Do another print screen. You now have a test item and
- the answer sheet!
-
- The previous paragraph assumes that you are using DOS 6.2 and a printer
- compatible with the graphics output from DOS. No assurances can be given
- that graphics screen printing will perform properly on all
- hardware/software combinations.
-
- SOUND - Several programs in the DC Challenge series produce sounds at
- various times while executing. The sounds may be distracting if
- several users are in a small area or an open computer room. Sounds made
- by most programs can be disabled or enabled by use of the setup mode.
- Setup mode is entered by typing DC SETUP in response to the DOS prompt
- while in the directory containing DC Challenge. Changes made in SETUP
- mode will remain in force until DC SETUP is run again.
-
- Installation of options will create, or use if exists, a subdirectory
- named SYSTEM within the directory in which DC Challenge resides. The
- existence or nonexistence of the files PRINTER.COM and NOSOUND.TXT set
- the printer mode and sound generation status.
-
- GRADING STANDARDS
-
- DC Challenge grades numeric student answers to a percent of accuracy.
- The tolerance percentage varies from 4 % to 7% depending on the number
- of "chained" calculations required in the exercise. Under certain
- circumstances, this method of grading can appear to defy Kirchhoff's
- law. For example, suppose a series circuit consisting of two resistors
- with 10 volts applied has actual voltage drops of 9 volts and 1 volt
- respectively. A student solves the problem inaccurately with the
- respective answers 9.35 volts and .65 volts. The second answer was
- derived logically from Kirchhoff's law. The first answer would be judged
- correct with an error less than 7 %. The second answer judged wrong with
- an error of 35 % . You can quickly see that students will ask " How
- can the first answer be right if the second is wrong ?". Yet the
- judgment is correct based on percentage of accuracy.
-
- Students should be cautioned not to use zero and letter "O"
- interchangeably. Doing so will cause the program to appear to grade
- items wrong. Entering the characters 1O6,(one, letter "O", six ) looks
- like 106, ( one hundred six ) on the screen after being typed. However,
- the exercise program considers a number ended after the last numeric
- symbol. The exercise would consider 1O6, (one, letter"O", six ) to have
- the numeric value 1 , (one ).
-
- Digital and multiple choice answers are graded for an absolute match
- with the correct answer.
-
- String (text) answers require that students answer with term variables
- in a standard order. The exercises will accept terms in any order.
- Instructions for order are present on the screen for such items when
- needed. Students should be cautioned to avoid inserting extraneous
- spaces in answers. DC Challenge handles all non-decimal numbers as text.
- The
- binary number 101 ,one zero one, and 101_ ,one zero one space, are not
- identical. Extraneous spaces can cause what appears to be a correct
- answer to be scored "wrong".
-
- QUESTIONS and PROBLEMS
-
- I got a printout with the top portion out of alignment. What's wrong ?
-
- The printer should generally be turned on prior to starting DC Challenge
- with the DC command. Turning the printer on while DC Challenge is
- running will occasionally cause the effect you describe on the first
- print request. DC Challenge expects DOS to have initialized the printer.
- How to avoid the problem ? Turn the printer on before starting DC
- Challenge.
-
- Can DC Challenge teach electronics by itself ?
-
- No. DC Challenge is designed to support and complement conventional
- lecture/laboratory or self paced multi-media delivery systems. No
- pretense is made to be a self-instruction system. The author's contention
- is that students learn best when a variety of delivery systems operate
- together to create an interesting learning environment. DC Challenge is
- one of several tools and aids which can be used to enhance instruction.
-
- Are there plans to expand DC Challenge ?
-
- Yes. Exercises RC and RL transient circuits have been requested by
- users and will be developed in future versions.
-
- ORDERING INSTRUCTIONS
-
- To order a single copy of DC Challenge, send your payment of $29.00 to:
-
- ETCAI Products
- P. O. Box 1046 FAX: 601-497-5147
- Gautier, MS 39553 Phone: 601-497-2566
- USA
-
- Your payment can be made in the form of USA currency, check ( USA
- banks), USA postal money orders, and international postal money orders,
- and major credit cards ( see the "credit card" topic below). Your
- registered copy of DC Challenge and a printed user document will be sent
- promptly. You will also receive at no additional cost a copy of AC
- Challenge as a registration bonus. AC Challenge contains eight
- exercises.
-
- SITE REGISTRATION:
-
- Registration fees are $15.00 per user station. The minimum site
- license fee is $75.00 plus shipping ($4.00). The user station count
- should include direct on site copies plus copies to be issued or loaned
- to students to run on their personal computers. Send all orders and fees
- to the address given above. Purchase orders are accepted from any
- credit-worthy institution or organization. Purchase orders can be faxed
- to 601-497-5147 or mailed. Payment can also be made by check, U.S postal
- money order, International postal money order, and USA currency.
- Registered sites will receive a copy of the latest version of DC
- Challenge, a printed copy of the DC Challenge operating documentation,
- three months of support for the current version of DC Challenge and a
- signed license agreement. As a bonus, your site will also be registered
- to use AC Challenge at no additional cost. An unlimited site license is
- available for $395.00. This allows an institution to use an unlimited
- number of copies of DC Challenge and AC Challenge at the physical
- licensed site. The unlimited site may also allow enrolled students and
- employees to use one copy each on a single computer off site. We
- negotiate and supply unlimited site price quotations on request. Some
- small institutions qualify for reduced unlimited license fees.
-
- CREDIT CARD ORDERS:
-
- You can order DC Challenge with MC, Visa, AmEx, or Discover from Public
- (software) Library by calling 800-2424-PsL, (800-242-4775), or
- 713-524-6394 or by FAX to 713-524-6398 or by CIS Email to 71355,470.
- Ask for Item #11424 to get DC Challenge. You can also mail credit card
- orders to:
-
- PsL
- P.O.Box 35705
- Houston, TX 77235-5705.
-
- Please include your Credit Card number and expiration date on credit card
- mail and Email orders.
-
- THE ABOVE NUMBERS ARE FOR ORDERS ONLY.
-
- Any questions about the status of the shipment of the order, refunds,
- registration options, product details, technical support, volume
- discounts, dealer pricing, site licenses, etc, must be directed to:
-
- ETCAI Products Phone: 601-497-2566 CIS 72714,1770
- P. O. Box 1046 FAX: 601-497-5147
- Gautier, MS 39553
- USA
-
- To insure that you get the latest version, PsL will notify us the
- day of your order, and we will ship the product directly to you.
-
-
- MORE TRAINING PROGRAMS FROM ETCAI PRODUCTS ---
-
- Digital Challenge is another training system available from ETCAI
- Products. You get all the Digital and Semiconductor exercises listed
- below for one low price of $29.00 for a single user or $395.00 for
- unlimited use at a single physical site. Licensed sites can allow
- students and employees to use one copy each of Digital Challenge on
- an off site-computer in addition to unlimited on-site use.
-
- Binary Counting Truth Tables
- Octal Counting Boolean Algebra
- Hex Counting D & JK Flip-flops
- Base N Counting Transistor Testing
- Number Conversions Amplifier Analysis
- Logic Gates 1 Advance Amplifier Analysis
- Logic Gates 2 Amplifier Troubleshooting
- Unsigned Binary Math
- Signed Binary Math
- Amplifier Modeling
-
-
- A package named EZ555 is available for $19.00 for single users or $79.00
- for unlimited site use. EZ555 includes two programs. The first program
- is a graphical "cut and try" design program for 555 astable timer
- circuits. The second program, EZAMP, is a "cut and try" design program
- for class A transistor amplifier circuits. The two programs are intended
- for use in training. The material is especially effective when used with
- overhead projectors. The programs can also be used in circuit design.
-
- The prices for Digital Challenge and EZ555 are postage paid prices
- world wide. We accept Purchase Orders for site licenses from any
- credit worthy institution or organization. Please prepay orders for
- single user versions of the programs.
-
-
-
-
- ===== Packing List =====================================
-
- As released by the author or publisher, this package contained the
- following files in addition to this VENDINFO.DIZ:
-
- Filename Size Date Time CRC32
- READ_ME.1ST 216 24-Oct-1994 06:46p EB5EF01B
- OMBUDSMN.ASP 627 24-Oct-1994 06:46p CEB56D21
- READ_ME.BAT 422 24-Oct-1994 06:46p 0E86775B
- CALENDAR.BBX 4374 24-Oct-1994 06:46p D8126D0C
- CASIO2.BBX 37906 24-Oct-1994 06:46p F9D8173C
- MATRIX.COM 39720 24-Oct-1994 06:46p CD2546D2
- PRINTER.COM 23484 24-Oct-1994 06:46p D26DE8F5
- FILE_ID.DIZ 409 24-Oct-1994 06:46p F9B94A7F
- VENDOR.DOC 216 24-Oct-1994 06:46p 8C5E6214
- CHALLDC1.EXE 146841 24-Oct-1994 06:46p C4C3C3BC
- CHALLDC2.EXE 164553 24-Oct-1994 06:46p D09E5A5D
- DC.EXE 138905 24-Oct-1994 06:46p 3EB64ECB
- INSTALL.EXE 70464 24-Oct-1994 06:46p 40EF9CDF
- DESC.SDI 54 24-Oct-1994 06:46p D7A05155
- VENDOR.TXT 216 24-Oct-1994 06:46p 8C5E6214
-
-
- ===== Installation =====================================
-
- DC Challenge requires no installation procedures to run from floppy
- disks. The install program provided can be used to easily install DC
- challenge on your hard drive. To install the program on your hard drive,
- log the floppy drive containing the DC Challenge files, then type
- INSTALL.
-
- The installation program, INSTALL.EXE, is not included with all
- distributions of DC Challenge. The installation program, INSTALL.EXE is
- intended only for use in installing from floppy disks to your hard
- drive. Do not use INSTALL if DC Challenge is already in a directory on
- your hard disk.
-
-
- The install program used by DC Challenge is published by:
- The Goodsoft Co.
- 1630 30th St. Suite 235
- Boulder, CO 80301 USA
-
-
- ===== Support ==========================================
-
- Registered users receive 90 days of free support. Contact ETCAI Products
- for extended support prices. Mail support: ETCAI Products POB 1046
- Gautier, MS 39553 USA, Phone support: 601-497-2566, FAX support:
- 601-497-5147.
-
-
- ===== Warranty =========================================
-
- LIMITED WARRANTY
-
- THIS SOFTWARE AND MANUAL ARE PROVIDED FOR EVALUATION ONLY, ON AN "AS
- IS" BASIS. ETCAI PRODUCTS DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES RELATING
- TO THIS SOFTWARE, WHETHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT
- LIMITED TO ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR
- A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. NEITHER ETCAI PRODUCTS NOR ANYONE ELSE
- WHO HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN THE CREATION, PRODUCTION, OR DELIVERY OF
- THIS SOFTWARE SHALL BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR
- INCIDENTAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE SUCH
- SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ETCAI PRODUCTS HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF
- SUCH DAMAGES OR CLAIMS. THE PERSON USING THE SOFTWARE BEARS ALL RISK AS
- TO THE QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE OF THE SOFTWARE.
-
- This agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Mississippi
- and shall inure to the benefit of ETCAI Products and any successors,
- administrators, heirs and assigns. Any action or proceeding brought by
- either party against the other arising out of or related to this
- agreement shall be brought only in a STATE or FEDERAL COURT of competent
- jurisdiction located in Jackson County, Mississippi. The parties hereby
- consent to in personam jurisdiction of said courts.
-
-
-
- ===== License for Use and Distribution =================
-
- TRIAL USE LICENSE
-
- DC Challenge is NOT a public domain program. It is copyrighted by
- ETCAI Products. This software and accompanying documentation are
- protected by United States copyright law and also by international
- treaty provisions.
-
- ETCAI Products grants you a limited license to use this software
- for evaluation purposes for a period not to exceed thirty days. If you
- continue using this software after the thirty-day evaluation period, you
- MUST make a registration payment to ETCAI Products.
-
- You may not use, copy, rent, lease, sell, modify, decompile,
- disassemble, otherwise reverse engineer, or transfer the licensed
- program except as provided in this agreement. Any such unauthorized use
- shall result in immediate and automatic termination of this license. All
- rights not expressly granted here are reserved to ETCAI Products.
-
-
- LIMITED DISTRIBUTION LICENSE
-
- The following may distribute DC Challenge, completely unaltered, without
- further permission; any ASP disk vendor, any ASP BBS, any user group,
- any on-line service; for other cases or to distribute in modified form,
- you must consult the attached data record, which is hereby incorporated
- by reference. Any distribution satisfying all the distribution
- requirements expressed in that data record is hereby authorized.
-
- Permission to distribute the DC Challenge package is not transferable,
- assignable, saleable, or franchisable. Each vendor wishing to
- distribute the package must independently satisfy the terms of this
- limited distribution license.
-
- U.S. Government Information: Use, duplication, or disclosure by the
- U.S. Government of the computer software and documentation in this
- package shall be subject to the restricted rights applicable to
- commercial computer software as set forth in subdivision (b)(3)(ii) of
- the Rights in Technical Data and Computer Software clause at
- 252.227-7013 (DFARS 52.227-7013). The Contractor/manufacturer is ETCAI
- Products POB 1046 Gautier, MS 39553 Phone 601-497-2566.
-
- ETCAI Products may revoke any permissions granted here, by
- notifying you in writing. All rights not expressly granted here are
- reserved to ETCAI Products.
-
-
- ===== Compressed Data Record Follows ===================
-
- PK