        Document tnytap.txt V1.1 (Mar 15 93)

	Title    : Tiny Tapper for Toddlers
                   A child's very first computer learning game.


        Introduction
        ------------

	A game that allows very young children to "TAP" safely at the
	keyboard.  Each key produces a different sound, picture or
	activity. The child actively participates and is always left in
	control.

	When my small son first started to play with my computer
	keyboard I was distressed to find how often his random tapping
	would call up programs or totally freeze the computer. I
	therefore looked around for some suitable software, which would
	amuse him and protect my PC.  Although the few software programs
	that I found were impressive in their presentation and graphics
	and praiseworthy in their attempts to teach the young player, I
	felt that often the actual game was tedious or required too
	high a level of competence . I therefore decided to write my own
        software.

	I decided that the main principles of the S/W should be that the
	child should be amused, that it should be simple but still have
	variety, that events should not happen too quickly, that the
	child should participate and retain control and that he should
	learn without being conscious of it.  Tiny Tapper thus developed
	to keep pace with the capabilities and interests of my son as he
	grew from 1 to 3 years.

	The simplest features require the pressing of only one key, thus
	each of the digits 0 to 9 produces a different sound.  These
	sounds include a drip and a doorbell. Pressing "O" causes a star
	to be drawn on the screen subsequent pressing of a key causes
	another 10 concentric stars to appear. Pressing "P" passes the
	game into "Piano" mode, each key then produces a different
	frequency sound; "Escape" or "Return" allow this mode to be
	exited. As the child gains experience he can try pressing "G" he
	is then required to type "BRM" (in any order), further
	pressing of keys causes a picture of an automobile to be drawn
	step by step; for younger children the necessity to type "BRM"
	may be by-passed by pressing "Escape".  The key "D" causes the
	game to go into "Draw" mode, the cursor keys are then used to
	draw lines on the screen. Other keys hide a ringing telephone, a
	helicopter and a boat.

	Keeping him busy had been the main priority, even so he learnt
	his way around a keyboard and soon remembered which letters or
	numbers produced his favourite effects. The game has proved to
	be a good preparation for other children's software such
	as the excellent "Amy's Primer".

	No installation is required, Tiny Tapper may be run directly
	from a floppy disk. It is designed for a standard compatible PC
	with a VGA (640*480) graphics card (Not CGA compatible).


        Some Comments from those registering
        ------------------------------------
        Erich is learning his letters and numbers at a rate that amazes me
        and I think the credit belongs to you.

        Wesley is only 10 months old and enjoys Tiny Tapper.

        I have recently loaded Tiny Tapper and I think it is absolutely
        wonderful. (Shira Ann)

        Please personalize Tiny Tapper for Sarah (2 years and 4 months)
        because she will love to see her name.
        Protection against bashing
        --------------------------
        In order to protect Tiny Tapper running out of control if a child
	pressed too many keys at once or held one pressed down the following
        mechanisms have been built in :-

        (i)
        Keyboard buffer emptied regularly so that only a key pressed after
	the end of each section is taken into account.
        (ii)
        The same letter is not accepted twice in a row.
        (This rule is relaxed sometimes inside a game)

        Hardware Requirements
        ---------------------
        IBM PC or compatible.
        VGA 640x480
        Not downwards compatible (CGA will not work (Regretfully))
        No mouse required (or supported).


        Installation
        ------------
        Tiny Tapper exists in two forms compressed and uncompressed.
        The compressed form is called TNYTAP.ZIP and the uncompressed
        form is called TNYTAP.EXE. In future it will only exist as
        TNYTAP.ZIP. TNYTAP.EXE may be used directly, TNYTAP.ZIP must be
        first unzipped ie

        PKUNZIP TNYTAP

        Personalized versions may be named after the child concerned,
        for example SARAH.ZIP.

        Warning
        Some downloaders such as CIM download files as NONAME.TMP. NONAME.TMP
        should be renamed to TNYTAP.ZIP and then unzipped.

        PHILOSOPHY
        ----------
        Child should participate and feel in control!

        Any child able to sit up, or be held up to the keyboard, should be
        able to have have fun playing Tiny Tapper.

        Keyboard entry slowed down so that the game does not race ahead of
        the child, even if the child is very rough with the keys.

        Games short and non tedious. Difficult bits may always be by-passed
        with ESCape (and sometimes return) (enter).

        Lots of nooks and crannies to explore.

	Educational element is modest :-
          Introduction to a keyboard
          Memorisation of which key does what.
          Learning the relationship between action and reaction.

        I hope Tiny Tapper can give children the confidence to tackle
	other children's educational programs.

        Instructions per key
        --------------------

	Key A  Ant
	----------
	An "ant" moves in a random  fashion until he hits an edge.
	No child participation required.

	Key B 
	-----
	Each key press draws a smaller concentric ring. If no key is
	pressed the rings appear automatically.

	Key C    Chasing Game
	-----
	The four cursor keys are used to bring the "O" up to the "*". When
	the two symbols touch they both disappear in a tangle of color.
	The chased * moves randomly to try and escape the chaser (O).
	(pressing ESCape or enter ends the game)


	Key D
	-----
	The four cursor keys are used to draw lines on the screen.
	Every time the direction is changed or the edge of the screen is
	reached the color changes. After a certain number of direction
	changes the lines move diagonally. Extra feature touching the
	home or "end" keys causes the line to change from being square to
	round.
	(pressing ESCape or enter ends the game)

	Key E
	-----
	A coil of loops is drawn.
	No participation is possible.

	Key F
	-----
	A grid containing the letters A, B & C appears typing these three
	letters (in any order) causes with each subsequent key press a
	randomly positioned star to appear.
	(Pressing ESCape bypasses the grid)

	Key G
	-----
	A grid containing the three letters B,R & M appears,typing these
	three letters (in any order) allows the child to construct a car
	with successive key strokes.
	(Pressing ESCape by-passes the grid)

	Key H
	-----
	Successive key presses construct a helicopter. When complete
	there is a realistic helicopter noise.

	Key I
	-----
	A series of balls are drawn following a projectory.
	(No participation)

	Key J
	-----
	A grid containing the three letters B, I & K appears, typing these
	three letters (in any order) allows the child to construct a bike
	with successive key strokes.
	(Pressing ESCape by-passes the grid)

	Key K
	-----
	A series of concentric radar rings are drawn. Subsequently
	planes track across the screen.
	(No participation)

	Key L
	-----
	Each key pressed draws a randomly placed, colored and sized circle.

	Key M
	-----
	A series of mazes are drawn on the screen, each of a different
	color. These mazes are drawn slowly using thick lines.
	(No participation)


	Key N
	-----
	A series of mazes are drawn on the screen, each of a different
	color. These mazes are drawn quickly using thin lines.
	(No participation)

	Key O
	-----
	Each key press draws a progressively larger concentric star.

	Key P
	-----
	Each key pressed produces a "note" calculated from the key's ASCII
	code.
	(pressing ESCape or enter ends the game)

	Key Q
	-----
	A series of noises are emitted produced using the random feature.
	(No participation)

	Key R
	-----
	Successive key presses construct a rocket with a celestial backdrop

	Key S
	-----
	A flying saucer crosses the screen. The backdrop is of a 1000
	flashing stars.
	(No participation)

	Key T
	-----
	Successive key presses construct a telephone, when complete there
	is a realistic ringing noise.

	Key U
	-----
	A grid containing the three letters B, A & L appears, typing these
	three letters (in any order) allows the child to construct a series*/
	of progressively smaller concentric balls.
	(Pressing ESCape by-passes the grid)

	Key V  Personalised
	-------------------
	Key V is the personalised key for those having registered.
	The child's name appears on the screen written in small characters
	Pressing the letters in the name cause the characters to grow
	larger. When the characters are at their maximum size a butterfly
	dances across the screen.
	If two child's names have been registered these names appear
	alternately.

	Key W  Write (Typewriter mode)
	------------------------------
        Up to 48 characters may be written to the screen. When the screen
	is full the characters disappear one by one.

	Key X  Ship
	-----------
        A grid presenting the digits 1,2 & 3 appears pressing these digits
	allows a ship to be constructed.

	Key Y
	-----
	Each Key pressed causes a match-stick man to jump.
	(ESCape or enter terminates the game)

	Key Z
	-----
	A tune is played.
	(No participation)

	Key 0
	-----
	A chaotic series of circles, stars and letters appear on the screen.
	(No participation)

	Key 1
	-----
	Each key press produces a randomly drawn polygon

	Key 2
	-----
	A noise of a stone dropping is made.

	Key 3
	-----
	The noise of a phaser is made.

	Key 4
	-----
	The noise of a charge is made.

	Key 5
	-----
	The noise of a photon is made.

	Key 6
	-----
	The noise of a bird is made.

	Key 7
	-----
	The noise of water dripping is made.

	Key 8
	-----
	The noise of a buzzer is made.

	Key 9
	-----
	The noise of a flying saucer is made.

	Key #
	-----
	Displays the hex worth of each key pressed.

	Key RETURN
        ----------
	Key \ or /
	A three by three grid is displayed containing the digits 1-9.
	Once these 9 digits have typed (in any order) subsequent key
	presses construct a tank engine
	(Pressing ESCape bypasses the grid)

	History
        -------
V1.0    Nov 1990 Creation
V1.4    May 1992 Uploaded to Compuserve (EDFORUM)
V1.5    Jul 1992 Distributed by Pearl Agency in Germany
        Nov 1992 Tiny Tapper is featured in Compuserve magazine (page 8)
V2.0    Nov 1992 Exit from Tiny Tapper only with confirmation facility added.
V2.1    Jan 1993 Control C or Break exits immediately facility added.
V2.3    Feb 1993 Color aliasing problem solved.
V2.4    Mar 1993 Write (typewriter) feature added


        Future improvements
        -------------------
        Screen Saver (March 1993)
        Grid BAL and BIK to be updated to BALL & BIKE

	Final word
        ----------
        I wrote Tiny Tapper out of my love and pride for my son Thomas,
        I hope this shows in the game. It is intended to be a child's very
	first introduction to a computer, when this is the case, even older
        children have can have great fun exploring all the nooks and crannies
	of Tiny Tapper.

        Registering
        -----------
        Registered users have the right to receive a personalised version,
	one or two children's names may then be incorporated into Tiny Tapper.
        They will thus automatically receive the latest version of the
	program and the documentation. A registered version includes a built-in
        screen-saver, the screen-saver operates automatically if no key is 
	pressed within a two minute period.

        Tiny Tapper is freely distributable (but must not be altered), 
        and may be passed on to friends and family.

        Registration Fee
        ----------------
        At Present I intend to donate ALL fees received to a children's
        charity. Further details will follow.

	The registration fee of $12 or 20DM or 8 pounds entitles you   
	to the full version, which may be personalised (send forenames
	of up to two children) and has a built-in screen-saver.      
	(Part of the proceeds will go to a childrens charity)       

        David Rayner     
	Mozartstr 31       
	D W7257 Ditzingen-Schoeckingen
	Germany                
	
	Home (010 49) 7156 8948  
	Fax  (010 49) 7156 18275  
	E-Mail (INTERNET) 100010.1040@compuserve.com

        Program  : Tnytap.zip  (approximately 49KB)
