                KP  Typing Tutor International Generation
                           Version 4.0

                       Copyright (C)  1996

                            Zijian Huang

                 All Right Reserved               Shareware



KP Typing Tutor International Generation 4.0 with virtual keybaord and palms
supports most of the keyboard templates and alphabet languages, supports the
Dvorak keybords as well; flexible and alternatives courses provides more free
choices to users of various characteristics and experience; KP encourage you
learn to type as soon as possible, shorten your total learning time as much as
possible.

MAIN CONTENT:
(In file "readme.txt")
* Requirement
* Install and Run
* Introducion to Functions
* Suggestion to Learner
* Distribution
* Learning to Type
* Suggestion to Teachers
* Suggestion to Network Managers
(In file "readme2.txt")
* How the batch files work
* Where to get a most original copy of KP
* How to modify or produce a keyboard template file
* Turn to the Dvorak keyboard
(In file "register.txt")
* Registeration and Payment Form
* Invoice
* Licence Agreement for Single-User
* Licence Agreement for Network [Public Computer Lab]
* Copyright Note
* Technical Support
* Comment Form

If you want to turn to the Dvorak keyboard typing style, please also read the
file "dvorak.txt" with this sfotware.

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REQUIREMENT

The KP requires the following minimum equipment to run properly:
	* IBM PC, XT, PS/2, 80X86, or IBM compatible
	* MS-DOS Compatible - All versions from 3.0 and up
	* 640 KB memory
	* Monitor (Mono, EGA/VGA)

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INSTALL  and RUN

KP file list abstract:
=====================
*.exe
*.cfg
*.txt
*.bat
*.key
kp.rec

KP file list and description:
============================

kpworldc.exe      The running program
kp.cfg            The config file
kp.rec            The user record

readme.txt        User manual (This file)
readme2.txt       Some technical details of KP useful to teachers and network
                  managers
register.txt      Registeration form, licence agreement, copyright issues
                  (Please print "readme*.txt" and "register.txt")
dvorak.txt        Introduction of the Dvorak keyboards

kpuk.bat          Batch file to start KP, using UK keyboard template
kpukf.bat           using an alternative keyboard template for UK keyboard
kpukm.bat           using mono mode in mono monitor

kpus.bat          for US keyboard
kpusf.bat           using alternative keybaord template for US keyboard

kpdvorak.bat      for Dvorak keyboard, with Dvorak course
kpdvoraf.bat        using alternative keyboard template

uk.key            keyboard template for UK keyboard, a text file
ukf.key           an alternative keyboard template for UK, different colors

us.key            for US keyboard
usf.key           an alternative keyboard template for US, different colors

dvorak.key        for Dvorak keyboard
dvorakf.key       alternative keyboard template for Dvorak keyboard

kp.txt            Text file for skilful practice
kpcourse.txt      Course file for the QWERTY keyboard
coursed.txt       Course file for the Dvorak keyboard

NOTICE:
New keyboard template files and course files supporting other keyboard
templates and alphabetic languages may be added later without advance notice.
Please check any KP typing tutor WWW page or contact the author for further
information.

You may select your favourite course for practice, by modifying a batch file.
Other text files can be used as sample source files. For more details,
please see the document "readme2.txt".

It is recommended that you run KP via a batch file. In Ms-Win, you can just
double-click the icon of a "*.bat" file to make it run.

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INTRODUCTION TO FUNCTIONS

The functions of KP are divided into six parts:
1. Course
2. Letter Practice
3. Sentence Practice
4. Text Practice
5. File
6. Help
0. Exit

You can type the appropriate number or initial capital letter to select
a function. YOU DON'T HAVE TO FOLLOW THE ORDER OF THESE FUNCTIONS TO PRACTISE.

1. Course
=========
This function is for beginners who like to be guided to practise step by step
from the very beginning.

Following the prompt (instruction) on the screen, you will be given a line of
sample text. There are also a virtual keyboard and palms shown on the screen.

Then you can type characters following the sample. The key that should be
typed is illustrated by blinking the appropriate key of the virtual keyboard
and the appropriate virtual finger.

When you press a key , the character will be printed on the screen under the
sample. If the character that you typed is not correct, the character will be
echoed with inverse format.

When you accomplish typing the sample and press one more key, the speed and
accuracy rate will be shown.

You can terminate the current line of practice by pressing the Enter key, but
the speed and accuracy rate are not given.

IT SHOULD BE NOTICED that when the first character is typed, a beep will
sound, and the stop watch start to run until the line has been finished.

You can use the Backspace key to delete what has been typed.

To train yourself for good manner of typing, just look at the sample, try not
to look at the prompt of the virtual keyboard and palms, never look at the
keyboard.

2. Letter
=========
This function is for users who are in beginner level and want to practise a
few letters first. You can input what you want to practise and then practise.

When you input a character string as a sample, the character that you input
and the virtual finger that you should use will blink. You may use the
Backspace key to modify. After you press Enter, the string will be repeated
several times to fill a line shown on the screen as a sample. Then you can
type characters following the sample.

For example:
You input "afet koe";
then the screen will show "afet koe afet koe afet koe afet koe afet koe ..."

3. Sentence
===========
This function is for users who are familiar with most of the key locations and
want to practise more skilfully.

A sample from a text file will be shown on the screen. There are also a
virtual keyboard and palms shown on the screen. Then you can type characters
following the sample.

When you accomplish typing the sample and press one more key, the speed and
accuracy rate will be shown. The line that you typed will be cleared. A new
sample line will be shown randomly.

You can terminate the current line of practice by pressing the Enter key, then
the current sample and input are cleared, but the speed and accuracy rate are
not given, a new sample line will be shown, waiting for you to practise.

You can press Esc at any time to go back to the main menu.

You can use the Backspace key to delete what has been typed.

3. Text
=======
This function is for those who know all the key locations and want to type
faster or test their speed with a long article, simulating the real office
typing environment.

The program will ask you to indicate how many (like 5, 15, 218) lines you want
to practise. After you input a number, several lines of text will be shown on
the upper part of the screen, the cursor will be on the lower part waiting you
to type. Within a line, you can delete.

When you finish all the lines selected, the speed and accurate rate will
be shown.

You can press Enter to terminate input of the current line and go to next
line, but the letters left behind are regarded to be typed incorrectly. You
can also press Esc to go back to main menu.

This function combined with function 4 can also be useful for competition of
typing. For more detail, please read the document "readme2.txt".

If you select too many lines out of the total lines of the text file, then the
whole text file will be used.

5. File.
========
You can re-define a text file as source of sample text. This function will
change the text sample source used by function "Sentence Practice" and "Text
Practice".

YOu may use this function to select texts of your favouriate subject to
practise.

In function "Text Practice", if you select too many lines out of the total
lines of the text file, then the whole text file will be used. Function "File"
combined with function "Text Practice" can also useful for competition of
typing.

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SUGGESTION TO LEARNER

1. Use all your fingers to type. With your fingers curved and positioned
upright, place your fingers on the home keys "A S D F J K L ;"; Place your
thumbs slightly above the space bar. You may easily return your fingers to the
home keys by the index fingers detecting the 'F' and 'J' keys.
2. Hit the keys with your tips gently; Use one of your thumbs to press the
space bar; Use your right little finger to press Enter, then return the
finger to the typing position. Though the little fingers are shorter, you make
sure the little fingers touch the home keys.
3. To type a upper case character, press Shift with the little finger of
one hand, while it is fully pressed, strike the letter key using a finger of
the other hand, then release the Shift key.
4. Always make your fingers are on the home keys after striking keys out of
home.
5. Never look at the keyboard. Try your best not to look at the virtual
keyboard and palms, unless you forget the key location or which finger
should be used.

* Any time you can press the Esc key to go back to the previous status.
* When you press the first character in practice, the stopwatch starts to
run, until you accomplish the practice and strike one more key.
* You may use the Backspace to delete. But this is not recommended in the very
beginning.
* You can learn to type within 12 hours in one week, or 16 hours in two
weeks, or 22 hours in three weeks.
* Take it easy and learn it easy. You can teach yourself in the way you like.

Several Mistakes Many beginner might make in the very beginning:
1. Always forget the return fingers to the home keys;
2. The little fingers always hang in the air without touching the 'A' and ';'
keys.
3. Forget to make the fingers be curved;
4. Can not resist the temptation to look at the keyboard;
5. Too eager to type faster, don't care about the accuracy

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DISTRIBUTION

You are very welcome to redistribute KP if all the files listed in document
"readme.txt" are included and without any modification.

All the files of this software are recommanded to be packaged in a compressed
file like "kpmost.zip".

The distribution that involve commercial benefit should follow the terms of
the copyright note and the licence agreements of KP Typing Tutor International
Generation.

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LEARNING TO TYPE

What is the standard for learning to type?
* At least, you can type A-Z using at least nine of your fingers without
  looking at the keyboard.
* Or you can type a sentence at a speed of 60 keystroke per minute, or 15 WPM.
* Or you can type as fast as you write.
* Or you can type at a speed of more than 240 keys per minute or 40 WPM.
...

My opinion is that A-Z is enough for a beginner, other symbols can be
neglected in the beginning.

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SUGGESTION TO TEACHERS

It is possible and recommended to change the content of practice according
to your flavour and the situation of your students. You may produce your own
text files as samples to be sued by KP.

KP provides two keyboard template styles each for the UK keyboard and the
US keyboard. If you want to modify the color of the keyboard template, please
refer to document "readme2.txt".

You may get some ideas if you compare the running of 'kpus.bat' and
"kpusf.bat", then compare "us.key" and "usf.key", and then read "readme2.txt".

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SUGGESTION TO NETWORK MANAGERS

If you happen to be a network manager of a windows environment, you might
produce several program icons to start various "*.bat" files that indicate
various practice styles. Please notice that MS-Window contain a Dvorak
keyboard driver, you must install it previously. Some vendors also provides
the Dvorak keyboard driver for DOS environment.

Please also read "How the batch files work" in file "readme2.txt"

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Wish you learn to type soon.


Zijian Huang

Tel:   +44(UK)     0421 377903

E-mail:  n4521661@aidan.ncl.ac.uk
www:     http://www.ncl.ac.uk/~n4521661
