                KP  Typing Tutor International Generation
                           Version 4.1

                       Copyright (C)  1996

                            Zijian Huang

                 All Right Reserved               Shareware



KP Typing Tutor International Generation 4.1 with virtual keyboard and palms
supports most of the keyboard templates and alphabet languages, supports the
Dvorak keyboards as well; flexible and alternatives courses provides more free
choices to users of various characteristics and experience; KP encourages 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
* Introduction to Functions
* Suggestion to Learner
* Learning to Type
* Suggestion to Teachers
* Distribution
 (In file "readme2.txt")
* How the batch files work
* Suggestion to network managers
* How to modify or produce a keyboard template file
* Update the game
(In file "register.txt")
* Registration and Payment Form
* 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 software.

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REQUIREMENT

The KP requires the following minimum equipment to run properly:
	* IBM PC, XT, PS/2, 80X86, or any 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
*.txt
*.bat
*.key
kp.rec

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

kpworldg.exe      The running program
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      Registration 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
kpgame.txt        Defining the content of the game

NOTICE:
New keyboard template files and course files supporting other keyboard
templates and alphabetic languages may be added later without advance notice.

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 seven parts:
1. Course
2. Letter Practice
3. Sentence Practice
4. Text Practice
5. File
6. Game
7. 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.

4. 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 favourite 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.

6. Game
=======
This typing game will help you improve the speed of typing after you just
learn to touch type, in a fun way.

While playing the game, you will see words falling from the top to the bottom;
at the bottom, there are three lines of block. You type a word, a "bullet"
will thrust to the word, and then the word disappear, and your score increase.
If you let a words go straight to the bottom "colliding" with the blocks, both
parties will disappear, and your score will decrease. This is a typical typing
game of falling words. You will see more details when you play the game.

The difference between this typing game and other similar typing game is:
KP typing game keeps the unique style of KP Typing Tutors -- flexible,
allowing you to modifying the content of the game. For more details,
please read "readme2.txt" about the game.

You may interpret the scene of the game in any way, for example, you may
regard the falling words are strikers from outer space, the blocks at the
bottom is a city and you are trying to protect the city; you may regard the
falling words are lovely stuffs, the blocks at the bottom are candy and ...
just interpret the game any way you like. If you find some of the words
offensive or you don't like some of words disappearing under the action you
take, for the reason of your belief or religion, you may simply modify the
game text file.

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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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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 used 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".

If you are teaching a group of children, you may would like to disable the
game function of this typing tutor in case they prefer to play game rather
than learn touch typing first. Please read "readme2.txt" for more details.

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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.

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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Wish you learn to type soon.


Zijian Huang

Tel:   +44(UK)     0421 377903

E-mail:  n4521661@mailserv.ncl.ac.uk
