Colour The Alphabet 2

                    Copyright © 1993 Duncan Moran



     The original Colour The Alphabet was one of the first programmes
I wrote for the Amiga.  I then knew very little about the Amiga and
even less about AMOS.  One year on and....not much has changed really!

     This is a complete rewrite of that original.  It retains the
quintessential core - colouring the alphabet - but now has sampled
voices, more options, a new game section and stereophonic effects etc.

     You progress through various option screens setting the programme
to suit the user.  The default setting allows the youngest user to
start colouring without having to change any of the options.

     First choose to colour letters, numbers or shapes.  The selection
is made by pointing and clicking on the word itself.  The currently
selected item is shown in green.  Once you have made your choice click
on Continue.  You may leave the programme by clicking on Exit here.

NTSC Users:  After making your selections point at a "dead" part of the
             screen and press the RIGHT mouse button to continue.  To
             EXIT on the 1st option screen click BOTH buttons.  You
             may need to click several times before these register.
N.B. Colour = Color.  Zed = Zee. Programme = Program. Football = Soccer.

     The second screen is where you select the required level....

        Easy Peasy -  Only the colour is identified as you click on the
                      palette.

          Middling -  The colour and object (letter/number/shape) are
                      identified.  When you have finished  colouring you
                      will be asked to count how many have been coloured
                      with each colour. Press a number key on the keyboard
                      to enter your answer.

     Tricky Tester -  The colour and object to be coloured are specified.
                      You count the objects coloured as above.

              Game -  This level is only available when colouring letters.
                      It is played as for the Tricky Tester level but you
                      race against the clock.  The faster you colour the
                      higher your score.  Bonus points may be gained by
                      counting the number coloured when asked.  You will
                      notice a bucket of whitewash following you around
                      the screen.  This may tip and wash away your paint.
                      If you have a top score you are asked to type in your
                      name. The score is saved on the disc.


     The final selection is of the various options not all of which are
available on all levels or with all objects.

     minuscule or MAJUSCULE - little or big letters.
           Named or Sounded - letters are named or sounded phonetically.
       Sequential or Random - letters or numbers are displayed in order
                              or jumbled; although not really random!
          Background colour - switch between lighter/darker shades of grey.


Notes:

Loading samples:

The voice samples are loaded the first time an option is selected. You
can avoid the "Loading..." delay by not swapping back and forth between
letters, numbers and shapes.

Phonetic pronunciation:

It should be borne in mind that this can only be an approximation of the
relationship between the written letter and the sound it produces.  The
letter 'i' has around twenty possible sounds!  You can phonetically sound
an 'o' add an 'n' and produce 'on' add an 'e' and sound 'wun'!?¡  Eggs is
eggs and X is ex...compare luXury & luXurious.  Then give up!

Counting shapes & numbers:

At the end of level 2 & 3 you are asked to count how many items you have
coloured with each colour.  Although this is not much of a challange with
shapes and numbers I decided to leave it in so that very young users can
count the ones and twos that are usually produced.

Oh Zero or Nought:

After extensive research (I asked the kids playing football in the street)
the number 0 was deemed to be called "zero".  It should be pointed out
that it could well be "nought" or is even "oh" - 081 811.......

Game Scores:

The score on the Game level is set so that the young user can understand it.
You may well be familiar with this type of exchange....

         Adult: Well done - you have scored 203,548!
         Child: Wow! Is that more than 17?