The World's Simplest Computer Copyright (c), 1990, 1991 by Chester Langin, all rights reserved Langin Software 532 W. 3rd St. Centralia, IL 62801 CIS: 73770,615 _______ ____|__ | (tm) --| | |------------------- | ____|__ | Association of | | |_| Shareware |__| o | Professionals -----| | |--------------------- |___|___| MEMBER Users of "The World's Simplest Computer" must accept this disclaimer of warranty: "The World's Simplest Computer" is supplied as is. The author disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, including, without limitation, the warranties of merchantability and of fitness for any purpose. The author assumes no liability for damages, direct or consequential, which may result from the use of it. <<< Page 2 >>> Table of Contents Welcome 3 What is it? 3 Who is it for? 5 Installation 6 Tutorial 6 Appendix A -- A list of files 7 Appendix B -- Langin Software 8 <<< Page 3 >>> *************** ** Welcome ** *************** Welcome to "The World's Simplest Computer." ******************* ** What is it? ** ******************* "The World's Simplest Computer" is a 66-page book which illustrates the basic operation of digital electronic computers. It is not a program. Rather, it is a collection of computer art files, in the GIF format, which illustrate basic concepts of personal computers. The computer art was accomplished in the EGA 640x350 12-color format. However, it can be viewed by any computer which can display GIF files of this resolution or better. Sorry, CGA will not work well enough. The concepts covered in the book are . . . Bits, bytes, nibbles, and words and how they represent numbers, letters, and ideas. How bytes represent ASCII and pixels. How ASCII letters are converted to pixels. Addresses, the CPU, RAM, the bus, interrupts, chips, and memory maps. How a computer adds bytes. Computer hardware: Disk drives, the keyboard, the video display, circuit boards, dip switches, and other add ons. Bugs. <<< Page 4 >>> What happens when . . . A program is loaded A program is executed A document is typed A document is printed A document is saved The basic work routine: Load program Load data Change data Save data Writing a program . . . Loading the language Typing the new program Translating the code Computer "intelligence" The world's simplest computer All concepts are illustrated. The concepts apply to all types of personal computers, not just IBM compatibles. <<< Page 5 >>> ********************** ** Who is it for? ** ********************** This book is for four types of people: 1) Computer beginners. 2) Intermediate computer users who "just don't understand" what is going on inside a computer. 3) Experienced computer users who need to train the above two types. 4) People in computer stores who can use it as a slide show display. ******************** ** Installation ** ******************** This book does not supply a program to view the files. You must supply your own. Many GIF viewers are on the market, and no single one is "the best." It depends on what computer you are using and on what type of video display you have. Many of these viewers are located on CompuServe in the GRAPHSUP forum in LIB 3 (Decoders & Encoders). That said, the book has been tested on VPIC (see the tutorial) for IBM compatibles. To find VPIC, search the filename VPIC*.* on the above-mentioned forum and library. For general help on graphics, enter GO CIS:PIC-1 on CompuServe. Once you have a viewer, place all of the files for this book in a unique directory. Start the viewer and specify the directory which contains the files for this book. Start with PAGE00 and continue in order to PAGE64. Go at any time to PAGENDX which contains the index to the book. <<< Page 6 >>> **************** ** Tutorial ** **************** If you are reading this on your computer screen, you should first print the manual. Make sure all of files are in the default directory. Refer to a DOS manual to see what this means. To print the manual, enter PRINTMAN from the DOS prompt. It is assumed that you will be looking at the printed manual as you try out the book. This tutorial is for VPIC (see "Installation" on where to find VPIC). However, many other GIF viewers can also be used to display this book. The tutorial is a series of steps. 1) Start VPIC (you may need to set it up, first, for your particular type of video). 2) Press and then enter the directory which contains the files for this book. 3) The files should be displayed on the video screen. They will be from PAGE00 to PAGE64 plus PAGENDX. 4) Highlight PAGE00 and press . You will see the title page. When you are ready, press . 5) Highlight PAGE01 and press . You will see Page 1. Press when ready. 6) Select each page in order until you are finished. 7) To see the book as a slide show, use the space bar to highlight every page. Then press, . Each page will be displayed in order for a few seconds each. Press to stop the slide show. 8) To exit the program, press . <<< Page 7 >>> ****************** ** Appendix A ** ****************** A list of files. PAGE00.GIF to PAGE64.GIF and PAGENDX.GIF are the files which contain the book, itself. Other files included are: MANUAL.TXT This file! PRINTMAN.BAT A batch file to print the manual. README.TXT A file with important information. README.BAT A batch file which displays README.TXT. ORDERFRM.TXT The order form to register. REGISTER.BAT A batch file which prints the order form. VENDOR.DOC A text file with information for shareware distributors. <<< Page 8 >>> ****************** ** Appendix B ** ****************** Langin Software. The author, Chester Langin has written a paperback book, "An Easy Course in Using DOS," illustrated by Virginia Rohrbacher. You can order it from Grapevine Publications by calling 1-800-338-4331. They accept credit cards. It's $22.00 plus postage and handling. The author has a program, "DosEA -- For Absolute Beginners," which is a hypertext tutorial on using DOS. You can download it from CompuServe (DEA.ZIP in the IBMAPP LIB 11) or send $5.00 to Langin Software. The registration fee is $39.00. It gets you a copy of the book, too, plus another program, "DosEA -- Find that Command!" which helps you find DOS commands to do your computer chores. You may also like "Hangman for Students," the classic hangman game with word lists divided by grade level, from Grade 1 to Grade 5 -- also junior high and senior high. Kids like it. Make your own word lists. Get a sample copy for $5.00. For the registration fee of $19.00, you get a supplemental program which allows ASCII text file word lists to be changed to a format useable by "Hangman for Students." On CompuServe, it is in IBMNEW LIB 6. Another program by the same author is "Tear Down the Wall," which builds a brick wall on the computer screen. You break out a brick and see how much falls. The more that falls, the more points you get. Play against the computer. Listen to Pink Floyd while you play (not included). Work out your aggressions. $5.00 gets you a sample copy, or register it by sending $9.00 and get a hint sheet, too. On CompuServe in IBMNEW LIB 6. "Nine Men's Morris" is an ancient game of strategy you can play against the computer. It is like tic-tac-toe, but more complicated. It looks easy, but isn't. Sample copy: $5.00. Register for $9.00 and get a tip sheet. On CompuServe in IBMNEW LIB 6. <<< Page 9 >>> Other programs are under development. Use LANGIN for a keyword search to find them on CompuServe in the coming months. Or, register any of my programs and you'll be updated on future developments. You can contact Chester Langin in the following ways: !NOWRAP CompuServe: 73770,615 GT Power Network: Node 011/000 Mail: 532 W. 3rd St., Centralia, IL 62801 !WRAP Non-USA orders add USA $5.00; use funds drawn on USA bank.