Instructions for

!Amaze

General

This manual assumes you are familiar with the use of the standard RISC OS applications. If you do not know how to use the filing systems or the windowing system in the Acorn 32 bit computer, then you should read the Welcome guide that comes with your machine. It explains how to find your way around the operating system.
The discs on which we have supplied the StrongArm programs are unprotected, so you are advised to make backup copies and/or copy the files onto a hard disc.

All of the StrongArm programs use a resource area called !CogSys to access a number of files that are used by more than one program. !CogSys needs to be seen by the filer for correct operation so it should either reside in the main directory of the hard or floppy disc or be run explicitly in the boot sequence. If an error box appears with the message 'Cog Rehab System can not be found', please find a disc containing !CogSys, mount the disc and then double click on the !CogSys icon.

The minimum specification to run this program by itself is RISC OS version 3.1 or above and 1 megabyte of memory. If the program is being run in conjunction with any of the data monitoring systems an additional megabyte of memory will be required.

Introduction

!Amaze is a maze learning program involving sequential spatial memory. There are 4 levels of maze difficulty and 4 equivalent mazes at each level. There are also 3 modes of operation providing a wide range of possibilities.

Running the Program by Itself

All of the programs for the StrongArm Cognitive Rehabilitation System are stored in a pseudo application directory called !CogProgs which should be residing in the main directory of the hard or floppy disc. To view the contents of !CogProgs double click on the !CogProgs filer icon. This will open a directory viewer showing all of the installed programs. Locate the icon for !Amaze and then run the program in the standard RISC OS fashion by double clicking on this icon. When the program starts it announces itself with a banner and then - after a few moments - opens a full screen window.

Running the Program Under !DiscMon

If you are using one of the data monitoring systems such as !DiscMon refer to the appropriate documentation as to the manner in which the subsidiary cognitive rehabilitation programs are started.

Supplied Help File

In this program of you must find your way through a maze with as few errors as possible. This task is made more difficult by making the maze boundaries invisible so you must find your way by trial and error.

Before you start the exercise you may want to change a few of the options from the default settings. This can be done by pressing the middle or MENU button of the mouse over the main window. The main menu will appear and you can change the input device, the difficulty level, the maze number and the type of maze learning paradigm utilized.

There are three choices potentially available for input. These are mouse, keyboard or 'concept keyboard' (if an appropriate I/O podule is present).

There are four specific levels of difficulty: Easy, Moderate, Hard and Very Hard. These levels vary in the number of choice points found in each maze - the more choice points, the greater the difficulty. At each difficulty level there are 4 equivalent mazes to choose from.

There are three modes of maze learning available. These are: Standard, Trail and Restart. A brief description of each follows.

Standard: In this mode if a correct move is made, you will advance to that position, leaving no indication of where you have come from. If you make an error a red 'X' will appear in the spot you attempted to move to, but you will be left in the same position.

!AMaze being operated in either Standard or Restart Mode

Trail: As in Standard mode, if you make a correct move you will advance to that position. However; in Trail mode you will leave an indication or trail of where you were previously. If you make an error a red 'X' will appear in the spot you attempted to move to, but you will be left in the same position.

!AMaze being operated in Trail Mode

Restart: The Restart mode differs from the Standard mode only when an error is made. If you make an error a red 'X' will appear in the spot you attempted to move to, and you will be put back in the starting position. Note - this can be very frustrating so use this mode with caution.

If you are using the mouse, you can start the game by moving the pointer over the 'Start' icon and 'Selecting' by pressing the left (SELECT) button on the mouse. If you are using the keyboard or concept keyboard, press the SPACEBAR.

You are now ready to move from the starting corner of the maze. This is done by:

1) Moving the pointer over the arrows on the left side of
the display and 'Selecting' the direction of movement by
pressing the left (SELECT) button on the mouse.

2) If using the keyboard, pressing the correct arrow (or cursor) key
for the direction you wish to go.
or
3) If using a Concept Keyboard (Overlay 3) press the
arrowed area corresponding to the desired direction.

When you have made your move you will have immediate feedback as to whether it was correct or not.

Keep working until you get to the 'END' box in the maze. When this happens you will be given some information about how you did. The goal is to be able to traverse the maze with no errors. It is not expected that anyone can do this immediately. Everyone has to learn the maze and it will therefore take a number of attempts before you succeed.

The 'Help' or 'Cheat' screen that appears if the '?' icon is clicked.

When you do succeed the first time, pat yourself on the back, take a 'deep breath' and try the maze again. The criterion for learning is defined here as 2 consecutive error-free attempts. When you manage this, take a well-deserved break.

This is what you see if you manage to make two consecutive error-free trips across the maze.

Results screen for !AMaze that appears when the results icon is clicked.

Main Menu Choices

Choice of Input Device

Choice of Difficulty Level

Choice of Maze

Choice of Maze Learning Paradigm

Program Information

Variables

C% Condition (1 to 12)
1 Standard Easy
2 Standard Moderate
3 Standard Hard
4 Standard Very Hard
5 Trail Easy
6 Trail Moderate
7 Trail Hard
8 Trail Very Hard
9 Restart Easy
10 Restart Moderate
11 Restart Hard
12 Restart Very Hard
D% Maze Number (1 to 4)
E% Consecutive Corrects
F% Moves
G% Errors
H% Elapsed Time (in centiseconds)
I% Input Choice (1 to 3)
1 Mouse
2 Keyboard
3 Concept Keyboard
J% Number of Tries at this Maze
K% Number of duff moves
L% Number of Helps
M% Cumulative Errors

In Config file
Variables that can be altered for start-up Default Values
C% 3
D% 1
I% 2

Sample Level 1 Maze

Sample Level 2 Maze

Sample Level 3 Maze

Sample Level 4 Maze