PERSONAL COMPUTING IN BASIC PROCEDURES BASIC (Beginners' All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code) has continued to develop through the years. There are many versions of the computer language that uses words that are similar to English words. It is fun to write in and promotes logical thinking and organization. I personally use BBC BASIC for Windows which I have no connection with; its just a jolly, well-thought out thing. With BASIC, you can write instructions your computer will follow to do simple tasks. When you have the BASIC language, you can see, write and change the actual instructions the computer uses. Programs can also be compiled - that is made into a form that does not show the instruction lines (code). This form is compressed, runs faster and makes computers work even if the user does not have the BASIC language. One big problem with BASIC is that compiled programs (exe files) are blocked on e-mails. EXE files are used to carry viruses, so e-mail providers look vigorously for them and block them. However; the BASIC code itself can be e-mailed. If a person has the BASIC version of the language it was written in, it can be run, looked at, edited, shared. SEE the full article by down loading the product

Here is a statistical game you may be interested in. What I did was give offensive and defensive abilities to fighter you make. There run fights and a winners is determined. There are other programs to find the odds of winning and the payout. There are programs to run automatic tournaments to identify fighters of greater ability. There is a way to run fights quickly and show the winner to winnow through fighters and identify the best.

As many computer boxing game have been made, I make mine. It is a completely set up and watch game. It is based on authentic punches and the defenses for them. You create boxers by given them a number and fight other boxers. The computer also give you the odds you will win and a payout based on it. As a statistical program, it is of interest. I have included the code it is written with.

Do you want to run multiple choice tests with students working together? The Testing Machine allows students to enter multiple choice answers together using one prepared keyboard. The Testing Machine was sought after by the founders of machine learning. This invention uses a standard computer and keyboard to accomplish this task. Because computers have buffers, several keystrokes can be reacted on that are close together. This makes it possible for several students t use on computer. This is useful for teachers working in small groups. A full explanation is included in the program.

BASIC COMPUTER PROGRAMING CLEARING THE BUFFER When you press Enter in a BASIC computer program, the computer stores it and acts on it when it gets a chance. The reason for this is there may be a lag in responding to typing and the computer does not want to lose information. This can cause a problem. If you press ENTER several times the computer will do it again and again even though you meant for only one repetition to be done. There are times you want to clear the buffer, clear commands to get a new clean chance to enter new commands. This is a way to do this: REPEAT X$=INKEY$(0) UNTIL X$="" EXPLAINATION: REPEAT gets an action UNTIL a condition is met. INKEY$(0) takes information from the buffer(keystrokes you make or have made) When all this information is used up, the buffer is cleared. X$="" means the buffer is cleared.

Basic computer language was first brought out in 1963 to allow ordinary people to program computers; before this only specialists could do this and the language was very difficult. When computers became cheap and widely available in the 1980’s, BASIC was part of the package. There are many versions of BASIC based on the same concepts. Commands are listed in order to tell the computer what to do. These commands are the program and can be saved. BASIC is similar to English and has command words based on what the word does. These are many books and web sites on this topic for beginner programmers. Programming is a satisfying endeavor you can get better in. You can write simple programs to do games and tasks. Here are some of the main key words: These simple commands and be combined into complex programs of actions the computer can do again and again. DOWN LOAD this product to see some essential words and ideas.

PLANNING AND WRITING A COMPUTER PROGRAM Computers are awesome and BASIC language makes this vast power available and easy. But, what should you write? It should do something, answer something. I’ve been playing BINGO. Someone claimed there are lucky numbers. At least two theories claim there are better numbers and configurations that win more. DOWN LOAD THE PRODUCT TO SEE THE WHOLE ARTICLE

Computers have a built-in list of random numbers. You can get the same numbers by setting the computer to a place on this list. To get real randomness, you have to set the computer to a random place on the list. The computer keep the time since it was turned on. This is the one thing that is really random. So: N=RND(-4) (You set the computer list with a negative number) Sets the randomness list to the 4th place. Each time you write this you get a list with he same numbers. N=RND(-4) This says set the random list to the 4th place X=1 TO 5 This says go into a loop 5 times Y=RND(10) This says Y is a random number from 1 to 10 PRINT Y This says print the number NEXT X This goes back and does the loop again This program prints out 4 5 8 5 10 every time. However: N=RND(-TIME) This says set the random list to a random place. (The time on the timer.) X=1 TO 5 This says go into a loop 5 times Y=RND(10) This says Y is a random number from 1 to 10 PRINT Y This says print the number NEXT X This goes back and does the loop again Now each time you run the program, you get a different number list. 1 7 5 7 3 2 8 4 1 9 6 5 10 3 7 Putting in a randomizer line is necessary to get real random numbers. It may be useful to have the same numbers at times; for example in a game you may want the same numbers coming out for two players on different computers. You can generate a player’s profile numbers without having to save them with his method too. I was told, when running a bingo game, the organizers know the numbers called before time to prevent disputes; they probably used this method. THE END

PLANNING AND WRITING A COMPUTER PROGRAM PART 2 It is not good to give up too easily. Are there better bingo card configurations? There are theories that say yes! So, if there are such cards you can look for them. What I’m doing is this: Have a computer program to: Make 1000 cards. Play 1000 games with each card. Get a rating number for each card. Have a list of better cards. Compare the new cards with the cards on the second list. Replace cards on the second list if it is rated lower than a new card. Progress: The original rating was 80. After 130 trials, the average rating is now 102.5. It takes around 20 minutes per trial and the computer is working. If the super cards are used and get only a beginner type rating, it is another sign that all cards are equal in their ability to win. This could be that in only 1000 games, a card can get lucky and win more even if it’s ability to win is only average. What I think: All cards are the same, but who knows?

THE BASIC PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE THE POWER IS IN YOUR HANDS IN THE BEGINNING I've been programing since 1983; fourty years! Half way through, I got the BBC BASIC for Windows computer language. In the beginning, I received my Timex computer. It was the model T of computers; cheap, flimsy, available.It could be boosted to 16k and used a tape recorder as a memory drive. It was part of the revolution that used one chip to make a computer; Commador 64, IBM home computer, Radio shack computers and the like. Memory was at a premium and constant backups a necessity because the TIMEX computer had a nasty habit of crashing, so you lost all your work. (TIMEX, the watch company, got involved and cranked out millions of small computers!) SEE THE ENTIRE ARTICLE BY DOWNLOADING THE PRODUCT

WHAT IS THE HORSE RACE GAME: When I was a Speech Teacher, I had a small group of students. At the time, using questions was a therapy method. I wrote a program that accepted answers from up to 8 students answering together. I used it successfully and continually tinkered with it. I lavished my attention on this program. I think I thought of some good ideas. Although my programming style was primative, I am still proud of it and it still works. At that time (2016), I had no people interested in the idea, beyond my local group. (if that). I put in a demonstration of horses using the same race students would use in the Testing Machine. How it Works: 8 boxes are shown on the screen. As students answer on a prepared keyboard, the boxes turn purple. After all students answer, the computer marks them. All questions are two choices (alternate choice). Alternate Choice is another subject. The students number goes across the screen toward a finish line. WHO WINS: I found that a smart student would win all the time. He would taunt others by winning by only one point. This disencouraged students to play. I had the computer pick a winner based on how close they were to the actual winner. The chance to win was expressed as a percent. It was halved for even point behind. Everyone had a chance to win and effort was rewarded. I HOPE YOU LIKE IT: THE HORSE RACE GAME is crude and slow, but the ideas are there. Its program code is cryptic. I have since used procedures which really help make programs orderly. With my ability to put this on the internet with TES, I am presenting it to you. (This is the far future, you know.) I also have a talking TALKING MACHINE on TES you can download. Your ideas are welcome. Paul Skittone 2023