readme.txt ========== Product: mvSigFlags Version: 1.0 Released: 5/1/04 Company: www.mvLearning.com To Install ---------- 1. Unzip the mvSigFlags.zip file to a new directory. It should produce four programs files plus this readme.txt file. 2. After reading this readme file, use your Palm Install tool to hotsync the 4 program files to your Palm device. These files are: * mvSigFlags.prc - the program * dbSigFlagsHelp.pdb - help file for the program * NSBRuntime.prc - the NSB programming runtime * NSBSystemLib.prc - a NSB shared libarary 3. Tap the mvSigFlags icon on your Palm menu to run the program. You will be able to see only the first four (A-D) signal flags and their hints until you register the product. To Register your product ------------------------ Until you register, you can only see the flags and hints for the first four (A-D) flags. Once you register, you will be able to see all 40 flags. 1. Go to www.mvLearning.com for details on how to purchase the product. After your purchase, you will receive a registration code. 2. Run mvSigFlags on your Palm device. 3. Bring up the menu by tapping the upper left corner and select the Help menu. 4. Select the Register... item on the Help menu. 5. In the field provided, enter the registration code you received when you purchased the product and tap OK. To Remove from your Palm device ------------------------------- 1. Go to the Palm home menu screen and select the menu icon and select Delete... 2. To delete the mvSigFlags program, select the program named: mvSigFlags. 3. If you have other NSBasic applications, then you need to leave the NSBasic common libraries. Otherwise, you can delete the programs named: NSBRunTime and NSBSystemLib. 4. If you reinstall later, you will have lost any saved preferences and scores and you will have to re-register the product on the Register screen. Problems -------- If you encounter problems that neither the help system nor this readme file can solve, please check out our web site at www.mvLearning.com. This contains extra information, FAQs and help on how to receive extra help. Install Errors -------------- "...Unable to find lib NSBSystemLib.prc." You have not installed the NSBSystemLib.prc file. It should have been in the mvSigFlags.zip file and must be hotsync'd to your Palm device. "...NSBRuntime not installed..." You have not installed the NSBRuntime.prc file. It should have been in the mvSigFlags.zip file and must be hotsync'd to your Palm device. "...Help file not installed..." You have not installed the dbSigFlagsHelp.pdb file. It should have been in the mvSigFlags.zip file and must be hotsync'd to your Palm device. "I can see only the first four flags (A-D)" You must register to see all 40 signal flags. Go to www.mvLearning.com to determine how to purchase the program (it is also available on other sites for purchase). Once you have received your registration code, run mvSigFlags and select Help/Register and enter your code. Introduction to Mnemonic Learning ================================= mvSigFlags is designed to help you quickly learn the International Marine Signal Flag letters and numbers and easily test you on your knowledge until you get them all correct. We also include the NATO phoenetic alphabet which is in use by the U.S. Navy today. The mv in mvSigFlags stands for "Mnemonic Visual" learning. This describes the practice of helping your memory remember items by associating that item with a visual or graphic image that is easier to remember. Most often, the more unique and bizarre the associated image is, the easier it is to remember. The hint provided for each flag in this program is such a mnemonic aid. Many of them seem almost silly but that helps lodge the image in your long term memory. The hints often link the image to the phonetic alphabet word (such as "Whiskey" for W). Or we display hint words with the flag letter in parenthesis (such as "(B)ombs (B)lowing up" for B). To associate the hint with the flag, form in your mind as graphic a picture as possible. Make it funny, silly, or stupid...it doesn't have to make sense. You want it to stand out in your memory. Focus on the part of the hint that contains the letter in question. As you use mvSigFlags, use the hints to reinforce the images and ensure they are imprinted in your memory. Then, use the Test mode to test your progress. When you return to Manual mode, you can display only the flags that you still do not know. This method has been successfully used to teach signal flags to Navy lookouts, Boy Scouts and sailors. Try it...you should be pleasantly surprised. HELP ==== Mode ---- Select the mode in the upper right hand corner or from the Mode menu. Tutorial: Tap the letter/number at the bottom of the screen to display the flag/meaning of that character. Tap on the Hint button to display/hide the hint for that character. (You can set default behavior of hints on the Preferences menu.) Test: You will be asked to resume a previously unfinished test if you have one or start a new test. Then, you can select whether you want to be tested on All flags or just the ones you missed on the last test. Once you select the desired test, the timer starts. Tap the character at the bottom of the screen that corresponds to the displayed flag and continue as flags are displayed until the test is over. Your score and elapsed time are displayed. If the test was for all flags, the score will be saved in the database and the flags that you missed will be displayed whenever the "Missed" category is selected (until the next full test). If you need help, you can press the Hint button at any time but that flag will then be counted as missed. The test can be paused by switching apps, powering down the unit or pressing the Pause button at the top of the screen. You will be given the chance to resume paused tests later if desired. Auto-run: This displays the selected category of flags (e.g. All or Missed) in random order. The flag is displayed, then the hint and finally the meaning of the flag. The display times for each of these displays can be changed on the Preferences screen. Tapping the Stop button near the top of the screen, or tapping anywhere on the screen will stop Auto-run. Simply tap the Start button to resume. Missed vs. All -------------- Tap this button to select all flags or only the flags that were missed during the last full test. Hint ---- Tap this button to display the hint for the displayed flag. This will be the mnemonic hint that should help you remember the flag. The Preferences screen contains an option to control whether the hint is always displayed while in Tutorial mode. In Test, it is off by default. In Auto-run, it will always be displayed for the number of seconds set on the Preferences screen. Preferences ----------- Display flag: The time in seconds to display just the flag while in Auto-run mode before the hint is displayed. Display hint: The time in seconds to display the hint while in Auto-run mode before the meaning is displayed. Display meaning: The time in seconds to display the meaning while in Auto-run mode before the next flag is displayed. Show hints in tutorial mode: Select this if you want the hints always displayed for each flag while in Tutorial mode. Display Scores -------------- Displays a screen with the scores from the last 4 tests taken and finished. The time and number of hints needed are also displayed. Clear Scores ------------ This clears all test scores that have been saved. Otherwise, the program saves only the last four scores. Register -------- mvSigFlags is shareware that will display only the first four flags and hints. You can go to the website at www.mvLearning.com for details on registering the product. Once you have received the register key, select this menu to enter it to unlock the full product.