Hardware requirements: Any computer capable of running Hypercard 2.0 and it might work with Hypercard IIGS using Hypermover. I haven't tried it.
Introduction.
Have you ever talked to your computer, has your computer ever talked back? If you have used a program like Eliza then you probably were stunned at first and then quickly became tired of limited responses and responses that didn't make any sense. If you haven't, then you are in for a treat. Professor X is a nonjudgemental usually very understanding psychotherapist.
The Menus:
Professor X has four menus,Apple,File,Edit and Professor X
New in this version is the ability to Open, Save, and Print transcripts. The saved documents can be opened with any text editor or word processor.
The Edit menu contains the standard Editing cammands — Undo, Cut, Copy, Paste and Clear.
The Professor X menu includes options to show/hide the transcript of the current session,to choose among Macintalk speech, built in speech, or no speech, to hear a rap made by yours truly, and the Upgrade option.
You can have Professor X to repeat a response by clicking anywhere on the first text field.
If you have a particularly interesting or for that matter lame conversation with Prof. X, please don't be hesitant about sending it to me via E-mail.
You can control the volume of Professor X's voice by using the sound control panel.
Please send me E-mail about what you think of this program, bug reports, and suggestions for improvement. I try to continue to improve all versions of Professor X based on suggestions of people who "talk" to him.
Shareware fee:
Here's the deal. If you use Professor X, please send me E-mail telling me what you like or dislike about it or just tell me that you out there somewhere in cyberspace using Prof. X.
But, if you really LOVE Professor X and you want to donate to The Broke College Student Fund, you can send $10.00 to the address below. If you don't wish to send any money, that's okay. I would still like E-mail. Trust me,. I won't hound you about sending in a shareware fee if you E-mail me. This isn't guiltware.
Attention: Apple II users ( 128K Apple //e,//c,//c+,//gs, and Mac with //e Card)
I made a version that works with the Apple // series of computers. This version has voice synthesis and The Professor Raps, and you don't need any extra hardware for it.
For those few proud remaining Applesoft BASIC programmers (I know you're out there somewhere). I'll even include complete instructions on how to add voice synthesis to your own programs and how the program was made, for the low low cost of $10.00 plus $3.00 shipping. (Specify 5-1/4 or 3-1/2). Please E-mail me before sending any money.
Attention Hypertalk Programmers:
I know you have a propensity to modify stacks and you can modify any of the existing responses. But, DO NOT, change the number of lines in any of the hidden card fields because this will have major repercussions. This stack is in no way password protected.
Attention: MS-DOS and Windows users:
Even though you really should have a Mac, I'm working on converting Professor X to Qbasic. It should be available by the end of June. It will appear first on AOL.
VERSION HISTORY
3.1
No longer starts over after choosing the "About Professor X" menu command
3.0.1
Fixed bug that caused Professor X not to speak
3.0
Fixed a few remaining "unfeatures" including one that caused Prof. X to repeat responses.
Improved About screen.
Added more responses and keywords.
Reorganized scripts, menus, and response data.
Changed background (labels and patterns).
Compacts stack automatically when the freesize is over 20K. (If you don't know what that means, don't worry about it.)
Reformatted documentation
Added color icon.
Added ability to open, save, and print transcript.
Doesn't access hard drive after every response. (Done at request of Powerbook users.)
Now includes both Macintalk and built in voice synthesis.
2.0:
Fixed many major "unfeatures" (pronounced "bugs")
Has built in voice synthesis so you no longer need MacinTalk
Added upgrade routine that allows you to merely download a text file containing a script instead of redownloading the whole stack when I make improvements.
Added a custom icon
1.0:
Initial release
Acknowledgements:
I would like to thank the few users out of more than 600 who sent me E-mail on Prof. X. I would especially like to thank Melissa, Zfried, Larry W and the other regulars on the Members Helping Members board on AOL.
Legal Stuff:
I, Karl Thomas, am not to be held responsible for any bad advice this program gives you.
This is freeware, shareware, drop-a-line-ware or whatever-other-kind-a-ware you choose, but this is not public domain software! I keep any rights that I am suppose to have for making this (whatever they are) and any commercial distribution of this program without my permission is strictly prohibited.
You can change it if you want to, but please don't upload changed versions of my software. I would however appreciate E-mail on how you modified it. I might want to include the modifications on future versions (I'll give you credit of course).
Upload Professor X and this documentation to other online services please.
The XCMD that allows Professor X to talk came off a stack that was labeled as public domain. I don't know who the author is and if you know I will be more than happy to give credit where it is due.
Professor X cannot be included on any commercial product (CD-ROM, book/disk combos, etc.) without permission. If you decide to upload it to other services, please e-mail me first.
BTW, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE send me E-mail. Tell me what you think, bug reports, or just say "I downloaded Professor X v.3.0"
