Play and Learn 2/19941.ZIP/19941/EDUCMATH/HYPERGEO/README.1ST

Text File | 1994-02-04 | 16.3 KB | 357 lines

    Welcome to HYPERGEO and the realm of the fourth dimension!

    In HYPERGEO you have acquired a graphical research tool for the
    investigation of the nature of the geometry of hyperspace.  With this
    software and your personal computer you will have the ability to
    envision objects that are inaccessible to normal human perception.  The
    insights that may be obtained into the shape and structure of the
    mysterious universe of four-dimensional hyperspace should prove
    fascinating to a wide range of computer users, from the beginning
    or casual student of geometry and algebra to the advanced scholar.  All
    that's needed is a measure of mathematical curiosity and the
    intellectual openness to be intrigued by the subtle complexities of
    nature.  In addition to its usefulness as a serious mathematical
    program, HYPERGEO can be enjoyed solely for the visual, aesthetic value
    of its intricate geometrical displays.

    This "read me" file is meant to be the first thing you look at when you
    receive your copy of HYPERGEO.  It contains enough information for you
    to get the program installed on your system and to try an initial
    execution.  It also describes the software distribution method known as
    "shareware" and gives details on the registration process.

    The full documentation of HYPERGEO is contained in the file HYPERGEO.DOC
    which is included in the set of files that accompany the program; that
    documentation is where you should ultimately look for a complete
    understanding of HYPERGEO and how to use all its features.

    Both this README.1ST file and the documentation file, HYPERGEO.DOC, are
    formatted for direct output on any line printer.  You can make copies of
    them by using the DOS COPY command.  For example,

        C> COPY  HYPERGEO.DOC  PRN

    Note: If you have more than one printer on your system, use the
    appropriate LPTn device name in place of PRN.

    HYPERGEO is a program for the IBM PC and compatible machines.  It was
    developed under PC-DOS 3.3 and MS-DOS 5.0, and should run under earlier
    DOS versions as well.  The system should have a minimum of 256K bytes of
    memory; more may be required when using the program to study larger,
    more complex geometrical objects.  Either an EGA, VGA, or Hercules
    display device must be present.  A mouse is useful but not required.  A
    math coprocessor (such as an 80287 or 80387) is very desirable to
    improve the computer's performance but is also not required.  There is
    currently no special version of HYPERGEO for either Windows 3.x or OS/2;
    this version should run without problems as a full-screen DOS program
    under both environments.



    Section 1.    Files Distributed with HYPERGEO


    The material you received with your HYPERGEO distribution set should
    contain all of the following files:


        README.1ST   - This file.

        HYPERGEO.EXE - The actual executable HYPERGEO program.

        HYPERGEO.DOC - The full user's guide and program reference manual.

        REGISTER.FRM - A file that can be printed to create a blank form for
                       registering a shareware copy of HYPERGEO.

        HYPERGEO.ICO - An icon file for use under Windows 3.x.

        HYPERGEO.PIF - A Program Information File for running HYPERGEO as a
                       full-screen DOS application under Windows 3.x.

           5CELL.GEO - Geometry definition files that describe various
          16CELL.GEO   geometrical objects that can be viewed and studied
          24CELL.GEO   using HYPERGEO.
          BLOCKS.GEO
            CUBE.GEO
          DODECA.GEO
              HG.GEO
        HYDODECA.GEO
         HYICOSA.GEO
          HYOCTA.GEO
        HYPRCUBE.GEO
         HYTETRA.GEO
           ICOSA.GEO
            OCTA.GEO
          STELLA.GEO
           TETRA.GEO




    If you did not receive all of these files, you do not have a correct and
    legal copy of HYPERGEO.  You should contact the distributor from whom
    you obtained the program.

    Depending on how you got HYPERGEO, you may have some additional files
    other than those listed above.  Software distributors often include such
    things as file unpacking utilities, installation utilities, and general
    informational files with their releases.



    Section 2.    Installing HYPERGEO


    HYPERGEO does not have any complicated installation requirements.
    Basically, it is designed to be executed from a single directory, and
    all of the program material (including data files) should reside in that
    directory.  The directory for the program should be created using the
    DOS MKDIR command.  For example, to create a directory named HYPERGEO at
    the root level on drive C:, use the command:

        C> MKDIR  C:\HYPERGEO

    Of course, you can use whatever hard disk drive and directory name you
    wish.

    It is possible that you received HYPERGEO through a software distributor
    who has packaged the program in a compressed form.  This is commonly
    done to save diskette space for mail-order shipments, or to minimize
    telephone connect time for direct down-loading of the program via a
    modem.  If this is the case, there will be an unpacking procedure that
    must be followed to extract the individual files that comprise HYPERGEO
    and that are listed in Section 1.  The software distributor should
    supply complete instructions for performing this unpacking step.  Once
    it is run, you should have the full HYPERGEO program file set on your
    system.  The only additional step needed to complete installation is to
    copy the HYPERGEO files into their final target directory; if the
    unpacking was already done into the target directory, the installation
    is complete.

    If you received HYPERGEO on a diskette and the files do not require any
    special unpacking, all that's needed is to copy them onto your system.
    To copy the HYPERGEO files from a diskette in drive A: to the directory
    created in the example above, you would use the DOS COPY command:

        C> COPY  A:\*.*  C:\HYPERGEO


    If you are one of the vanishing breed who do not have a hard disk in
    their system, you will need to run HYPERGEO from a diskette.  If you
    received the program material as normal, uncompressed files, you can
    use the diskette directly as is (you should probably make a duplicate
    copy of it first for back-up).  If your distribution diskette is
    compressed, the special unpacking procedure supplied with it should tell
    you how to unload the uncompressed HYPERGEO files onto a working
    program diskette.



    Section 3.    Getting Started


    Sooner or later you should read the full program documentation which is
    contained in the file HYPERGEO.DOC.  However, if you'd like to take an
    immediate look at HYPERGEO without totally understanding what you're
    doing, this section will guide you through a quick trial run using a
    handful of the program's key features.

    First, be sure you are in the directory with the HYPERGEO program files.
    To use the example directory from the previous section, C:\HYPERGEO, you
    would use the DOS CD command:

        C> CD  \HYPERGEO

    Only two files are absolutely required to be in this directory for
    HYPERGEO to start up: 1) the executable program file itself,
    HYPERGEO.EXE; and 2) the geometry definition file for the hypercube,
    HYPRCUBE.GEO.  (The geometry definition file is the basic input to
    HYPERGEO.  It contains a description of the structure and size of the
    geometrical object to be viewed.)

    To run HYPERGEO, you simple type the name of the executable program file
    (the .EXE extension may be omitted):

        C> HYPERGEO

    As described in the documentation, there are a number of command-line
    options that could be used here to select various features of the
    program, but since this example uses no options, HYPERGEO will apply all
    of its defaults; in particular it will use the default geometry
    definition file which is HYPRCUBE.GEO, the four-dimensional hypercube.

    The program should take a few seconds to read the data from the file
    HYPRCUBE.GEO and to create the initial display.  The HYPERGEO
    Information Window will then appear in the center of the display.  This
    gives a summary of the topology of the current object being examined -
    in this case a hypercube - plus some additional display parameters.
    Press any key to remove the Information Window.  You should see what
    looks like a perspective view of a cubical outline.  This cube is the
    three-dimensional shape that results from slicing the four-dimensional
    hypercube with a three-dimensional hyperplane.

    The primary means of examining a hypergeometrical object is to rotate
    it and view it from all angles.  HYPERGEO allows you to do this.  Try
    pressing the various function keys F1 through F6.  These produce
    rotations in each of the six planes determined by pairs of the four
    coordinates of hyperspace.  You should notice that some rotations cause
    the cubical shape to change; its corners may become flattened, and new
    edges may appear in the faces.  This shows different perspectives of
    the hypercube as it is intersected by the hyperplane at varying angles.

    If you have a mouse on your system, you can use it to perform the same


    rotations invoked by the function keys F1 through F6.  Move the mouse so
    one of the selection boxes labelled YZ, XZ, XY, XW, YW, or ZW is
    highlighted.  Hold down either the right or left mouse button.  The
    hypercube will rotate in hyperspace, and the shape of the 3-D
    intersection displayed on the screen will change accordingly.

    The mouse allows you to continue to rotate the geometry as long as the
    button is held down.  The same effect can be achieved with the function
    key rotations by combining the keystroke with the Ctrl key (for example,
    first press and hold down Ctrl, then press one of the function keys F1
    through F6 once).  This causes the selected rotation to continue
    automatically until it is halted by pressing any key on the keyboard.

    By default, HYPERGEO starts up in what is called "perspective display
    mode"; this is what produces the perspective view of the cube's outline.
    There are five different display modes that can be selected by pressing
    the appropriate key (after first stopping any automated rotation by
    pressing any key):

            Key         Display Mode
            ---         --------------------------------

             A          Stereoscopic anaglyph
             H          Hidden-line
             O          Orthographic
             P          Perspective
             S          Solid

    Try pressing each of these five keys to view the different display
    modes.

    Note: The stereoscopic anaglyph mode requires special red-blue "3-D"
    glasses to view.  A pair of 3-D glasses is included with every
    registered copy of HYPERGEO.

    Another default parameter of HYPERGEO causes it to start up using one of
    the two available forms of 4-D geometry imaging, in particular,
    intersection with a three-dimensional hyperplane.  This is indicated by
    the entry "4-D Section" under the GEOMETRY heading in the menu area.
    The other possible technique for geometry imaging is projection onto a
    hyperplane; the 'G' key toggles between these two alternatives.  When
    you select 4-D projection imaging, the GEOMETRY entry in the menu area
    changes to "4-D Project".  With 4-D projection imaging only three of the
    five display modes are available: stereoscopic anaglyph, orthographic,
    and perspective.

    There is on-line help available that gives a quick description of each
    of the commands that can be used to perform interactive manipulations of
    the geometry in HYPERGEO.  You can bring up the on-line help screen by
    pressing '?'.  Feel free to experiment with any of the commands listed
    there, but remember that the documentation file HYPERGEO.DOC should be
    referred to for a full understanding of the features of the program.

    To exit from HYPERGEO and return to DOS, press 'Q'.



    Section 4.    Registering a Shareware Copy of HYPERGEO


    HYPERGEO is not public domain or free software.  It is a copyrighted
    computer program that is made available and distributed as "shareware".
    Shareware is a method of releasing commercial software products that
    eliminates some of the problems that arise from traditional methods of
    retailing.  In particular, it allows the prospective customer who is
    interested but hesitant an opportunity to try out the program and
    evaluate it for free (or after paying at most a nominal fee for the cost
    of the diskettes and their shipping).  The recipient of a shareware copy
    of a software product is licensed to use the program for a limited time
    (typically 30 days) for the purpose of deciding whether or not it is
    worth purchasing.  At the end of that evaluation period, to avoid being
    in violation of United States and international copyright laws, the user
    is obliged to do one of two things:

        1) cease using the program and never, ever use it again, ever;

    or

        2) send money.


    Anyone receiving a complete and legal shareware copy of a software
    product is free to (indeed, is encouraged to) make additional copies of
    the product and distribute them to other prospective customers.

    The registration price of HYPERGEO is $20.  By paying this amount and
    becoming registered customers, users of HYPERGEO will receive the
    following benefits:

        1)  They will be shipped a copy of the latest version of HYPERGEO;
        this is liable to contain fixes and features that are not yet
        available in the shareware version.

        2)  They will receive a pair of red-blue "3-D" glasses that can be
        used with the program's stereoscopic (anaglyph) display mode.  The
        glasses are of reasonably high quality plastic and are considerably
        more comfortable and durable than typical cardboard 3-D glasses.
        They are also considered more fashionable in most social circles
        than Scotch-taping pieces of colored cellophane to your eyebrows.

        3)  Registered customers will receive priority treatment when
        requiring technical support.  In particular, any registered customer
        who reports a major bug will receive a free fix as quickly as I can
        program it.

        4)  Registered customers will be placed on the HYPERGEO mailing list
        and will be notified of forthcoming upgrades to the program.

        5)  Registered customers will all have clear consciences and will
        sleep like logs.


    The file REGISTER.FRM, which is included with the HYPERGEO distribution
    material, can be printed to create a blank form to use in registering.
    (This form is also contained as an Appendix in the main documentation
    file HYPERGEO.DOC.)

    The $20 registration fee includes free shipping (U.S. mail) within the
    U.S. and Canada.  Massachusetts residents should add 5% for the state
    sales tax.  Payment should be made by check, payable to my name, Stuart
    Esten.  Cash is also OK.

    For all orders outside the U.S. and Canada, add $5 for shipping.
    Payment should be via an International Money Order denominated in
    dollars.  Cash is also acceptable for foreign orders; use the current
    exchange rate as published in a major and reliable financial newspaper
    and round up.



    Section 5.    Technical Support


    I am currently unable to offer telephone support.

    The quickest way to contact me is through my Compuserve address,
    70521,1036.  Messages posted there will usually be received daily.

    General comments, suggestions, complaints, and miscellaneous
    communications (not to mention registrations) can also always be sent by
    mail to:

                    Stuart Esten
                    33 Banks Avenue
                    Lexington, MA  02173
                    USA