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Issue 52 — Winter 2005 What's in a name?

RISC OS or Risc OS? Does it answer now? Not to be confused matter. After all it’s just a name, with Risc OS which is a name of isn’t it? This sort of dialogue another operating system! usually crops up once a year on comp.sys.acorn.misc. user group Using the correct name and after some poor devil has typed it definition for things is very incorrectly and the wrath of Druck important, just like using correct and others falls upon them causing English - grammar and spelling - them to quake in their boots and otherwise misunderstandings can promise never to transgress again. occur. A good example was an This generally then sets off argument on AOL (you have to be argument on whether it matters or careful here, it’s not what you not, which is normally good for a think, in this case it stands for few hundred posts and a few laughs. Archive On Line) about what the It comes round fairly frequently, term ‘optical zoom’ really meant. just like top posting, so you would This kept me amused over several have thought most people would weeks. Just as well it was on email, have got it right by now. if the two main protagonists had actually met face to face the So which one is correct? Do you RISC OS community would have know? Answers on a post card, I’m lost half it’s members! afraid no prizes except for a mention in dispatches. A good clue So please take the trouble to get it is that the name of our favourite right, galactic wars have been operating system is an acronym - known to have started over lesser Reduced Instruction Set Computer things than this! Operating System. OK, got the

All opinions expressed in Eureka are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Club or it’s committee members and officers.

Eureka 52 — Winter 2005 1 4 RISC Bytes

A round up of some of the news of happenings over the last couple of months in the RISC OS world.

13 SE Show at Guildford

The Editor describes a day out at the SE Show

13 The Perils of Computer Printing

The Editor describes his trials and tribulations in getting issue 51 of Eureka printed

28 Double Cross Puzzle by Roger King

Your regular chance to test your way with words

29 The ARM Club Midlands Show

Lewis Andrews reports on the ARM Club’s show

35 Arm Arena

Andrew Weston looks at games developments especially for retro-gamers on the RISC OS scene

42 Castle USB

Mark Smith delves into the mysterious world of USB

47 Ron’s Rubbish Corner

Ron Briscoe on how to fool (or not) her indoors

2 Eureka 52 — Winter 2005 50 Winning Games with Logic Part 8

Barry Aulton continues ...

56 RISC OS Rhymes

Another poetic masterpiece from Alan Wickham’s amazing mechanical RISC OS Wizard

59 Double Cross Puzzle Solution

60 Club Contacts

Who you need and where to send

The latest RISC OS fashion headgear - lost at show

Eureka 52 — Winter 2005 3 RISC OS FOR THE MiMAGIC 5

Castle has announced RISC OS support for the NeoMagic MiMagic 5 Applications Processor (SOC). The MiMagic 5 is ARM 9 based and suitable for a wide range of handheld information appliances. Neomagic is enabling outstanding technology for a new range of hand held devices. The MiMagic Applications Processor offers one of the lowest power and smallest form-factor packages. The addition of the MiMagic 5 to the ever growing list of processors that RISC OS supports, is a considerable benefit for the wider RISC OS community. Support for the MiMagic 5 is the result of work being done by Tematic for large OEM customers in the embedded market. Briefly, the MiMagic 5 Applications Processor provides the following: - 220 MHz 32-bit ARM V4T compliant RISC processor (ARM922T) - dual independent 32-bit DMA bus configuration - dynamically assignable DMA controller - very low system For up to the minute power consumption - frequently used codes can be RISC OS news stored in the SRAM - multiple power down modes - visit multimedia enhancement hardware-assist for video streaming and decoding - digital camera interface - low www.drobe.co.uk system cost - supports low cost NAND Flash. - Rich set of peripherals: SD Card, SDIO, MultiMediaCard, USB, serial, audio. - Multiple Boot Options: Linear Flash, NAND Flash, UARTs, SD, MMC, or Serial EPROM - Video support up to 800 x 600. Further information is available at:

4 Eureka 52 — Winter 2005 Building on the A75 range, the A9 series offers increased functionality and speed, at reduced power consumption, whilst retaining the diminutive dimensions of our other industrial controllers. The A9 series features a range of ARM9 processors, with a choice of OEM options available. The A9 is the first machine to demonstrate the latest version of RISC OS (Embedded Adjust-32) from RISCOS Ltd. Embedded Adjust-32 enables custom applications to run in a RISC OS environment on ARM processors which have a 32-bit program counter (eg ARM9, ARM10). When available, the full retail Select-32 operating system will be compatible with the A9. A9 variants suitable for running Linux applications are also available. The A9 may be supplied to OEM customers in a number of configurations for example: A9RM - Half-width 1U rack mountable ruggedised case (1.75” x 8.5” x 10”). A9LOC - Wall/Bulkhead-mountable unit with integral 8.4” TFT touchscreen, GPS and GSM/GPRS. Pricing is dependant on configuration, options and quantity. The A9 is available to qualified OEM customers direct from Advantage Six. Contact [email protected] for further information. A retail version of the A9 will be available in due course and an announcement will be made when the third party distributor has them in stock. Paul Middleton, Managing Director of RISCOS Ltd, commented that the development of a 32-bit version of RISC OS 4.39 (RISC OS Adjust) opens up many new possibilities for 32-bit only computer users to enjoy the RISC OS Select environment. Embedded versions of RISC OS 4 have exactly the same potential features as the full desktop versions but leave the choice of which features are to be included to the manufacturer, dependant on the end application and target cost. The A9 has a dedicated website at

Eureka 52 — Winter 2005 5 Agreement on RISC OS

The big change is a totally new version of the manual and documentation, now expanded to cover the scripting language in more detail, be more RISC OS specific and provide much clearer information on all aspects of DP2. Being HTML-based, the new manual is can also be useful for Windows DP2 owners. A new database drawn from the DP2 email mailing list, containing over 1000 postings and articles about DP2 is included. This is fully searchable will provide a helpful resource to users. The installation software has now also been enhanced based on experiences with VirtualRPC. The default locations for installation should now work sensibly on all RISC OS machines.

RISCOS Ltd renames

RISCOS Ltd. is renaming itself to ‘RISC OS Developments’, following the agreement with Castle. ROL boss Paul Middleton commented that as RISC OS Ltd. is now the chief developer of desktop RISC OS the new name sums up the company more appropriately. While companies such as Advantage Six remain as sub-licencees of RISCOS Ltd., Castle will focus more on non-desktop, embedded product areas. Paul confirmed that Select for Iyonix is on- going but will be made available eventually.

6 Eureka 52 — Winter 2005 Compo 1.23b

Version 1.23b is now available from:

Please note that you will need a full, recent version of the program to apply the patch (1.20 or later. Changes in this version include: Number of rendering modes increased from 15 to 48. New features include: XFadeSoftLight, Dodge, Burn, Soft dodge, Soft burn, Reflect, Glow, Freeze, Heat, Interpol, Stamp, Red, Green, Blue, Hue, Saturation, Lightness, Hue & Saturation, Hue & Lightness, Saturation & Lightness, SatDark & LightLight, SatLight & DarkDark, Lightness of Saturation, Saturation of Lightness, Lightness by Saturation, Saturation by Lightness, Crystal, Crystal2, Crystal3... Rough examples of a few of these may be viewed at:

In addition to the above Compo has three new image effects, Hue shift, Saturation shift and Lightness shift. There are also a number of minor bugfixes and enhancements.

Eureka 52 — Winter 2005 7 SIMON shown at Guildford Show

A demo of fast drawfile rendering was shown by Paul Middleton of ROL at the Guildford show using software from SIMON. SIMON is a third party development team, working closely with Advantage Six and RISC OS Ltd to enhance the Adjust-32 experience. The software demonstrated that, on average, a RISC PC utilising SIMON’s developments can render drawfiles significantly faster than any other RISC OS machine currently available on the market, including Iyonix. Benchmarks will be released at a future point in time to demonstrate this. As an approximation, a machine utilising SIMON for drawfile acceleration can plot drawfiles at up to 30 times the speed of a StrongARM RISC PC equipped with a ViewFinder. Similar speed improvements are found elsewhere across the desktop.

Sourcery is a development tool from The Really Small Software Company that manages all of the source code and resources that make up a project. Use whatever tools you want to build the project, Sourcery tries to make life easier without restricting what you want to use to build your software. Assorted fixes including: Generated makefiles improved - Output window scrolls to end of output automatically - Start up progress bar displayed - All project types can now have resources if required - Fixed display problem with filer style windows - Tool sequence menus tidied - Fixed problem editing source code

8 Eureka 52 — Winter 2005 MusicMan CD audio/MP3 software

Version 1.40 from R-Comp is a major update of the software, allowing users to create compressed audio (eg. MP3 or OGG music files) from sources other than CD. This has been driven by the arrival of the !AudioIn application on the Iyonix, but is relevant to any method of capturing audio out your computer. Additionally, MusicMan allows you to save raw CD tracks to disc, which can then be edited and dropped back in for conversion. The software intelligently calculates track name, album, and artist information, and allows you to queue up long lists of tracks to be converted in one batch - allowing you to set the software going, and leave it run. Although it is expected most users will make use of the automatic calculation of album/artist information, you can also enter it for each track, before the batch begins. Although this may sound a little complex, it has been implemented into MusicMan in the same easy-to-use approach that typifies the whole product - it feels easy and natural.

GEMINUS

Shown for the first time at the Guildford Show Geminus is software that enables Iyonix computers to utilise multiple monitors on the same desktop. The application is aimed primarily at desktop publishing users who generally need as much screen area as possible though more frivolous uses enable one to watch a DVD or TV on one monitor while working in the other. Geminus allows screens to be arranged horizontally or vertically and rotated. Up to eight screens can be supported. Iyonix users should soon be able to benefit from graphics cards having digital DVI outputs plus hardware acceleration of desktop graphics operations.

(See the SE Show report for further information. Ed.)

Eureka 52 — Winter 2005 9 Thumbcat is an image catalogue The major change is the ability to application. It will handle a variety print images. Up to 8 images per of formats without additional page can printed in either a applications. “Native” formats standard size (e.g. 5 X 7inch) with currently handled are : Sprites, clipping or a best fit of the full Drawfiles, JPEG’s, EXIF’s and original image. Digital Camera AVI’s (if they have NB printing also works with an embedded thumbnail). In immediate views. This means that addition it recognises ImageFS you can use Thumbcat for and ChangeFSI (if running/booted) printing images without having to and all formats handled by those build a catalogue. applications. Improvements since v3.7 are: It will handle files and directories - Images can now be printed with dragged to the iconbar for options to allow standard size immediate views. These can and/or multiple images per page. printed or converted to other - Improved interpretation of EXIF filetypes i.e. batch processing. date tags. - Help added to the It also includes an editable image iconbar menu - Castles details database based on the EXIF recommended help extension tag standard. implemented. Dragging to an Catalogues can be pre-built from application changed slightly so a directories full of images or that by default no external link is appended to, by dragging from a created. Pressing Alt-drag creates filer window. Images can also be a link. Various bug fixes. Read- dragged from a Digiflash window Only sources can be catalogued. and image related applications. It will create an HTML version of a catalogue.

Schema2 for Iyonix

Schema2, a spreadsheet related to Acorn’s Advance package, is now 32bit compatible and available from APDL. Described as “the long established and acclaimed comprehensive RISC OS spreadsheet”, Schema2 these days is available on CD with a printed manual and macro guide.

10 Eureka 52 — Winter 2005 REPTON PLUS

Alligator have announced the release of the game Desktop Repton PLUS; for all RISC OS computers running RISC OS 3.5 or above. Specific details of additions in this release are the inclusion of the new hi- resolution PC graphics; plus all of the levels from the new PC release of Repton 1 and; depending upon uptake; a possibility of further upgrades. Price remains £19.95; with upgrades at £6.00 - both cases plus £1.00 postage. There are some special extras along the way which will only be made available to purchasers of Desktop Repton PLUS - so get your order in early to see what new goodies will be made available!

NEW EMAIL TRANSFER SOFTWARE - HERMES

R-Comp have announced the release of DialUp 3 and NetFetch 2. The two upgrades are being announced together, because the products are developed in parallel - DialUp for modem users, NetFetch for broadband/network/VRPC users. Among a number of smaller enhancements, the big new feature is the presence of Hermes, the new email transfer software. Hermes has been designed to support the latest security and technological requirements of email (eg. all the different flavours of authorised SMTP, secure POP mail fetches and more). Many internet providers (eg. BT internet) are now requiring the use of such features, and it is imperative that RISC OS continues to excel in the email field. Multiple mailboxes can now be fetched in parallel, meaning that there’s no need to wait for empty mailboxes to finish checking before your other mail comes down. Similarly emails can be downloaded at the same time as messages are being sent. This makes email far more efficient, and reduces time spent waiting. Messages can now be left on the server, skipping over the ones you have already fetched. This means that you can easily download emails onto your home machine, without making them unavailable elsewhere. Hermes is cosmetically appealing too, of course, featuring percentage completed bars, and dynamically sized windows to make efficient use of screen space. If you are fetching a number of mailboxes you can give

Eureka 52 — Winter 2005 11 each a sensible name, for speedier identification. Each mailbox can be enabled/disabled as needed, and you can view logs of each. Hermes integrates transparently into NetFetch2 and DialUp3, but can also be used standalone if required - it will detect how you are using it, and behave accordingly. Existing setups will be imported into Hermes allowing simple, hassle-free migration. Of course, this is only the beginning - Hermes has been designed with future expansion in mind... DialUp3 and NetFetch2 are designed to be 26/32 bit compatible,so users can purchase a single update to cover whatever RISC OS machine they may purchase in future.

12 Eureka 52 — Winter 2005 SE Show at Guildford

It was a dull wet day as we (my wife entrance ready to be let in, no Sheilia was with me to take some doubt to be the first to snap up any photographs of the Show) set off in bargains to be had. By the time we the early morning to get to the SE had managed to get into the hall Show in time for the opening. the show was looking very busy. Luckily the traffic on the M25 Before you reached the main hall, wasn’t too bad and we arrived in where all the stands were, you had

Guildford with a few minutes to to go through the theatre spare. A queue had formed at the presentation area where all the

The main hall

Eureka 52 — Winter 2005 13 talks were being held. members who were manning it. Unfortunately it also had to act as Having done that I set off to explore the refreshment area which meant the hall further. Almost the first that during the talks the area was stand I came across had some new quite noisy which sometimes made software on display. This was Neil hearing the speakers difficult. I Spellings who looks after the hope in future years a better Aemulator software that enables arrangement could be found. older software which is not 32 bit compliant to run on the Iyonix and Having reached the main hall it is currently developing the was nice to see it fairly full of RISC OS DVD playing software. people. In fact the main hall stayed is still being worked on with busy all day which was very the sound now improved and an encouraging. My first port of call increased frame rate but is not was the ARM Club stand to say quite stable enough for release yet. hello to my fellow committee However what really interested me

Geminus showing rotated screens

14 Eureka 52 — Winter 2005 was a new piece of software called This provides screen modes which span multiple graphics cards, allowing the desktop to be used across two or more screens.

The software can support up to 8 screens and screens can be arranged in any configuration (left to right horizontally, right to left horizontally, vertically etc. (See photograph opposite) Each screen image can be rotated 90 degrees clockwise or anti-clockwise, allowing rotatable LCD panels to be used in portrait mode. The API allows applications to create their own display surfaces (the desktop is just one Paul Middleton of RISC OS Ltd. display surface) and can thus claim screens for their own, exclusive use, either drawing to them directly or via the OS VDU A graphical Configuration plug-in drivers. allows you to define your own large screen modes, specifying the For example, will be able to screen positions and, optionally, take over the second screen for rotations for each mode. DVD playback, whilst the desktop is displayed in the first screen. After spending some considerable Geminus also makes full use of the time admiring the screen displays hardware acceleration already it was time for the first talk - Castle available in RISC OS 5 on all on ‘How to build your own Iyonix’. screens, plus a hardware DMA Jack Lillingston and helpers channel to improve scrolling and demonstrated how to assemble an copying between screens. Iyonix from a kit which they (Castle) would supply. The kit cost

Eureka 52 — Winter 2005 15 The build in progress about £700. (Unfortunately the watch it on screen (see above). It offer was for a limited period only). took about 10 minutes to put So that the whole of the audience together though in Blue Peter could see what was happening the fashion some bits had been Iyonix had a transparent case and assembled earlier. It was the process was filmed using a emphasised that although Castle video camera so that we could would give some support only

Can RISC OS Ltd. see into the future?

16 Eureka 52 — Winter 2005 people experienced in building ROL was there as usual this time computers should buy the kits. If displaying a crystal ball display an inexperienced person bought being run from a Risc PC. Perhaps one and got into problems Castle they were using it to see into the would have to charge for technical support.

When the Iyonix was assembled it was switched on, we all held our breath. No worries - it booted up first time straight into the RISC OS desktop.

Back in the hall I stared to look around the other stalls while Sheilia went around taking photos. (still using old technology - non digital - I’m afraid, but as she’s doing a black and white photography course at college at the moment perhaps she can be forgiven). Paul Beverley editor of Archive magazine

future. Paul Middleton was smiling so perhaps the futures rosy.

CJE micros was doing brisk business along with R-Comp showing a new piece of software called - a new mail fetcher.

It was soon time for the next talk, Peter Naulls on the Unix Porting Project. Peter started with Martin Wuerthner of Artworks explaining what the project was all about, saying that the Unix Porting

Eureka 52 — Winter 2005 17 Jack Lillingston of Castle

project is a way for RISC OS users advanced RISC OS users, but to actively contribute to RISC OS rather anyone who would like to software development by having a see new software. say in what software they would like to see ported over from Unix, Some of the software that has been while enjoying support, active developed or will be developed. development and automated upgrades. A pc emulator for mainly games. Runs DOS in a window The basic idea was that you pay an under RISC OS all inclusive subscription fee, and with that you get support for all the - editor and player for programs available from the Soundtracker files project. You also get to make suggestions and comments on web browser what programs you would like to see converted (or ported) to RISC web browser for the future. OS. This project is not specifically aimed at programmers, nor Some games have been ported for

18 Eureka 52 — Winter 2005 Finnybank Games example - Heroes. Games are three people working on the generally easy to port. project. People can contribute money Unix Porting Project. There The soundtracker program was a is a CD of ported programs requested program. available (see the info box at the end of the article). A simple drawing program was demonstrated to prove the concept. Exploring more of the hall after This was interesting as the Peter’s talk I did a quick tour of program demonstrated non RISC APDL’s stand, Virtual Acorn - who OS behaviour eg. drop down were showing a version that runs menus used. This is because the on Linux (not ready yet), Martin programs can generally easily be Wuerthner on compiled under Linux to a working demonstrating version 2.3 and state but programming in the RISC Castles stand with transparent OS features takes much more Iyonixs before staggering back into work. the lecture theatre to hear John Cartmell’s talk on the RISC OS All the programs are GPL licensed. magazine Qercus. At the moment there are about

Eureka 52 — Winter 2005 19 This new magazine combines what encourage people to start was Acorn Publisher and Acorn programming and using the command line.

Back in the hall Icon Technology had run out of upgrades and were having to print them off on the spot. Fortran friends were showing off their bell ringing program. Serious Statistical Software their new 32 bit software and Oregano demonstrating their R-comp’s stand web browser.

User. It aims to cover all products in RISC OS software and hardware with numerous tutorials, and reviews and to report in general on events and news in the RISC OS world. There are 12 issues a year plus one bonus issue and all the adverts are relevant to the RISC OS world.

John talked about previous articles and about what's coming up , web design digital cameras and a new series on how to produce a childrens’ opera using the music scoring program. He also plans to reintroduce the yellow CJE Micros stand pages type in programs to

20 Eureka 52 — Winter 2005 Spotted at show

I returned to the lecture theatre renderer to draw icons for the final talk of the day, Paul etc. using vector graphics. Also Middleton of RISC OS Ltd on the they are working on indexing for Select Scheme and Select 32. file searching and improving the desktop look with translucent Paul first demonstrated the buttons and windows. He rendering of a large drawfile concluded that the future of RISC (Apple), firstly using and then OS lay with trying to keep up with using a mystery piece of other platforms in some areas of software/hardware? which redrew software development but not with the file about 5 times faster. He PC processors. wouldn’t say how this was achieved. He then went on to tell us Paul was then joined by Jack about the different versions of Lillingston for a question and Select and Adjust (the ROM answer session in which Paul version). Future development confirmed that there would be a included making a core version of Select for the Iyonix. supported feature using the Jack welcomed the arrival of the A9

Eureka 52 — Winter 2005 21 computer from Advantage Six Ltd. 18 months to two years. saying that it would widen the choice of machines that people Returning to the hall for one last could buy. After all the arguments time I completed my purchasing between them in recent months and Sheilia her pictures. The hall they had now clarified that RISC was busy right up to going home OS Ltd. would look after the time. It was pouring down as we desktop market while Castle would left Guildford but we would soon be more involved in the embedded be home to unwrap the goodies we market. Both hoped that the two had bought. branches of RISC S would be merged in about twelve months Photos by time. There would be no 32 bit OS Sheilia and Andrew Wyver for RISC PCs. Support would only last for Risc PCs for perhaps only

The ARM Club stand with helpers (spot Druck)

22 Eureka 52 — Winter 2005 Eureka 52 — Winter 2005 23 24 Eureka 52 — Winter 2005 The Perils of Computer Printing

Some of you might have noticed magazine printed from this. The some small typesetting problems advantage of this is that if the hard with the last copy of Eureka. This copy is correct then the printed highlights the hazards that are still copies are going to be correct. The inherent when the printing method disadvantage of it is that it is of the magazine is changed. In the expensive. past Eureka has been printed by

producing hard copy, the printer Having taken over the editorship of transferring this to film and the Eureka one of my first decisions

The editorial set up (the PC is mercifully out of sight)

Eureka 52 — Winter 2005 25 was to go completely digital to this time round was somewhat produce the magazine. This has the disastrous! advantage of making the magazine much cheaper to produce but Eureka is produced using introduces other perils for the , so the first thing I had to do unsuspecting Editor to watch out for. was to familiarise myself with the program as I have never used it For the last six years or so I have before. Luckily it is not too edited another small society dissimilar to so magazine very similar to Eureka. that after a few hours of practice This magazine is produced using using it I felt confident enough to It is originated start producing the next issue of in A4 pamphlet form. The file is Eureka No. 51. After not too much then sent along with hard copy (the hair tearing out and several proof hard copy is printed out using a reads I sent the file off to be Kyocera A3 postscript printer so printed. that if all is well on this machine all should be well at the printers!) Now as I mentioned before I also showing what the magazine should produce another magazine called look like, to a firm that specialises wood-notes (a magazine for in dealing with RISC OS files. They teachers of woodwind reduce it to A5 and convert it to instruments). The next edition of PDF (Portable Document Format - this was ready so I sent this along an industry standard file that most as well as the Eureka file with the printers nowadays accept) and usual instructions on how many proof check it again just to make copies were to be printed and sure that it is the same as the hard where they were to be sent to. copy I have sent them. Fonts can be wood-notes is sent to me and the main problem as I have to make Eureka is sent to a member of the sure that all the fonts used in the ARM club near Birmingham. magazine are sent with the file. When the After about 10 days two boxes of PDF is produced these fonts are magazines turn up on the doorstep. embedded in the file so that the The delivery note says 200 copies of printers do not have to worry about wood-notes. I open the first box. having the correct fonts on the The familiar Eureka logo leaps out printing machine. at me. Oh no! they’ve sent me the In the past this has worked well but wrong lot! It goes rapidly down hill

26 Eureka 52 — Winter 2005 from here. I open up Eureka to look A further phone call confirms that at it. Every thing looks OK. The wood-notes has ended up in the photographs have reproduced well. Midlands. By a coincidence I have (always a worry as what you see on to be in the area that week-end so I screen is not always what you get can do a swop. out of the printer.) Oh No! what's this? The wrong font has been used Two days later the Acorn firm ring in the ARM Club’s CD advert. The again. More disaster!. The proof of original main font has been wood-notes has just arrived replaced by a fixed spaced font having been sent to the wrong similar to Corpus. This has caused address. (How the printers the text to flow outside the frame managed this is another mystery as boundaries and make a mess of the the Eureka proof got sent to the layout. Luckily it is still correct one.) The cover is the understandable. Further close wrong stock and has been stapled inspection reveals several more on back to front - the whole print font replacements but nothing run will have to be binned! disastrous. Theoretically this is impossible as all the fonts have At the weekend I swap over the been embedded in the original magazines and find that I have 200 PDF. I decide to check the number misprinted copies of wood-notes of magazines printed. Next disaster which shortly afterwards end up - 40 short! down the tip.

I ring up my RISC OS firm. Explain A week later the printers have the problem. He looks at the proof reprinted wood-notes and the the printing company has sent him. second batch of Eureka correctly Perfect! How can the printers have and sent them to the correct managed it? The file they print the addresses. One of you may be lucky magazines from should be exactly and have a perfectly printed copy the same as the final proof! After a of Eureka - look after this, it has short discussion we agree not to rarity value! bin this run and to get another run of 40 printed, hopefully with the problems sorted out. (The beauty of digital printing is that it is just as easy to produce one copy as 1000 so small runs can easily be done.)

Eureka 52 — Winter 2005 27 N L I P I L M B A R N I T E A O A E S H L N A D L E O N M A E L O O N R V R D E © P L N R C E F E A O

Place the 36 letters shown below into the grid to make valid words

A I N T A I N T B I O U B K P U D K P U D L P W E L R W Solution on page 59 E M S Y I M T Z

28 Eureka 52 — Winter 2005 The ARM Club Midlands Show show

Aaron was keeping very tight same on the Risc OS Ltd. stand lipped about the next new though he did give me a good features in . Not one demo of the latest version of

morsel would pass his lips except Select which looked very pretty to say that they were doing very with it’s translucent blue scroll well thank you. bars and menus.

Paul Middleton was much the On the Castle stand a

A view from the ARM Club stand - rather quiet but the new ceiling looks good

Eureka 52 — Winter 2005 29 demonstration board with a small touch screen. Jack MiMagic chip running RISC OS Lillingston was just as on it was shown linked up to a informative as every one else so far by refusing to reveal any details as to what and who this development was for. I wandered around the room looking eagerly for someone who would be who might be willing to part with some tit-bits of information.

I stopped by the Fortran Friends stand, at least they

The MiMagic development board

The MiMagic chip

The small touch screen showing RISC OS

were ready for Christmas and had their tree on display as well as a plethora of cardboard crystal shapes some being used as mobiles (not the phone sort). Also sporting an arty display was The Mathematical Software Company who had by far the most

30 Eureka 52 — Winter 2005 colourful stand. You have to imagine the colours in the photographs. Two programs were being demonstrated, a

ArtGraph screen shot

Turtle Graphics program with Christmas has arrived graph plotter, palindromic sums, mathematics tuition and programming all for £15 and a program that plots algebraic curves as modern art for £25 or both for £30.

Next stop the RISC OS Packaging Project stand.

The RISC OS Packaging Project( ) is a package manager for RISC OS. Its three main functions are:

• to download and install new software packages on request;

• to update installed software packages when new versions Fortrans Friends’ mobiles are released; and

Eureka 52 — Winter 2005 31 The most colourful stand in the show - just use your imagination.

• ` to remove software packages packages for use with when they are no longer needed. The package manager is in a primitive but working state and a It can also handle dependencies: small number of packages have if one package requires another in been created. order to run, then a request to install the first will automatically Future work: user interface install the second. enhancements for managing large number of packages; Software has to be distributed managing conflicts between using a specific package format command names, filetype for this to be possible. The RISC bindings and other settings; OS Packaging Project is an building a large package attempt to assemble a collection collection. of non-commercial software

32 Eureka 52 — Winter 2005 Also on show was a new version allowing them to release more of the . This is a free stable software to end users. C++ class library for writing includes features such desktop application programs. as single step through ARM My next port of call was the Unix instructions, source code and Porting Project where I was given WIMP redraw and message a demo of a Linux browser called handlers, ARM and FPU register running under RISC OS. See display, breakpoints, context, if you can spot which is which in stack and variable display for C the screen shots below. procedures and error trapping.

Dillo RISC OS? Dillo Linux?

Serious Statistical Software were The program will be available at the show as usual and I had a sometime in the first quarter of good ten minute talk on the uses 2005 for £50 + VAT. of the software packages that were available. Generally it was a rather quiet day but the dealer stands - Castle, APDL, Neil Spellings demonstrated CJE’s, ITC and R-comp all seemed and as they had at the to be doing good business and the Guildford show but also had for a ARM Club charity stall managed to new program called . raise about £200 mainly on software, spare parts and manuals. enables programmers to hunt down bugs and crashes in Will there be another Midlands their software more easily, Show? - maybe!

Eureka 52 — Winter 2005 33 .

Serious Statistical Software looking serious ARM Arena

The time elapsed since the last simulation but advanced RISC column has seen a large set of OS games have had fantasy or RISC OS games-related software cartoon elements. The RCI game released. Much of this software Abuse springs to mind with its and other developments is of detailed graphics and animation

interest to retro-gamers which but remains in 2D giving a sense of makes one wonder whether older distinction between the gaming platforms are being used or world and reality much like the emulated for games as a result of highly popular platform-game modern releases becoming just format did on the BBC Micro. too close to the real-world and too formulaic. Many of the older Therefore it’s arguably welcome platform games were not even to see such a revival in the retro- aiming for reality because this gaming field particularly as RISC was plainly not achievable and OS is quite well catered for here those that did aim to have as this column’s news should elements of realism were show. First off though is the sufficiently detached from the RISC OS-specific news... real-world to allow more involving yet still escapist fun.

Perhaps these releases represented a more natural form The latest major game to come of computer games and some of out of the Unix Porting Project is the most enjoyable non- a first-person 3D ‘shooter’ called

Eureka 52 — Winter 2005 35 Aleph1. The game download itself software and books has become is around 2MB but level files must part of APDL which will now sell then be obtained which are far ProAction’s titles as well as the larger (the first I looked at was entire 4th Dimension back 39MB) and unless you have a catalogue. This is not to be broadband internet connection confused with the company 4D then it would probably be more which CJE Micros (the former worthwhile buying the owners of the 4th Dimension) compilation CD available from the have started to use as a trading UPP and asking if it is possible for name for other items. a level file to be included. However, as usual the software is The range of ProAction items is free but official support is only quite large and includes certain available to subscribers (£25/year) books which might prove useful to the scheme. to games programmers such as the Archimedes Game Makers Also a Rick Dangerous style Manual re-print. It is not known game has been ported which whether the Play it Again Sam 1 owners of the Archimedes and 2 compilations, Technodream conversion of the original may and the individual Repton ver- find familiar and the RISC OS sions released by ProAction in conversion of the role-playing PC association with Superior classic Ultima IV has received an Software will be available from update. Readers of this column APDL as they were formerly may remember that there were a available from RComp. However, few bugs in the original release Desktop Repton (enhanced but the Linux programmers graphics, desktop play, 32bit promised that these were being compatible and including ‘expan- worked upon so the UPP scheme sion packs’) will be available from is obviously working and APDL and is set to include new dedicated to supporting its levels that have accompanied the subscribers. game on the PC version recently released by Superior Interactive.

For anything else games-related David Bradforth’s company released by ProAction in the past which has released numerous such as RISC OS Frak!, games, re-released much Ravenskull and 8-bit Superior

36 Eureka 52 — Winter 2005 Software titles it would be ProAction and 4th Dimension advisable to contact David developments. Bradforth directly at the email address below to see if he still has a copy. It is interesting to note that ProAction attended the More Tom ‘Berty’ Cooper games Classic Games Expo held at have been received by Acorn Wembley in August (see Arcade and released for RISC OS 4. The copyright status was for a report) recently modified by the legacy and were selling the extremely holders Freedom 2 (formerly rare ‘Q-Master’ which to my Argonet) to allow distribution of knowledge was never advertised the games as freeware. As a in the Acorn magazines at the result the shoot-’em-up time (1991) although released on Wavelength and the manic game the Acorn Computing December Hamsters were uploaded to 1993 coverdisc. Acorn Arcade. As it transpired however, the copyright for the For the 4th Dimension and other former had passed to another titles, APDL should be contacted. company and so was At the time of writing the 4th subsequently removed. More Dimension section of the APDL news on that if it emerges as, website is still undergoing judging by the quality of Tom’s preparation. other releases (e.g. Lemmings, Darkwood), it would be a shame ProAction managed to bring a to miss out on this game. range of old favourites to RISC OS as well as re-release other Hamsters is a crushingly simple games software from the past. game that involves — wait for it The 4th Dimension’s catalogue — crushing innocent cartoon- was huge and there was also a rabbits in a time-limit on ever burst of new releases in the late more difficult levels. The game is 1990’s not forgetting unreleased frantic and can be addictive if a titles such as Spitfire Fury. Let’s bit nauseating with the added hope APDL isn’t the graveyard screen quake coinciding with the for this high quality and often player’s mallet hits! fondly-remembered software and that this isn’t the last we hear of

Eureka 52 — Winter 2005 37 player must build bridges, Issue 3 of Retrogamer magazine ladders or ropes to prevent the reported last time included a weenies from falling into the feature on the new one-man abyss. One downside to this type company publishing games for of game on 8-bit machines 8-bit machines or emulators. The however is the lack of mouse company is Cronosoft and has an support so the player has to use impressive range of titles so far the more laborious method of including one for the BBC Micro cursor-keys. However plenty of and two further titles in levels of provided with the game development. The first BBC and at £2.99 is surely a bargain Micro release is Weenies and is by any platform’s standards past compatible with Beebit, the RISC or present. OS BBC B/B+/Master/Electron emulator. One of the few Weenies is provided on tape categories of games which wasn’t currently as the online payment commercially catered for on the system for obtaining disc images BBC Micro during the era of 16- by email is broken but this is to bit conversions was the player- be remedied hopefully in time plays-God - over-his-creatures for future releases. In the game of the Lemmings variety. meantime please email Cronosoft Obviously there were plenty of if you would like to obtain a disc battle or world simulations but image. this type of game was becoming more popular as the BBC Micro Anybody who has read the games market was petering out. Retrogamer interview with Cronosoft’s Simon Ullyat will Although a Beeb cover-disc game know why the games are was released in the latter stages supplied on tape or disc. It is of Acorn Computing magazine of Cronosoft’s intention to provide this variety (called Colony) the game as a package as the Weenies is the first commercial game would have been bought if Lemmings-type game to be it had been released at any time released. It differs from Colony in the past for an 8-bit computer. and indeed Lemmings in that the Thus the tape or disc comes with range of control options are a colour inlay with printed more limited but the individual instructions as you might expect. levels provide the variety. The Part of this is designed to

38 Eureka 52 — Winter 2005 encourage the player to spend more time with the game rather than, say, move on to the next of In view of the new 8 bit software a hundred games on a available it is good to hear of the compilation CD or internet continuing development of archive without sparing a Beebit by Michael Foot. This is moment to appreciate the now at version 0.56 and is software at hand. compatible with the Iyonix enabling classic BBC Micro titles The revival of 8-bit games can to be played indefinitely on the only be a good thing if it reminds BBC Micro’s most recent people of why many earlier descendant. Other improvements computer games were so and bug-fixes have been made enjoyable, as we are now in an such as key-mapping and era when more and more interactive help and the emulator emphasis is frequently placed on is available from Michael’s making the game as realistic as website given below. possible and gameplay is forgotten. Aside from that it There is also news that the other would be good to see the existing major BBC Micro emulator, back catalogue of BBC Micro 6502em, available from Warm games complemented in this way Silence Software has been signi- and hopefully see people ficantly updated and is awaiting a bringing forward ideas in games re-release. This is a significant that were never implemented in development as although com- the 8-bit heyday. mercial rather than freeware (as Beebit is) 6502em is a much more Next to be released is a conver- comprehensive package for emu- sion of a ZX Spectrum Cronosoft lation yet has suffered from sev- game, a platformer called eral bugs. In addition to such Egghead in Space, converted by bug-fixes, the emulator will be Christopher Dewhurst, the author able to be run on the desktop of Weenies. If anybody ever had which is a feature many users an urge to release any kind of have requested for a long time game for their BBC Micro, to try and will also be Iyonix- to do something original, or to compatible. However, the final better an existing game then this publishing company is unlikely is the time to do it! to be Warm Silence Software

Eureka 52 — Winter 2005 39 again so until a deal is finalized, writing enjoyable and often pi- it is best to wait for further an- oneering text adventures for the nouncements which I will also BBC Micro and other platforms. report here as soon as I am able. The company was run by Pete One drawback of the publisher Austin and became a true family shift might be that the tape- business. Their reputation was reading software and hardware such that the company has been fails to migrate from Warm described as being, “one of the Silence Software and ceases to foremost British adventure be available. Hopefully this can game companies,” and their be avoided as in the absence of games included titles such as 5.25” disc interfaces for modern The Price of Magik, Snowball, RISC OS machines, there is little Gnome Ranger and Lancelot. available for transferring old Retrogamer magazine carries a software from the BBC Micro — feature on the company, split let alone recording onto old me- across issues 6 and 7, and dia — for those without much should be of interest to anybody technical knowledge. Some de- who remembers the days of 8-bit velopment of the ! applica- text adventures. Issues 6 and 7 tion might also incorporate are available from the recording-to-tape capability that magazine’s website or from the was omitted in the initial re- publisher whose details are lease. This would presumably be provided below. of interest to BBC Micro enthu- siasts who also own a RISC OS machine and also of course would be a means of transfer- A new version (1.15) of the C64 ring software both ways emulator has been released between the two systems. for RISC OS by Andreas Dehmel. This is a UNIX port and as such is not tailored to RISC OS hardware meaning that (al- though considered to be the Recent issues of this retrogam- most accurate emulation) it is ing magazine have included fea- not the most efficient software tures on the widely-praised ad- in terms of speed and memory venture company, Level 9, that usage. The minimum specifica- cut its teeth and made a living tions are 16MB RAM and

40 Eureka 52 — Winter 2005 StrongARM processor. Amongst This can make the game far too the improvements and bug-fixes easy so if you really want to do over previous versions are better the game by strategy then I sug- cartridge support and disc drive gest avoiding the next support for the Commodore paragraph! Vic20. can be downloaded from Andreas Dehmel’s website. When the player removes a unit from the factory list the player is reimbursed with the first item on that list. Presumably the au- thors envisaged that players of Those interested in the history the game would want to correct of computer games and who errors immediately. However, may have bought the Edge this means that if a low-cost magazine retro-gaming special item is specified to be made last year will be interested in after an expensive item then de- High Score!: The Illustrated leted the player’s money will in- History of Electronic Games, crease by the more expensive Second Edition (ISBN: item’s value. Be warned however 0072231726) available through a huge array of units is likely to Amazon (see below). This in- crash the game. cludes a section devoted to games originating in the UK in- cluding the all-time classics Elite and Revs. Also the section includes interviews and profiles of key companies. Probably an essential part of any retro- gamers collection!

An interesting ‘cheat’ was brought to the attention of read- ers of comp.sys.acorn.games re- cently for the real-time battle strategy game TEK by the much-missed Artex Software.

Eureka 52 — Winter 2005 41 Castle USB

Before we look at Castle’s USB One of the big steps forward with offering specifically, it is worth the release of the Castle Iyonix PC noting that USB cards are also at the end of 2002, was the available from Stuart Tyrell inclusion of USB ports as standard Developments. Because the on a RISC OS machine for the software interfaces differ between first time. The software provided the Castle and STD products, by Castle allows many ‘storage

some drivers are only available for class’ devices to be used out of the one or the other whilst some (such box. These devices are accessed as as the David Pilling scanner though they were disc drives and drivers) will work with both. The include most keyring flash storage situation is unfortunate and stems devices, flash card readers, some from the lack of a single cameras and a few other devices organisation setting standards for such as certain MP3 players. RISC RISC OS in the post-Acorn era. OS 5.08 now includes a new Hopefully Castle’s ownership of version of DOSFS which supports RISC OS, and the new-found spirit the FAT32 format commonly used of co-operation between Castle on higher capacity devices, though and RISC OS Ltd will help to it’s worth noting that it is still only avoid similar situations from possible to access devices up to occurring in future. 2GB in size. This is because of limitiations in the way that the RISC OS Image Filing System interface works. The fact that the Iyonix does not

42 Eureka 52 — Winter 2005 have conventional PS/2 mouse and and when updates are made keyboard ports, or a parallel available on the website. printer port, means that every Iyonix owner must be using some Fitting the card is very easy - USB devices, if only a mouse and much the same as any other keyboard. For those who have podule. On booting up the invested in PS/2 KVM (keyboard, machine, however, I discovered video and mouse) switching units, the first problem. The system no it is possible to connect and PS/2 longer recognised any of the IDE mouse and keyboard via a devices connected to the converter box. However, not all Yellowstone RapIDE card in the work so it is best to get advice machine, though they were all fine from a RISC OS dealer. if connected to the internal IDE interface. Removing the USB A list of USB devices that have podule resolved the problem, but been found to work with the they were not recognised again Iyonix is available on the Iynoix when the podule was put back in website at the machine.

Subsequent tests revealed that whilst any old A5000 podules, The podule card fits any A7000(+) such an old Morley SCSI card, (without a CD drive fitted) or Risc worked fine with the USB podule, PC and comes complete with four any other cards using the connectors. All of these are on the enhanced Risc PC specification back of the card – there is no such as the RapIDE card and option for front USB ports, ViewFinder would not function although more accessible correctly with it. There was clearly connection points can be made a fault on the card which, after it available with the use of a USB had gone back to Castle, was hub. quickly identified and put right by John Ballance. The card itself looks very empty - there are a very small number of Fitting the returned card in the chips surface mounted on it, one machine, all the cards worked of which contains the card’s perfectly happily together. One firmware in flash ROM and hence further disappointment was that can easily be reprogrammed as the Olympus Camedia 3020 Zoom

Eureka 52 — Winter 2005 43 photo 1 which had worked perfectly well when tested on an Iyonix, failed to work with the podule on the Risc The best way to buy USB devices PC. This was solved by John in the knowledge that they will kindly providing a small flash card work with your RISC OS system, reader, but it’s worth noting that is to go to a RISC OS dealer. devices that have been found to Otherwise there are no work on the Iyonix, are not guarantees. For example, the guaranteed to work with the Risc Epson Perfection 1660 (as shown PC podule (or, presumably, vice- in photo 1) and 2400 scanners will versa). work fine when purchased with David Pilling’s scanner software, but new Epson scanners such as the 1670 are not compatible. The

44 Eureka 52 — Winter 2005 photo 2

photo 3

Eureka 52 — Winter 2005 45 older scanners are, however, still One of the more popular uses for very good units if you can get hold USB these days is for the of them. connection of printers. As the Iyonix has no parallel printer port, One of the smartest USB devices printing has to be via USB, that I’ve come across are the although USB to parallel Mitsumi combined floppy drive converters are available for the and card reader (photo 2), connection of older printers which designed to fit in a normal 3.5 do not support USB. Being able to inch floppy drive slot. print via a USB connection is one Unfortunately these are Iyonix thing, however support for specific only, but Castle will sell you printers is another. One of the machines with these already fitted promising development’s in this in place of a standard drive, or you area is Martin Wurthner’s port of can buy one from them to fit to the RISC OS platform yourself. Note that the Castle which opens up a range of modern supplied units come with a special printers that may be used. cable to fit a header on the Iyonix USB card (photo 3).

46 Eureka 52 — Winter 2005 Ron’s Rubbish Corner

Yes it’s me again and the blame furniture stores looming.) “Why for being afflicted with my usual do you need one of those?” I run drivel lies entirely at your own down a list including, “It's bigger doors. If you lot had written than my 17 inch monitor, better, almost anything then our more ecologically friendly and my esteemed editor would not have present monitor may fail at any asked me to write yet another moment. If it does that then I article. would have to pay much more for

I am busy typing this whilst a replacement.” Christine is not staring at my new 19 inch LCD swayed by my fine arguments so I monitor thanks to yet another decide that I will have to resort to cunning plan coming up trumps, skulduggery to achieve my desire. or so I thought at first. Now I am not so sure that I, master of Now Christine likes to type out an cunning plans, have not been out e-mail or two to our daughter manoeuvred. who lives in Edinburgh and this is normally done when I pay a A short while ago I was perusing visit to the local brown pop shop the Newsgroups when my eye as otherwise I will not relinquish alights on a not to be missed offer control of my computer. from R-Comp. A 19 inch monitor for only £360? I must have one. I While Christine is making herself approach the financial adviser, a cup of tea and whatnot prior to Christine purses her lips. (The writing to our daughter I seize the new chair is not a great success moment. After opening up a write and I can see many more visits to window in I reduce the

Eureka 52 — Winter 2005 47 screen saver time to one minute, I those? I ask. “We are having a then dip into my Diversions/Sillies new front door,” says my beloved, directory and locating one of my with a steely glint in her eye and favourites by Keith gives me the leaflets. I am aghast, Gaughan click on it. these are for ‘Composite’ doors and one of those including fitting Now what does is turn the costs nearly as much as an Iyonix. screen upside down and so leaving “Why do we need one of those it running I exit to the brown pop things.” “Because I am fed up shop saying cheerily “I’ve left with asking you to paint the front set up for you to use.” door, this one won't need painting and there is a ten year When I get back from the brown guarantee included. Besides which pop shop Christine says, “There is I never said anything when you something wrong with your bought your new monitor, even computer the screen is upside though your old one wasn't really down.” I feel a twinge of guilt, it broken.” Hoist by my own petard I must be old age, I suppress it for I succumb to my fate and spend the must have that monitor. “I think next four hours passing door that the monitor is starting to go,” leaflets to and fro until Christine says I, finger hovering over the has decided on the one that she escape key. Surprisingly Christine wants. The deed is done, 960 agrees that I can have the new quidlets and fitted by Christmas. monitor. I suspect nothing for Still as Christine says I won’t have even as she speaks I am dashing to paint the dratted thing. off an e-mail to R-Comp placing an order. A few days later the After the dust had settled down I monitor arrives, is unpacked and asked Christine how she had knew the old one is consigned to the that there was nothing wrong with box room as a standby. Even my old monitor. “Easy peasy, I Christine is impressed with the remembered you playing with that new toy and I gloat at the success thing when you had it on of yet another cunning plan. Fool your old computer and so I thought that I am. that I would exchange a new front door for a monitor.” Drat and blast A couple of weeks later I arrive either I am losing my touch or home from work to find Christine Christine is catching me up in the perusing glossy leaflets. What are cunning stakes.

48 Eureka 52 — Winter 2005 To get over the stress of being middle mouse button menu outflanked I buy myself a USB functionality and enables me to fan. This plugs into a USB port reset !HID. What the good people and makes a satisfying whir, just residing in the RISC OS world do the thing to cool down a fevered for me is beyond the call of duty. brow working away on its next cunning plan. I also buy a I have bought Christine a dolls wireless scroll wheel mouse for house for Christmas and have next to nothing from Lidl and spent hours surfing the web have great fun altering the keys. collecting and printing out (Five recognized and one just wallpaper samples for it. So many behind the wheel that seems to that I will have to refill my ink have a mind of its own as to what cartridges and use my Epson chip it does.) resetter. Standby for inky calls for help. The ease and speed of The fun of playing with the printing samples on all sorts of settings is so much that I neglect coloured papers putting when changing the scroll wheel !GimpPrint and !PrintSpool to the switch from menu to select to test, which they both pass with reassign another button to do flying colours. menu and then press ‘Save’. The result? No menu button! I can't By the time you lot have get a menu on !HID so I cannot consigned this to the rubbish bin change the settings on the mouse. I will have been to the I ctrl-shift-F12 to close down the Birmingham Show and be busy computer and restart. When the playing with goodies purchased Desktop reappears the mouse is there and I conclude by working normally, that is until I reminding you all of the old start !HID, thence I lose the menu saying. “Where there’s a will function again. Thank my lucky there’s a way and if not there’s a stars that I manually start !HID cunning plan.” and then go through the closedown procedure again. When up and running again I dash off an e-mail to Paul Reuvers at XAT and very shortly he sends me a command line instruction that restores my

Eureka 52 — Winter 2005 49 Winning Games with Logic Part 8

You may think doing the right if this was the action selection thing at the right time is easy, policy of a real creature it would when hungry eat, when thirsty be long since extinct! You may drink, end of problem! Well not have also spotted that all animals quite! In fact that is what we have are not extinct. a mind for! One common way to select what to do is assume the We thus conclude that animals

CCC (computer controlled have some degree of intelligence. character) can be in one of several states e.g. :- Let’s take the case of the humble if in state “afraid” -> FLEE pigeon, not regarded as the FROM ENEMY Einsteins of the animal kingdom, if in state “hungry” -> EAT but compared to your average cleaning bot pretty smart! Pigeons Here the only way the character are good at forming concepts, can change its state is by such as ‘water’, ‘tree’ and ‘human performing an action in response being’. A pigeon can recognize to an input signal . We thus have a water in the form of droplets, a type of look up table called a turbulent river or a placid river. It Finite State Machine (FSM). can recognize humans clothed or Things however can go wrong. If not, in groups or alone. Is this a the CCC chooses to flee it may also sign of intelligence? In 1983, move away from the food source. pigeons were trained to indicate If it chooses to find food it may which of two comparison symbols decide to go too close to an most resembled a sample symbol. enemy. You may have spotted that Usually one of the comparison

50 Eureka 52 — Winter 2005 symbols was identical to the Many researchers have abandoned sample symbol apart from being the quest for general intelligence rotated. It was found that their and focused on ways of imitating reaction times remained some aspects of intelligent animal unaffected by angular rotation. behaviour. We will start with However human reaction times simple reactive (instinctive) increase with angular separation. behaviour. As always I will They concluded that the pigeons introduce some definitions (a bit solve such problems without using boring but it will help later on!). mental representation, using some form of parallel processing. But ACTION - An entity at the lowest does that mean that they cannot level such as moving in a certain think? Plato and Thomas Aquinus direction, sleeping or remaining thought just that! motionless to avoid predators.

Plato stated “Human behaviour ACTION SELECTION means results from voluntary & rational choosing at each moment, the processes, man’s will being free to most appropriate action with choose whatever course of action regard to all types of stimuli. For his reason dictates”. (“If I suck my animals ‘most appropriate’ can be sides in, look winsome and purr, measured by their reproductive maybe those fool humans will give success, but not for robots or me a second breakfast”). computer controlled character’s (CCC’s). Thomas Aquinas (1224-1274) stated “ Man is free because :- UTILITY is a ‘measure’ of 1) “He is rational” (women (psychological) ‘value’. In and other animals being spending time and money say regarded as irrational) buying china, or time reading 2) “He is not driven into action books, we tend to choose in a way by an external cause without that maximises our satisfaction or his consent” ( If someone ‘utility’ that we obtain in return, chucks you into water, you (even if we are not aware we are). can decide to swim!) 3) “He can choose means of A ‘RATIONAL’ agent :- realising the good or purpose 1) is capable of performing which his reason conceives”. a number of actions 2) knows the consequences

Eureka 52 — Winter 2005 51 of each and cream or a lottery ticket. I could 3) has a complete and first convert the money I would consistent order of obtain if I won the lottery into ‘ice preferences among creams’ - say 100000 ice creams, them. but hang on a bit, what if I don't 4) acts rationally if there is no win? My ‘expected utility’ is thus other feasible action the 100000 × probability of winning consequences of which are the lottery, (which is less than the preferable. probability of being struck by 5) consistently makes the same lightning). I therefore, being choice when in the same rational, choose to buy the ice state and when given the cream! A ‘rational’ agent is a same set of incompatible maximiser of expected utility. options. In 1980 the ethologist Thomas Thus the ‘rational’ decision-maker Ludlow’s combined these ideas is a maximiser of ‘utility’. If an into a model. He proposed that an animal cannot simultaneously activity such as feeding or perform two activities it must drinking, has a value, namely its choose between them on the basis ‘utility’ value. This value we can of some index of their potential for think of as a ‘motivation’ to performance. If the potential for perform that activity. However cleaning floors is measured in competing activities can be chalk and the potential for mutually inhibiting, e.g. an animal washing up is measured in cheese, can not walk in two directions at then in choosing between chalk once. (Skiers who have attempted and cheese there must be a known to ski round both sides of a tree exchange rate - i.e. a ‘common will testify to this). Motivation to currency’ in terms of which the perform one activity thus ‘inhibits’ merits of chalk and cheese can be the motivation to perform other measured. In a simple competition competing activities. the animal simply performs the activity with the greatest potential. The basic model gives an estimate of the amount of ‘motivation’ for We usually discount the ‘utility’ of each activity. This is:- an outcome by the likelihood of achieving it. Suppose I am Motivation for activity (I) = sum of choosing between buying an ice any internal factors + sum of any

52 Eureka 52 — Winter 2005 external factors - inhibition from Releasing mechanisms output a all other competing activities. continuous value that depends on things such as :- Internal Factors:- The presence of and distance to A CCC’s ‘motivation’ to fight may the stimulus object or event (e.g. a depend on ‘internal factors’ such person is nearby) and more as its state of health, its aggression specific feature eg the person is an its armour and the effectiveness of enemy carrying a weapon. its’ weapons etc. An animal’s relevant internal factors may be its This permits a kind of trade off health and how much food and behaviour e.g. for a human the water it has recently consumed. Pizza is a week old, but he is very hungry. We now need to consider External Factors:- how the animals’ external and internal factors (e.g. health, An animal’s ‘motivation’ to eat hunger and thirst) combine. Next may depend on how far away and time I will show how it all fits what value (to the animal) the together, but Fig. 2 (page 55) will nearest food source is. help.

A CCC’s motivation to fight may ref 1 depend on AI Game Programming Wisdom 2 1) how far away the enemy is Ed Steve Rabin, 2) the relative weapons and Charles River Media armour of that enemy etc. ref 2 We now have to convert these sensory signals into motivational Action Selection In Hamsterdam: utility. To do this Ludlow came up Lessons from Ethology B with the idea of ‘Releasing Blumberg 1994 From Animals to Mechanisms’ to ‘filter’ external Animats proc. 3rd annual and internal stimuli. They identify conference on the Simulation of significant objects or events from Adaptive Behaviour. sensory input and output values representing their ‘importance’ to the animal (see Fig. 1 page 54).

Eureka 52 — Winter 2005 53 Releasing Mechanism Data World Find: Structure ( Is object of interest within range?) type Filter: ( does x aspect of object pass filter?) closest point range Sensory Weight: System bearing Value

distance ( how close is object to optimal distance?)

Time Filter Latch, average or integrate

Behaviour

Releasing Mechanisms identify significant objects or events from sensory input and o/ps a value which represents its strength. A behaviour can be made more or less sensitive to a sensory input by varying the allowed maximum.

The maximum value reflects how usefull the object of interest is. For example for a food sensitive releasing mechanism the maximum would be the food value taking into account the energy the animal may expend in eating the food.

A mechanism that will output a motivation to avoid a predator may include a distance factor such that when the predator is within a critical distance (e.g. two meters for a moth to take evasive action against a bat), the mechanism outputs a high value.

Fig. I

54 Eureka 52 — Winter 2005 Block Diagram For An Animat World External World ( artificial animal)

Sensory System Goals/Motivations

Releasing Internal Mechanism variable

Internal variable Behaviour

Level Of Inhibition Interest

Motor Commands

We need to know which ‘behaviour’ (e.g. eating, drinking, fighting) is the most relevant at any particular time, because thats the one we will want the animat to perform. To help it to reach that decision we have some internal variables such as level of hunger, thirst, aggressiveness etc. that may be relevant to some behaviours. We also have inhibition because if its a good idea to perform one behaviour, its prob- ably a bad one to simultaneously perform another. Level of Interest models boredom or behaviour specific fatigue, (if you don’t understand this try eating 9 Mars bars and then face a 10th).

We think of the animat as having senses e.g. sight and hearing even if its just a baddy in a computer game. Each sense in its sensory system has a filter here called a ‘re- leasing mechanism’. We then combine the o/ps of all the senses with relevant internal variables to decide how much of a good idea it releasing mechanisms act as filters which identify significant objects or events is to carry out each behaviour. In more complex systems, releasing mechanisms act as filters which identify significant ob- jects or events.

Fig. 2

Eureka 52 — Winter 2005 55 Another poetic masterpiece from Alan Wickham’s amazing mechanical RISC OS wizard

56 Eureka 52 — Winter 2005 Notes

Nornand Nor + Nand Clasty Classified & Nasty tralve Transistor + Valve osse Oscillate sockel Make a noise like a socket farb The sea surrounding a Range Ship - goes far before it, far behind it far beneath it etc. ajoisy Adjustable & Noisy pottytacts Potentiometer contacts rork naths (forgotten) instrarb Strobed in Minilig Logic Gate element made by Elliots from discrete transistors etc. before integrated circuits appeared. flutterous Windysock Elliots works was next to an airfield. threedee 3 Dimensional ranging system. tape Punched paper tape. chuggsome foe The computer (they made “chugging” noises when running). contact tree Arrangement of relay contacts guffish (forgotten) digering Moving in the manner of a Digit logy Logical lampled Glowed like a lamp calumphing Calculating Triumphantly progish Like a programmer flapjous (forgotten)

Eureka 52 — Winter 2005 57 58 Eureka 52 — Winter 2005 K N O L L I P I B L I M P B A R U N T I E T E A T O P A Z D E I S M H L N A A D U L T M E L O N N M A E E L B O W D O W N S R V R © A D I E U P L N P R I C K E F E R A Y O N

Eureka 52 — Winter 2005 59 Club contacts

Email: General queries [email protected] Membership queries [email protected] Members’ technical help [email protected] Product sales [email protected] Magazine [email protected] Software [email protected]

The ARM Club, Merton Court, 38 Knoll Road Sidcup, Kent DA14 4QU

Telephone (higher rates): General queries 07010 709849 Technical help line 07010 708098 Fax: 07020 954018

Web site: http://www.armclub.org.uk/

Published by The ARM Club

• Chairman & Membership Secretary: Toby Smith • Treasurer: Simon Burrows • Secretary: Chris Price • Product Development & Internet Officer: Tom Hughes •Show Organisation & Produ ct Sales, Eureka distribution : Ralph Sillett •Technic al Suppo rt Co-ordinato r: Dav id Ruck • Technical Support: Matthew Cook • Special Projects: Mark Smith

60 Eureka 52 — Winter 2005 Benefits of membership

The national club for all users of 32 bit Acorn computers and Pocket Books

• The Club’s magazine, ‘Eureka’, written by members, is published and sent free of charge four times a year.

• Free software to accompany articles in Eureka is available on the Club’s FTP site or can be sent to members on disc.

• Free Technical Help Service. We will do our best to solve any problems which you may have, by email, letter, telephone or fax.

• Special discounts for Club members from well-known companies.

• Regional open days and shows are regularly organised by the Club. Other events can be arranged on request.

• Special offers at shows and open days.

• Regional contact lists of other members, available on request.

• Opportunities to get involved in the running of the Club itself.

• School and Affiliate Membership available on request.

• Joining pack includes an extra copy of a recent issue of the magazine and software.

Annual membership £15 Europe £19 and rest of the world £22 The ARM Club, Merton Court, 38 Knoll Road, Sidcup, Kent DA14 4QU Email: [email protected] Tel: 07010 709849 (Flextel)