************************************* * * * From: vdhamer@prl.philips.nl * * To: kites@das.harvard.edu * * Date: 27 Jun 95 16:06:58 GMT * * Subject: KiteFlight Newsletter #4 * * * ************************************* /******************************* kf_news4.doc ******************************\ * * * Module : Kf_news4 * * Descript : KiteFlight Newsletter * * Project : KiteFlight * * Modified : 25-Jun-1995 (Sun 18:12) * * * * (c) 1995 by Peter van den Hamer * * * \***************************************************************************/ KITEFLIGHT NEWSLETTER #4 by P. van den Hamer 25-Jun-95 This is the 4rd issue of a newsletter with information about the PC program KiteFlight. The newsletter contains information for current users and others interested in KiteFlight. Unlike an FAQ, most information in this newsletter will not be repeated in future issues, so I recommend that you save this file if you are interested in KiteFlight. Contents of this issue: 1. What's KiteFlight? 2. What's the current version? 3. Update policy 4. What's new in KF 2.01? 5. Speed/EndSpeed nesting 6. KiteFlight in the classroom 7. Odds and ends 1. What's KiteFlight? --------------------- KiteFlight (KF) is an MS-DOS program which can simulate the movements of dual-line stunt kites or stunt kite teams. The movements of the kites are controlled by control files written in a kite simulation language called KF1. KF is useful both for visualizing existing routines and as a tool for developing your own routines. The commercial floppy ("Kite 2.0") with KiteFlight also contains software (Plot and Sputnik by Peter Ruinard) for printing and customizing kite plans from the books by Servaas van der Horst and Velthuizen ("Stunt Kites..." and "Stunt Kites II..."). Plot and Sputnik are meant to be used without the book(s). KiteFlight, however, can be used independently. 2. What's the current version? ------------------------------ Latest version: 2.01 (latest complete version in my own possession) Latest release: 2.01 (demo version available on Internet by ftp) Latest release: 2.01 (on 1.44MB floppy in CD Box via shops/magazines) Compulsories : 2.1 (available on Internet by ftp) Web home page : 2.01 (below http://www.win.tue.nl/win/cs/fm/pp/kites/) In other words, the new commercial version contains KF 2.01 (rather than 2.00 as reported in Newsletter #3) and is already available from VliegerOp (a major kite retailer here in Europe). Readers of KiteLines magazine can also find KiteFlight advertised in the KiteLines Bookstore at the back of the magazine (which currently still offers Kite 1.0). 3. Update policy ---------------- If you buy and register the commercial Kite 2.0 diskette, you can get free upgrades to KF 2.xx by Internet. You can register (free) by sending an E-mail message to the author (vdhamer@prl.philips.nl) stating your address, which version you own and where you bought it. Although you can register even if you don't have any form of access to Internet, you will not be able to get updates (but maybe your nephew can help out with the Internet part). If you own the commercial Kite 1.0 diskette, you can get free upgrades up to KF 1.18. Updates from Kite 1.0 to Kite 2.0 are, however, NOT available and you will have to purchase the Kite 2.0 diskette to get KiteFlight 2.01 and its successors. You can obtain a free copy of the demo version of KiteFlight 2.01 via Internet from the following rec.kites archives: ftp://ftp.uni-bremen.de/pub/kites/simulation/kfd/kfcd_201.zip (Germany) ftp://ftp.hawaii.edu/pub/rec/kites/simulation/kfd/kfcd_201.zip (USA) 4. What's new in KF 2.01 ------------------------ Newsletter #3 stated that the new commercial floppy (CD box with HD floppy and photo of La Hembra kite on cover) would contain version 2.00. This was changed at the last minute because I had developed a somewhat improved version 2.01 before 2.00 actually made it to the shops. The main improvements KF 2.01 relevant for those who downloaded KFCD_200.ZIP (the current demo version is KFCD_201.ZIP): * new version of installation program * French version of KF1.DOC (in addition to German and English versions) * improved support for old-and-not-quite-compatible mouse drivers * support for up to 5 levels of Speed..EndSpeed nesting * replaced compulsory library 2.0 by 2.1 (related to Speed..EndSpeed) 5. Speed/EndSpeed nesting ------------------------- KiteFlight 2.0 includes new 'Speed' and 'EndSpeed' instructions. 'Speed' causes any kite which executes the instruction to speed up by the specified factor. Example: KiteArc 10 +360 ;first half of '8' at normal speed Speed 0.5 ;temporarily slow down kite to 50% of speed KiteArc 10 -360 ;second half takes twice as long! EndSpeed ;reset speed to previous value This thus allows kites to change speed during a routine. In a multi-kite routine each kite's speed can be changed independently (e.g. for a team rainbow figure). The EndSpeed instruction changes a kite's speed back to its previous value. A tip for advanced users: If a kite encounters a 'Speed' instruction and then a second 'Speed' instruction, the speed factors are cumulative: Example: Speed 2 : ;instructions flown at 2.0x normal speed Speed 1.2 : ;instructions flown at 2.4x normal speed EndSpeed : ;instructions flown at 2.0x normal speed EndSpeed : ;instructions flown at normal speed In other words, Speed..EndSpeed constructs can be nested. This nesting is primarily intended to ease development of complex routines: the initial section of a routine which has been completed and tested can be accelerated by enclosing it in 'Speed 10'..'EndSpeed'. In multi-kite routines one should first ensure that all kites reach the 'Speed 10' instruction at the same time. The same applies to the 'EndSpeed' instruction. Otherwise the relative timings and formations of the kites will change due to the extra 'Speed'..'EndSpeed' instructions. The easiest way to ensure that it is safe to add a "collective speedup" is to insert such temporary 'Speed'..'EndSpeed' instructions directly after 'Sync' (new in KF 2.0) instructions. If you don't use 'Sync' instructions yet, we recommend using them because they greatly simplify the development and maintenance of KF1 routines. 6. KiteFlight in the classroom ------------------------------ The following information was provided by John Burke (bdp@access.digex.net), a teacher at the Robert Frost Middle School in Montgomery County MD, a suburb of Washington DC. John used KiteFlight in three 50 minute classes which constituted part of a full four day "interdisciplinary unit focusing on Kites". The students were 11 years olds (sixth grade). John prepared an abridged version of the documentation of the KF1 language, and created a few exercises to help the students master the main KF1 commands and coordinate systems. The students were then allowed to develop their own flight fragments. Some quotes from John's assessment of the course: "The miniunit, especially KiteFlight, generated far more enthusiasm than I expected. So much so, that many students want to use their free time, during the school day, to work on their routines!" "The program itself is very easy to use. The debugging feature is excellent! The students were thrilled to see the results of their programming efforts. I was concerned that it would not be 'visually stimulating' enough considering that they are of the Sega/Nintendo generation [..]. I was completely wrong! I believe the fact that they were in complete control of the outcome: not reliant on some easy to use, slick interface that generated a lot of output based on limited input from them. This was quite gratifying, as a teacher, to see this response." "As you can tell from the video [tape made during these sessions], the flight paths have little to do with actually flying kites. However, the mathematics and problem solving skills employed make this an outstanding program for young people. The kite aspect does make it appealing to the students. I can imagine that students as young as 5th grade, ten year olds, could use this software." Here are some quotes from the kids themselves taken from John's video of the event. The tape shows a room with about 10 Zenith ATs and maybe 20 excited kids. The kids talk to each other, their teacher and even state their views about the program to the camera: "a really cool game" and "more fun than a regular game" "check this out!" and "isn't it cool!" One pupil announced that KiteFlight wasn't quite as fun as his two arcade game favourites. Another said it was nicer than the software on the school's Macintoshes (the school's main computer line). "it makes your mind work" "[it] gets children to create things rather than just doing something someone else invented" [a giggling girl] "Peter, this program really changed my life!" Screen images shown on the video include spirograph-type patterns, mirror image motions, a kite randomly darting around and a kite pretending to be a ball bouncing against the confines of the grid box. The surprising results of this pilot program is corroborated by a recent European study (read: me showing my own 8-year old son Tim the ropes). A resulting routine is included on the Kite 2.0 floppy. Tim also considers KiteFlight a challenging game and, although he has been at several kite festivals, uses the program to draw kite-unrelated fantasy figures. 7. Odds and ends ---------------- * Dutch translation of KF1.DOC ---------------------------- Currently KF1.DOC, the main manual for those who want to write their own KF1 routines, is available in English (original version), French (by Christian Bonato) and German (by Dieter Sattler). I have started translating KF1.DOC into Dutch myself (and now appreciate how much work it is to make a good translation of this 1000 line file). When it is finished, the file will be incorporated into future releases of KiteFlight and KiteFlight demo versions. Users in Holland can download the Dutch translation (KF1DUTCH.DOC) and other publicly available KiteFlight files from a Dutch Bulletin Board System with an extensive section on kites (PVCS, Apeldoorn, 055-666685, operated by Ren ter Wiel). -=-=-=- ******************************************************************