4 to 7 Fo r A g e s Table of Contents Chapter 1 About your BetaByte Learning PC Chapter 2 Getting Started Chapter 3 Useful Features and Controls Chapter 4 Game Selection Chapter 5 Game Rules Chapter 6 Two-Player Mode Chapter 7 Make a Selection and Submit Your Answer 1 Chapter 8 Games and Game Codes Word Math Memory and Logic Music Chapter 9 Trouble Shooting 6 9 9 12 13 15 18 4 5 6 8 8 Dear Parent/Guardian, Thank you for buying the BetaByte Learning PC. Using the latest technology, Oregon Scientific aims to develop unparalleled electronic learning products that make learning a lot more fun. Designed by experts, our products are packed with unique interactive activities that make an invaluable contribution to your child's development. As well as activities with specific objectives of furthering skills of language, mathematics, music, memory, logical reasoning and general knowledge, the BetaByte Learning PC provides a safe and realistic introduction to computers and encourages creativity and independent learning. When it comes to developing your child's mind, Oregon Scientific's products help them achieve their potential. Notes Warning: Changes or modifications to this unit not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user's authority to operate the equipment. NOTE: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures: · Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna. · Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver. · Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected. · Consult the dealer or an experienced radio TV technician for help. " This Class B digital apparatus complies with Canadian ICES-003." " Cet appareil mumérique de la class B est conforme à la norme NMB-003 du Canada" Oregon Scientific, Inc. 19861 SW 95th Place Tualatin, OR 97062 Tel: 503 639 8883 Fax: 503 684 8883 Email: info@oscientific.com Look for us on the World Wide Web! http://www.oregonscientific.com Learning PC Chapter 1 About your BetaByte Learning PC Features The unit features: 35 Activities · 11 Vocabulary · 9 Math · 7 Memory & Logic · 3 Music · 5 Tools & Games Multimedia · Animation and talking Display · Matrix LCD monitor Interface · Real keyboard arrangement to develop computer skills Audio · Friendly clear voice on an advanced micro processor The BetaByte Learning PC is supplied with the following parts. Please contact your retailer should any parts be missing. 1 - Unit 2 - Instruction Manual LCD Screen Keyboard Lock Button Unit Instruction Manual Speaker Directional Cursor Button 1 Unit Sliding Handle Battery Cover 2 Keyboard 3 Chapter 2 Getting Started Your Oregon Scientific BetaByte Learning PC operates on 4 "AA" size batteries (not included). Battery Installation 1. Make sure the unit is turned off. 2. Using a Phillips screwdriver, open the battery cover at the back of the unit. 3. Insert 4 "AA" batteries. (Note the correct polarity: +, - ) 4. Replace the cover. (The unit is automatically turned on as soon as the batteries are installed) Caution · Different types of batteries or new and used · Non-rechargeable batteries are not to be recharged. batteries are not to be mixed. · Rechargeable batteries are to be removed from the toy · Only batteries of the same or equivalent type as before being charged. (if removable) recommended are to be used. · Rechargeable batteries are only to be charged under adult · Remove all batteries when replacing. supervision. (if removable) · Remove batteries from the unit if the unit is not · Exhausted batteries are to be removed from the toy. going to be used for long periods. · The supply terminals are not to be short-circuited. · Do not dispose of batteries in fire. Cleaning and Maintenance The unit should be regularly examined for damage to the enclosure and other parts. In the event of such damage, the unit must not be used until the damage has been repaired. Always disconnect the power supply before cleaning. Wipe the unit with a dry cloth. · Do not get the unit wet. · Do not dismantle the unit. Auto-off The learning PC will be automatically turned off after 5 minutes of no input from the player. 4 Starting BetaByte Learning PC Facing the front of the unit, slide the lock buttons located on the side of the unit towards you to open the unit. Turn on your BetaByte Learning PC using the [ON/OFF] button located on the upper right corner of the keyboard. Then BetaByte prompts the player to enter his/her initials. Player 1, enter your initials and press [Enter]. At the end of your session, remember to turn off the power using the same [ON/OFF] button. Press the On/Off Button Chapter 3 Useful Features and Controls The Keyboard The keyboard operates in the same way as a real computer keyboard. The Directional Cursor Button You can use this to select different objects on the screen. Press the arrowheads on the directional cursor button indicating the direction you want the cursor arrow or flashing cursor to go. The Flashing Cursor This shows you the position where the next keyboard entry will appear. The Player 1 and Player 2 Buttons (applies to some games) Press these buttons to enter players' initials and activate two-player mode. The Level Button Press the [Level] button to change the level of the game you are playing. To change a level, press [Level] and then use the directional cursor button to select the new level or simply press the level number, and press [Enter]. 5 The Game Code Button Press [Game Code] anytime to go to the Game Code screen and enter a new game code. The Erase Button Press [Erase] to delete a letter, number or selection. The Answer Button Press [Answer] to reveal the answer to the current question. Chapter 4 Game Selection There are two ways to select games: A) After entering your initials, the Game Zone screen appears. The BetaByte scrolls through the Game Zones, when the required Game Zone appears on screen press [Enter]. Game names then appear on the screen. When the required game name appears, press [Enter]. B) Alternatively, press the [Game Code] key and enter the game code of your chosen game.(The game code list is directly above the keyboard and the game codes are marked in red). You can press the [Game Code] key at any time to start another game. Game Selection Chapter 5 Game Rules (applies to most games) Attempts Game questions come in groups of 10. You are given 3 attempts to answer each question. Points are awarded according to the number of attempts taken to answer each question correctly. 6 Time Limit Each attempt to answer a question is timed. Level 1 1 minute 15 seconds Level 2 1 minute Level 3 45 seconds Level 4 30 seconds. Scores If the question is answered correctly in the first attempt, 10 points are awarded. If the question is answered correctly in the second attempt, 6 points are awarded. If the question is answered correctly in the third attempt, 3 points are awarded. Score 90 points or higher after a block of 10 questions to go to the next HIGHER level of difficulty. Repeat Press [Repeat] to repeat the audio instruction prompt, or to hear your melody played back (Game Code: 29 Music Composer). Help (applies to most games) If you find any question too difficult, press the [Help] button to get a clue. But remember you can only use a maximum of two hints per question, and a point is deducted for each hint used. Summary Screen After a round of questions, a summary screen appears to show the score for the last round. The summary screen disappears, and the game resumes automatically. Summary Screen 7 Chapter 6 Two-Player Mode Basics Most games follow a basic format in the Two-Player mode. Player 1: Press the [Player 1] button and enter your initials. Player 2: Press the [Player 2] button and enter your initials. The initials are saved. After the player has entered their initials, the game proceeds similar to the One-Player mode. The players take turns to answer the questions, and points are awarded to the player who answers the questions correctly. If you want to return to the One-Player mode, press [Player 1]. Two-Player Game Rules The game rules in the Two-Player mode are the same as the One-Player mode. After a group of ten questions, the summary screen shows both players' scores. Chapter 7 Make a Selection and Submit Your Answer In some games, you must select your answer from a list shown on the screen. Method 1 ­ Selecting the Answer with the Cursor Button 1. Press the arrows on the directional cursor button to move the arrow cursor over the chosen object or to highlight the chosen object. 2. Press [Enter]. Press the Cursor Button Press the Enter Button 8 Method 2 ­ Typing the Answer with the Keyboard In some cases, you do not need to make a selection. Use the keyboard to type in your answer at the flashing cursor. Method 3 ­ Selecting the Answer with [Enter] Press [Enter] when the objects you want to select are on top of each other (Letter Pair). Press the Keyboard Chapter 8 (Ganes and Game Codes) Word (01) Sequences Unscramble the alphabet. A row of letters appears on the screen. Using the keyboard, type in the letters in their alphabetical order. (02) Knock Out An animated word appears on the screen. Then the word appears again with an extra letter. 1. Select the extra letter using the cursor arrow. 2. Press [Enter] to remove the extra letter. (03) Missing Letter Remember the animated word presented by BetaByte Learning PC. After the animation, the vocabulary word appears with a letter missing. Type in the missing letter. (01) Press the Enter Button (02) (03) 9 (04) See and Spell An animated vocabulary word is shown briefly. Spell the word in the spaces given. Each space represents a letter. (05) Hangman Guess the word a letter at a time, and use the keyboard to type in your guesses. (maximum eight wrong attempts) (06) 2-Player Hangman Challenge each other to solve a mystery word. 1. Player 2: Type in a word (maximum ten letters) without Player 1 seeing it, and press [Enter]. 2. Player 1: Guess the word one letter at a time, and use the keyboard to type in your guesses (maximum eight wrong attempts). 3. Player 1: Type in a word (maximum ten letters) without Player 2 seeing it and press [Enter]. 4. Player 2: Guess the word one letter at a time, and use the keyboard to type in your guesses (maximum eight wrong attempts). Whoever scores the most points wins the game. (07) Word Jumble An animated word appears briefly. The word appears again scrambled. Unscramble the word one letter at a time, and use the keyboard to type it in. Careful! The correct answer may appear as the question. (04) (05) (06) (07) 10 (08) Jumbler Unscramble each other's word (maximum 10 letters). 1. Player 2: Type in a word (maximum 10 letters) without Player 1 seeing it, and press [Enter]. 2. Player 1: Unscramble the word one letter at a time, and use the keyboard to type it in (maximum eight wrong attempts). 3. Player 1: Type in a word (maximum 10 letters) without Player 2 seeing it and press [Enter]. 4. Player 2: Unscramble the word one letter at a time, and use the keyboard to type it in (maximum eight wrong attempts). Careful! The correct answer may appear as the question. Whoever scores the most points wins the game. (09) Before And After A letter appears with a blank space on either side. According to alphabetical order, 1. key in the letter that comes before the given letter in the left blank, and 2. key in the letter that comes after the given letter in the right blank. (08) (09) (10) Letter Pair (10) A letter pair is two uppercase or two lowercase of the same letter. Letters scroll from left to right on the top row and from right to left on the bottom row. When the same letters appear directly one on top of the other, press [Enter]. Tip: concentrate on the middle of the screen to find the letter pair. (11) Magic Word Delete a letter to make a new word. 1. Using the cursor arrow, select the letter to be deleted. 2. Press [Enter]. (11) 11 Math (12) Counting Fun A rectangular figure with shapes inside appears on the left of the screen. "How many rectangles / triangles are there?" In the blank space on the right of the ...