For Ages 5 & UP ission is to m n rm fu ake Ou learning Electronic Learning Products Dear Parent/Guardian Thank you for choosing the Accelerator Next. Designed with fun in mind, the Accelerator Next is packed full of learning, offering stimulating games and activities that make an invaluable contribution to your child's development. The activities to further your child's skills cover vocabulary, memory, logic, mathematics and spelling. When it comes to developing your child's mind, Oregon Scientific's products will help them achieve their potential. Table of Contents Chapter 1 About Your Accelerator Next Chapter 2 Getting Started Chapter 3 Activity Rules Chapter 4 Activities WORD Shooting Stars All Mixed Up Letter Lunch See & Spell MATHEMATICS Signboard Number Crunch Take Shape Calculator 1 3 MEMORY Remember This Match Box Tone Clone Marching Orders Fly By LOGIC Book Shop Code Cracker Making Tracks Training Day Gold Digger GAME Snap Shot Log Hop Worm Run Mars Mission Paint MUSIC Jukebox Studio Time 11 7 13 8 8 15 9 17 Chapter 1 About Your Accelerator Next The Accelerator Next is supplied with the following parts; please contact your retailer if any parts are missing: 1 ­ Learning Computer 2 ­ Instruction Manual 3 ­ Expansion Stick 4 ­ Mouse Keyboard Directional Cursor Pad Instruction Manual 1 Learning Computer LCD Screen 2 Speaker Expansion Stick 3 Mouse 4 1 Unit Top Expansion Stick Drive Mouse Connection Reset Button Battery Cover 2 Chapter 2 Getting Started Your Accelerator Next operates on 2 "AA" batteries (not included). Battery Installation 1) Make sure the unit is turned off. 2) Using a small Phillip's screwdriver unscrew the battery cover on the back of the unit. Do not take the screw all the way out of the cover. 3) The cover should drop out if you hold the unit upside down. If it does not, raise the battery cover with your fingernail and pull it out and up. 4) Insert the 2 "AA" batteries, taking careful note of the correct polarity. 5) Replace the cover and screw the screw back into place. Caution · · · · · · · · · · Different types of batteries or new and used batteries are not to be mixed. Only use batteries of the same or equivalent type. Remove batteries from the unit if the unit is not going to be used for a long time. Remove all batteries when replacing. Do not dispose of batteries in fire. Non-rechargeable batteries are not to be recharged. Rechargeable batteries are to be removed from the toy before being charged. Rechargeable batteries are only to be charged under adult supervision. Exhausted batteries are to be removed from the toy. The supply terminals are not to be short-circuited. 3 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 and/or remove the batteries before cleaning. Wipe the unit with a dry cloth. · Do not get the unit wet. · Do not dismantle the unit. Auto-off If there is no input on the unit for few minutes the unit will automatically say goodbye and turn itself off to conserve power. When you are ready to start playing again just press the [On/Off] button to turn the unit back on. Blackout Screen or Abnormal Display Reset the unit by removing the batteries before replacing them. Starting the Accelerator Next Turn on the Accelerator Next by pushing the [On/Off] button at the top right of the keyboard. Remember to turn the unit off when you have finished by pushing the same button. The Cursor Pad The cursor pad is a four-way control button that works by pressing the top, bottom, left side or right side of the pad. It is used during some activities for control and for submitting your answer. The cursor pad has two cursor selection buttons underneath it. 4 The Arrow Keys The arrow keys have the same function as the cursor pad directions. Whenever the game rules allow you to use the cursor pad you can also use the arrow keys. Settings Press [Settings] button to adjust the volume or screen contrast on the settings screen. Press up and down on the cursor pad to move the highlight between the volume and contrast. Press left or right on the cursor pad to adjust the settings. (unless the answer is automatically submitted). Shape Buttons Use the shape buttons in Code Cracker to submit your guess. Mathematical Operation Buttons Use the buttons marked with the mathematical operation signs (+, - , x, ÷) in the Calculator and in Signboard to input your answer. Answer Button If you are stuck you can press the [Answer] key to see the correct answer to the current question. You will not score anything for that question. 5 Main Menu Button Press the [Main Menu] button at any time to return to the category selection menu. Help Button Press the [Help] key to get a clue for the question. Not all games have help. Using a hint will reduce the total score available for the current question. Repeat Button Press the [Repeat] key to hear the game instructions again. In Studio Time the [Repeat] key will play back your composition. The Mouse The Accelerator Next comes with a unique stationary mouse. The mouse can be used in most games. The button in the middle can be pushed up or down; this will move the highlight or the cursor. Pressing the left or right buttons will submit the selection. The Expansion Stick Some of the activities in the Accelerator Next have extra levels and data that can be accessed when the Expansion Stick is plugged in. Insert the Expansion Stick into the Expansion Stick drive as indicated on the stick. The Accelerator Next will display a menu of all the expanded activities. Choose an activity in the usual way. To play the unexpanded versions of the games and all the other games remove the Expansion Stick. 6 Chapter 3 Activity Rules Game Selection There are 25 activities in the Accelerator Next. When you turn the unit on you will see the category selection menu. There are six categories to choose from (Word, Mathematics, Memory, Logic, Game and Music). Move the highlight up and down through the list with the middle mouse button or by pressing up and down on the cursor pad. Select the category by pressing one of the cursor selection buttons, the left or right mouse button or the [Enter] key. You can also select a category by pressing a number button. When you select a category you will see the game selection menu. Choose a game in the same way. You can press the Main Menu button (bottom left of the keyboard) at any time to choose a different activity. Attempts For most games you have three attempts at each question. After three incorrect answers the Accelerator Next will reveal the correct answer. This does not apply to all the games. If there is no input after about 15 seconds the Accelerator Next will repeat the instruction prompt. Levels Most of the activities have different levels. If you score 85 points or more at the end of a round of 10 questions you will go to the next higher level of difficulty. If you score less then 50 points you will go to an easier level. After each question you will be shown the score screen so you can see how well you are doing. 7 Chapter 4 Activities WORD Shooting Stars Guess the hidden word. 1. The Accelerator Next displays a number of blank spaces in the middle of the screen representing the hidden letters of a word. 2. Select a letter by pressing any of the letter buttons. 3. If the letter is in the word it will appear in the correct place in the word. If the letter is not in the word one of the stars will fall down from the top of the screen and the wrong letter will appear there. 4. Keep guessing letters until you have guessed the whole word or run out of stars. All Mixed Up 1. A word appears at the top of the screen with the letters all mixed up. 2. Work out the correct spelling of the word and key it in using the letter keys. Letter Lunch Use the whisk to delete the extra letter in the word. 1. The Accelerator Next shows a word with an extra letter in it. 2. Work out which letter is incorrect. 3. Move the whisk over the letter either by pressing left and right on the cursor pad or by pressing the letter button. (If there is more than one of the same letter then repeatedly 8 4. Press [Enter] or the cursor select button to remove the letter. 5. You can also use the middle mouse button to move the whisk left and right and press the left or right mouse button to select the letter. See & Spell Spell the animated word. 1. The Accelerator Next shows an animation and asks you to spell the word you saw animated. 2. Key in the word using the letter keys. If you key the wrong letter it will not appear. If you key three wrong letters the correct answer will be revealed. MATHEMATICS Signboard Choose the correct operation sign to complete the equation. 1. An incomplete equation appears on the screen. 2. Choose the correct operation sign to complete the equation. You can do this by highlighting the sign at the bottom of the screen by pressing left and right on the cursor pad or with the middle mouse button. 3. Press the [Enter] button, the cursor select button or the left or right mouse button to submit your answer. 4. You can also choose a sign by pressing the correct operation sign button. 5. Lower levels only use plus and minus equations. Higher levels can use any of the operation signs. 9 Number Crunch Test your number skills by answering the equations. 1. The Accelerator Next displays an equation. 2. Work out the answer and key it in using the number buttons. 3. The answer is automatically submitted when you key in the last digit. Take Shape 1. The Accelerator Next shows an equation made up from shapes. 2. Work out the answer and key it in using the number buttons. The answer is automatically submitted when you key in the last digit. 3. If you press the [Help] button the shapes will be replaced with numbers. Calculator Make creative calculations! 1. Key in the first number of the equation. 2. Press one of the mathematical sign buttons. 3. Key in the last number in the equation and press the [Answer] button or the [Enter] button to see the result. 4. Clear the screen by pressing the [BackSpace] button. 10 MEMORY Remember This 1. 2. 3. 4. The Accelerator Next shows some icons on the screen for a short while Memorize the icons. You are then shown some more icons. Identify the icons you first saw and select them. Use the middle mouse button or press up and down on the cursor pad to move the cursor arrow under an icon. 5. Press the left or right mouse button, the cursor select buttons or the [Enter] key to select the icon. 6. You can deselect the icon by choosing it again. 7. Your answer is automatically submitted when you choose the last icon. Match Box Find the matching shape pairs. 1. The Accelerator Next shows a set of shapes in pairs. 2. The shapes are covered by square tiles. Try to remember the positions of the shapes. 3. Highlight the tile you want to uncover using the cursor pad or the middle mouse button. Press the [Enter] button, the left or right mouse button or the cursor select buttons to uncover the shape. 4. Select the second shape in the pair using the same method. If the shapes match they will remain uncovered, otherwise they will be hidden again. 5. Continue matching the pairs until they are all uncovered. After you correctly select the second to last pair the last pair will be automatically uncovered. 11 Tone Clone Repeat the tone sequence. 1. The screen shows a set of four circles in a cross shape. 2. The Accelerator Next will play a single tone and flash one of the circles. You have to repeat the tone by pressing the cursor pad in the direction that corresponds to the position of the flashed circle. 3. The Accelerator Next will then repeat the sequence and add a new tone on at the end. Try to repeat the tone sequence by pressing the cursor keys in the correct order. Marching Orders Select the objects in the order they appeared. 1. A set of objects appears across the top of the screen, one at a time. 2. Remember the order in which they appeared. 3. Select the objects in the same order. 4. Use the middle mouse button or press left and right on the cursor pad to move the cursor arrow under an object. 5. Press the left or right mouse button, the cursor select buttons or the [Enter] key to select the icon. It will appear on the bottom row. 6. You can remove an icon from the bottom row by pressing down on the cursor pad and pressing a selection button. 7. When you select the last icon your answer will be submitted. Fly By Remember the sequence of flying numbers. 1. Numbers fly across the screen one by one. 2. Remember the sequence and key it in using the number keys. 3. If you press the wrong number it will not appear. 12 LOGIC Book Shop Move the stack of books, one at a time without putting a large book on a smaller book. 1. ...