Mouse Practice
Encyclopedia
Mouse Practice was a game-based
computer
tutorial
aimed at teaching new users
how to operate a computer mouse
at a time when many were unfamiliar with this feature of a computer.
Mouse Practice was created using MacroMind Director and released in 1992 by Apple for the Macintosh
computer platform. It involved the user learning the key functions of the mouse by controlling a scuba diver in an underwater environment.
Another program, Mouse Basics, served a similar purpose on earlier Macintosh computers, but did not have the game-based approach of Mouse Practice.
. An animation
then showed the scuba diver descending.
to look around, requiring the use to move the mouse to control the flashlight in order to illuminate a number of animals—this again worked on the basic skill of controlling the pointer by way of moving the mouse. Once all animals had been illuminated an animation showed the scuba diver travelling along holding onto a whale's
fin.
on the fish. The user then had to click on a number of other animals, releasing them from their homes—this taught the skill of pointing-and-clicking
. After all animals had been released, an animation showed the scuba diver riding on a sea turtle
saying "Let's see what else we can find".
and add it to a treasure chest
. The user was required to point to each piece of treasure as instructed, starting with the crown
, then click on it and drag it to the treasure chest. Once all the treasure was collected, a hook
appeared and the user had to drag the hook to the chest, and then release the mouse button—these activities taught the skill of dragging-and-dropping
.
. The software can also run on some other systems by way of an emulator
. Mouse Practice was a default inclusion in the simplified At Ease
graphical user interface (GUI)
.
Game based learning
Game based learning is a branch of serious games that deals with applications that have defined learning outcomes. Generally they are designed in order to balance the subject matter with the gameplay and the ability of the player to retain and apply said subject matter to the real world.Games...
computer
Computer
A computer is a programmable machine designed to sequentially and automatically carry out a sequence of arithmetic or logical operations. The particular sequence of operations can be changed readily, allowing the computer to solve more than one kind of problem...
tutorial
Tutorial
A tutorial is one method of transferring knowledge and may be used as a part of a learning process. More interactive and specific than a book or a lecture; a tutorial seeks to teach by example and supply the information to complete a certain task....
aimed at teaching new users
User (computing)
A user is an agent, either a human agent or software agent, who uses a computer or network service. A user often has a user account and is identified by a username , screen name , nickname , or handle, which is derived from the identical Citizen's Band radio term.Users are...
how to operate a computer mouse
Mouse (computing)
In computing, a mouse is a pointing device that functions by detecting two-dimensional motion relative to its supporting surface. Physically, a mouse consists of an object held under one of the user's hands, with one or more buttons...
at a time when many were unfamiliar with this feature of a computer.
Mouse Practice was created using MacroMind Director and released in 1992 by Apple for the Macintosh
Macintosh
The Macintosh , or Mac, is a series of several lines of personal computers designed, developed, and marketed by Apple Inc. The first Macintosh was introduced by Apple's then-chairman Steve Jobs on January 24, 1984; it was the first commercially successful personal computer to feature a mouse and a...
computer platform. It involved the user learning the key functions of the mouse by controlling a scuba diver in an underwater environment.
Another program, Mouse Basics, served a similar purpose on earlier Macintosh computers, but did not have the game-based approach of Mouse Practice.
Gameplay
The opening screen showed the scuba diver inviting the user to join him as he was going exploring underwater. To get started, the user had to move the mouse so that the pointer was on the scuba diver—this required the skill of using the mouse to control the position of the pointerCursor (computers)
In computing, a cursor is an indicator used to show the position on a computer monitor or other display device that will respond to input from a text input or pointing device. The flashing text cursor may be referred to as a caret in some cases...
. An animation
Animation
Animation is the rapid display of a sequence of images of 2-D or 3-D artwork or model positions in order to create an illusion of movement. The effect is an optical illusion of motion due to the phenomenon of persistence of vision, and can be created and demonstrated in several ways...
then showed the scuba diver descending.
Controlling the pointer
The next activity was to use the flashlightFlashlight
A flashlight is a hand-held electric-powered light source. Usually the light source is a small incandescent lightbulb or light-emitting diode...
to look around, requiring the use to move the mouse to control the flashlight in order to illuminate a number of animals—this again worked on the basic skill of controlling the pointer by way of moving the mouse. Once all animals had been illuminated an animation showed the scuba diver travelling along holding onto a whale's
Whale
Whale is the common name for various marine mammals of the order Cetacea. The term whale sometimes refers to all cetaceans, but more often it excludes dolphins and porpoises, which belong to suborder Odontoceti . This suborder also includes the sperm whale, killer whale, pilot whale, and beluga...
fin.
Point-and-click
In the next activity, the user was required to move the pointer to the puffer fish, and then click the mouse buttonMouse button
A mouse button is a microswitch on a computer mouse which can be pressed in order to select or interact with an element of a graphical user interface.The three-button scrollmouse has become the most commonly available design...
on the fish. The user then had to click on a number of other animals, releasing them from their homes—this taught the skill of pointing-and-clicking
Point-and-click
Point-and-click is the action of a computer user moving a cursor to a certain location on a screen and then pressing a mouse button, usually the left button , or other pointing device...
. After all animals had been released, an animation showed the scuba diver riding on a sea turtle
Sea turtle
Sea turtles are marine reptiles that inhabit all of the world's oceans except the Arctic.-Distribution:...
saying "Let's see what else we can find".
Drag-and-drop
The final activity was to collect some treasureTreasure
Treasure is a concentration of riches, often one which is considered lost or forgotten until being rediscovered...
and add it to a treasure chest
Buried treasure
A buried treasure is an important part of the popular beliefs surrounding pirates and Old West outlaws. According to popular conception, criminals and others often buried their stolen fortunes in remote places, intending to return for them later, often with the use of treasure maps.-Pirate...
. The user was required to point to each piece of treasure as instructed, starting with the crown
Crown (headgear)
A crown is the traditional symbolic form of headgear worn by a monarch or by a deity, for whom the crown traditionally represents power, legitimacy, immortality, righteousness, victory, triumph, resurrection, honour and glory of life after death. In art, the crown may be shown being offered to...
, then click on it and drag it to the treasure chest. Once all the treasure was collected, a hook
Lifting hook
A lifting hook is a device for grabbing and lifting loads by means of a device such as a hoist or crane. A lifting hook is usually equipped with a safety latch to prevent the disengagement of the lifting wire rope sling, chain or rope to which the load is attached.A hook may have one or more...
appeared and the user had to drag the hook to the chest, and then release the mouse button—these activities taught the skill of dragging-and-dropping
Drag-and-drop
In computer graphical user interfaces, drag-and-drop is the action of selecting a virtual object by "grabbing" it and dragging it to a different location or onto another virtual object...
.
Ending
In the final scene, the diver bids the user farewell and says "If you want to go underwater again, point to me and click. If you want to stop, click the treasure chest". Clicking the diver would result in the tutorial being repeated, while clicking on the treasure chest would quit the program. Clicking the treasure chest was the only way out of the program; unlike other computer programs, Mouse Practice could not be exited until the mission was accomplished.Compatibility
Mouse Practice was released with Macintosh Operating Systems 6 to 9, designed to operate on the Motorola 68k architectureComputer architecture
In computer science and engineering, computer architecture is the practical art of selecting and interconnecting hardware components to create computers that meet functional, performance and cost goals and the formal modelling of those systems....
. The software can also run on some other systems by way of an emulator
Emulator
In computing, an emulator is hardware or software or both that duplicates the functions of a first computer system in a different second computer system, so that the behavior of the second system closely resembles the behavior of the first system...
. Mouse Practice was a default inclusion in the simplified At Ease
At Ease
At Ease was an alternative to the Macintosh desktop developed by Apple Computer in the early 1990s. It provided a simple environment for new Macintosh users and young children to help them to work without supervision...
graphical user interface (GUI)
Graphical user interface
In computing, a graphical user interface is a type of user interface that allows users to interact with electronic devices with images rather than text commands. GUIs can be used in computers, hand-held devices such as MP3 players, portable media players or gaming devices, household appliances and...
.