IntelliBots README

Welcome to the world of IntelliBots!  IntelliBots is a simulated software development environment
where you learn basic programming principles by developing programs for "intelligent robots", also
called IntelliBots (or IBots for short).

Table of Contents

I.   About IntelliBots
II.  What You Have
III. IntelliBots Requirements
IV.  Registering IntelliBots
V.   Communicating With Intelligent Technologies
VI.  IntelliBots For Educators
VII. Intelligent Technologies On The World Wide Web

I. About IntelliBots
We began developing IntelliBots in December of 1994.  Prior to that time we had noticed that even
though there were many people interested in learning about programming, there was very little in the
way of tools or applications to help them.  So we set out to develop such tools and started by observing
a variety of students in the course of learning programming.  We studied those aspects that seemed to 
discourage the students, and we began to develop a teaching aid that would promote the positive
principles while avoiding the more difficult or confusing ones.  We believe that this will prepare the
student to deal with these topics at a later time.

IntelliBots is that teaching tool.  It removes the outlying topics which seem to interfere with the
learning process and it allows the student to focus on the most critical concepts.  We have observed
that almost all students that have used IntelliBots have learned those concepts faster, with less
confusion, and have had more fun doing it.

The programming language used in IntelliBots is a form of assembly language.  We use assembly so the
student is able to get a grasp of how software really works, and what the interaction of the software is
with the computer.  High-level languages were created to hide the computer from the programmer, and
as a result simplify the programmers work.  Even though many high-level languages accomplish this
goal, in doing so they inadvertently hide some of the processes that are most important in
understanding how software works and, therefore, should be written.

The basic concept of IntelliBots is that you write programs  that control IBots(simulated robots) on a
Locale(map).  You start by making the IBot move and turn, then you move on to identify and avoid
other objects as well as carry out more complex assignments.  At times your IBot must defend itself
from attack and attempt to destroy enemy IBots.  In all cases you are using a development
environment that has all of the same basic features as today's commercial development tools.  As you
work through the manual, you learn how to program the IBot to accomplish specific tasks using the
assembly language.  Whether you are just learning or already know how to program, IntelliBots is a fun
way to test your skills against others.

IntelliBots is now available for the Macintosh and will soon be available for Windows.  We have
intentionally developed the software so the IBot source and executable files can be used on both
platforms.

II. What You Have
You have received the software product called IntelliBots.  This product should have come with a
number of diskettes containing the following items:

1.  this README file,
2.  the complete documentation in the Adobe Acrobat PDF format,  (Note: You must already have the
free Acrobat reader (available for download elsewhere) in order to view this document!)
3.  the application, called IntelliBots,
4.  a folder titled "IBots" which contains all of the programs that are referenced  in the documentation,
5.  a folder titled "Locales" which contains all of the terrain maps that the IBots will run on, and
6.  a folder titled "Examples" which contains all of the files that are created in the examples in the
documentation.

In addition, if you purchased a Teachers Version, you will also have a folder titled "Missions" which
contains all of the Mission solutions.  Sorry, but only the teachers get this.

If, after installation, any of these items are missing please contact us (see below).

III. IntelliBots Requirements
IntelliBots for the Macintosh requires:
1.  an Apple Macintosh or 100% compatible,
2.  a 68020, PowerPC, or better,
3.  MacOS 7.0 or better,
4.  at least 4MB of memory (6MB of memory suggested),
5.  a 13 inch color monitor or better,
6.  and at least 5MB of hard disk space.

IV. Registering IntelliBots
We hope that you will take the time to register the software now that you have it.  In return for
sending us a completed registration card we will send you a Programmers Quick Reference card
containing many of the details of the IntelliBots assembly language on a convenient to carry and use
card.

V.  Communicating With Intelligent Technologies
We are anxious to hear your feedback.  If you have a comment, suggestion, or question that you would
like to send to us, we can be reached in the following ways:

1.  Regular mail can be sent to:
       Intelligent Technologies, Inc.
       P.O. BOX 2022
       Orem, Utah  84059-2022

2.  EMail can be sent to:
       ITI1 on America Online,
       ITI1 on eWorld, or
       ITI1@AOL.COM on the Internet.

3.  Faxes can be sent to:
       (801)763-8690

VI.  IntelliBots For Educators
If you are a teacher or you represent an educational institution then please contact us for more
information about our educational pricing at the number (801)763-8690.

VII.  Intelligent Technologies On The World Wide Web
If you have access to the World Wide Web then come by and check out our Web site at:
       HTTP://www.xmission.com/~intltech/home.html


IntelliBots and IBots are Trademarks of Intelligent Technologies Inc.
Apple Macintosh is a Trademark of Apple Computer Inc.
Microsoft is a registered trademark and Windows is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
