Kitchen Sync
The Nanos Systems reference card is clear, concise, and, for its shortcomings, is the best handy reference for the ZX80/ZX81 I have seen.
Sinclair ZX80
The Quicksilva Programmable Character Generator
The Quicksilva Programmable Character Generator is a single circuit board which plugs into the QS Motherboard or the QS Edge Connector which plugs into the back of the ZX81. Once installed, it lets the user program 128 different characters rather than the previous 64 and their inverses. After the board has been programmed, it can
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Flicker-free Four Times Normal Character Scrolling
Programming an active display without the flicker and flash is one of the challenges confronting the ZX80 user. So far the programs published in SYNC with flicker free display possibilities have some limitations: 1) the program must stay in machine language; 2) all computing must be done during the vertical blacking period; or 3) everything
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8K Machine Code Keyboard Scanning
Bernard Puerzer’s program for scanning the ZX80 keyboard (Machine Code Keyboard Scanning Program) was written for the 4K ROM, His program served as the occasion to give the same ability to read the keyboard to 8K ROM users. This required adaptation since the programs are not automatically transferable. One of the problems was to get
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Maps and the ZX80/81
In this article, we will examine some ways of putting maps into your ZX80 or ZX81. We will also see how the Sinclair computers can generate complex maps by themselves.
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How Many Blocks
Like most new computer owners, I was testing my new equipment with some games. My fun was interrupted, though, when I realized that I was being watched. As I turned, I was confronted by my five year-old daughter, Scooter. Wearing a sad face and eyes that reminded me of a beagle puppy, she muttered, “How
Elimination
Elimination is a traditional dice game which provides a worthwhile vehicle for teaching young children (and others) simple strategy, an understanding of odds, and the mental manipulation of numbers. Consequently, it helps reinforce arithmetic skills since the player’s ability to use mental arithmetic is pitted against the computer’s problem posing ability. Although the game is
Arithmetic Series Quiz
One exercise to sharpen arithmetic skills is to use a series of numbers which require discerning the relationships of the numbers in order to complete the series. The program in Listing 1 will print out an arithmetic series. Your task is to figure out the next two numbers in the series. If you are not
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Arithmetic with a Smile
The computer as an instructional tool is perhaps nowhere more successful than in conducting arithmetic practice drills. Unlike the typical classroom teacher, the computer never tires and never makes a mistake. It provides arithmetic practice and never forgets to reward a right answer with a smile.
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