Most screensavers don't have user manuals. MetaScope is really an interactive piece of software, pretending to be a screensaver, so it needs a short one. I'll try to keep things entertaining and brief. I've also made you a separate one-page MetaScope Cheat Sheet that you might like to print for your reference. On the other hand, you might want to save your paper, because the F1 key shows pretty much the same information.
I should also mention that a few screens down there are instructions for the very cool MetaScope Mind Reading Trick. Don't miss it!
You can type these commands (on your keyboard) while MetaScope is running.
Some of these commands only work if you've registered your copy of MetaScope. I'll assume you have. Thank you!
For clarity, I have used upper case to refer to these commands in this manual. However, you may type them in either upper or lower case.
The first few commands affect the display.
| TIPS |
Normally, MetaScope displays a series of helpful text messages on the bottom of the screen.
This command will turn the display of tip messages off (or back on). Like many commands,
it works as a toggle switch, turning tips either off or on as necessary.
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| BRAND |
This command turns off (or on) the copyright message that appears on the lower-right corner
of the screen.
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| SHINE SOMESHINE |
This command creates a cool "shiny" effect. This effect is actually a kind of "radial blur".
It works by superimposing fainter "stretched" copies of the image on top of the original.
Pretty, isn't it?
Type SHINE again to turn it off. If you do a SAVE while SHINE is turned on, Metascope
will "remember" to use the SHINE effect for that particular kaleidoscope.
The SOMESHINE command is just like SHINE except that MetaScope will random turn SHINE on and off. It only turns SHINE about 1/3rd of the time, which I think is tasteful. If you would like to be able to control how often to turn SHINE on, let me know, and I'll add that feature in a future version.
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| BLINK SOMEBLINK |
This command causes the images to BLINK on and off. It turns about half the images "off"
while it blinks the other half of the images "on". Every second, the images reverse, so you
get a kind of "2-state" kaleidoscope, which works well for some kinds of images, such as neon signs.
Personally, I find "blink" to be a bit "too much" - you may prefer to use SOMEBLINK instead - see below.
Type BLINK again to turn it off.
The SOMEBLINK command is just like BLINK except that it uses the blink effect more sparingly, on only about 1/4 of the images. Type SOMEBLINK again to turn it off.
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| TINT |
This command applies a tinting (false color) effect to the images. It works nicely with grayscale images,
which you can get by using the GRAY commands. Type TINT again to turn it off. Like
most of the cosmetic commands, if you SAVE a set of images while tinting is turned on, it will save
the setting for that kaleidoscope.
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| MASK |
Normally, Metascope attempts to remove solid-color backgrounds from images, because this
tends to make the kaleidoscopes look more interesting. If you don't like this, you can
use the MASK command to turn it off (or back on).
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| DEBUT SCOPE AUTODEBUT |
MetaScope has two principal image-display modes "debut" and "scope". The "scope" mode is
the kaleidoscopic mode you usually see. When you perform a search, Metascope briefly goes
into "debut" mode, and shows all the images zooming towards you.
Since some people like the "Debut" mode, I've added a DEBUT command to put MetaScope permanently into "debut" mode. Use the SCOPE command (or just type DEBUT again) to put MetaScope back into "scope" mode. The AUTODEBUT command turns off the feature that makes MetaScope automatically use DEBUT briefly after retrieving images. It acts as a toggle switch.
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The next few commands affect the kinds of images that are retrieved when you perform searches.
| GRAY COLOR |
Normally, Metascope retrieves a mixture of color and black&white images. I find that
for most searches I tend to get mostly color images. If you want black & white images
only, use this command.
If you are getting unwanted black & white images, use the COLOR command to retrieve color images only.
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| UNCENSOR |
By default MetaScope uses two features which help prevent "adult" images from being
retrieved.
First, on those image search services which offer a censorship service, such as Google, MetaScope will request this service when performing a search. Note that these services are not 100% effective at eliminating potentially offensive images (and neither is MetaScope). Second, MetaScope will reject a search-phrase if it contains words known to be associated with "adult" image sites. The UNCENSOR command will turn off both of these censorship features, allowing MetaScope to be used to retrieve "adult" images. CENSOR will reactivate the censor. Since the censor is not 100% effective at eliminating "adult" images, you may want to consider using the LOCK command, described below.
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| LOCK password UNLOCK password |
The LOCK command will prevent MetaScope from performing new searches until it is unlocked.
You should type LOCK, followed by a password of your own choosing.
Use the UNLOCK command to unlock MetaScope after you've locked it with the previous command. You will need to provide the same password you used when you locked it. If you forget your password, drop me an email at (dad@krazydad.com) and I'll help you unlock MetaScope.
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| GOOGLE PICSEARCH ALTAVISTA DITTO FREENET |
MetaScope can use five different image-search services to retrieve images. Use these commands
to retrieve images from a different search service. After you've changed services, all subsequent
searches will be performed using the new search service.
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The next few commands affect MetaScope's overall behavior:
| HELP |
This command (same as hitting the F1 key) displays a screen of useful
information, including a list of commands. If you are in the process of
memorizing this user manual, you won't need it. :)
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| SAVE |
MetaScope can save your favorite kaleidoscopes (each with its own images) to your
hard drive, so that you don't have to search the Internet to see them again.
By default, MetaScope always saves the last set of images you searched for, but then forgets it when you search for something else. Use the SAVE command to save the current set of images (and other settings, such as SHINE, BLINK and TINT) to the hard drive. The images will be saved (inside one big PNG file) in the Metascopes "Favorites" directory, which is located here (assuming you have a 'C' drive): C:\Program Files\KrazyDad\MetaScope\Favorites\ and given a name which corresponds to the search terms, such as "Elvis.png". You may save as many kaleidoscopes as you want. Use FAVORITES to play them back.
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| FAVORITES |
After you've used the SAVE command a few times, use the FAVORITES command to play
back all your favorite kaleidoscopes. Once you've used it, MetaScope will automatically
begin playing your favorites when it starts up. Each favorite will be played for
about a minute before cycling to the next one.
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| FORGET |
If you get sick of a particular "favorite"- use this command (while it is being
displayed). This forces MetaScope to "forget" it. It will delete that particular .png file
from your hard drive.
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Special Keys
| ESC | Causes MetaScope to exit. Quit. Vamoose. Amscray. |
| F1 | toggles help on and off |
| F2 | changes the mirror angle, try it to see what i mean. |
| F3 | zooms in |
| F4 | zooms out |
| F5 | is a shortcut for SHINE |
| F6 | is a shortcut for BLINK |
| F7 | is a shortcut for TINT |
As of version 1.1.0, MetaScope has the ability to load in pictures from your hard drive, enabling you to make kaleidoscopes from your own photos or drawings. Here are the related commands:
| READPIX filename |
This command will load in one or more pictures and make a kaleidoscope from them. You can specify
more than one picture by using a wildcard specification. For example READPIX ROSE*.JPG
will load all the pictures with names that begin with ROSE.
MetaScope can read pictures in either the JPEG or PNG formats. It will ignore any files it can't read. By default, Metascope will load images from your "My Pictures" folder (inside your documents folder). This is the same default folder used by most photo-retouching and paint programs, such as PhotoShop. MetaScope will only load in pictures that can fit into the available texture memory. You can use the next command to increase this memory.
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| MEGS number |
This command can be used to specify the number of megabytes MetaScope uses to store images. You
can specify 1,2,4,8,16,32 or 64 megabytes. By default MetaScope uses 2 megabytes, which corresponds
to an image map of 1024 x 512 (each pixel takes 4 bytes). Every time you double this size, you
double the available storage, however you also will slow down MetaScope's ability to load and
save images. If your graphics card doesn't have enough onboard memory, the larger sizes won't
work for you. Try to use the smallest size needed for the pictures you wish to load. For loading
pictures from the Internet, you shouldn't need more than 2 megs.
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| SAVE name |
This command can be used to save a custom kaleidoscope to a file with the name you specify.
These files are saved as PNG files in your Favorites directory. These PNG files also contain
special data which MetaScope uses internally for the kaleidoscope settings. You may trade
these PNG files with other MetaScope users. Files in your Favorites directory are automatically
loaded and displayed by MetaScope every minute or so when it is idle.
Note that under normal circumstances, you don't need to save kaleidoscopes, since MetaScope will automatically save kaleidoscopes when you perform Internet searches. You can use the SAVE command when you wish to save a kaleidoscope formed from your own pictures (using the READPIX command). |
MetaScope can be used to perform a very cool bit of mentalist magic. I have found this trick to confound even the savviest of spectators. You can even use it on your geeky/irritating "Mr. Know-it-all" friends and they will be utterly baffled.
Here is an intentionally corny description of how to perform the trick. Of course you should adapt the "patter" (the stuff the performer says) to your own personal style.
I typically perform this trick with a small group of people present. In this example, "Performer" is you the person performing the trick, and "Bob" is a friend of "Performer" -- an unwary spectator.
The Setting: A sea of cubicles at a large IT department...
Performer: Hey Bob, wanna see my computer do something really amazing???
Bob: Sure, that sounds swell!! Hey everbody, we're going to see something
really amazing!!!
(Bob walks over to the Performer, who is seated at a desk with a computer. A
small crowd begins to gather...)
Performer: Okay Bob, I want you to think of think of something highly visual,
like a painting or a celebrity...
(The performer gives Bob time to think...)
Performer: Okay, got it? Now I want you to tell everyone what you're
thinking of, so that we can all cogitate, and transmit our thoughts
thru the air into this remarkable little computer here.
Bob: I'm thinking of the Mona Lisa. You know that painting with the smiling
woman?
Performer: Okay, that sounds pretty hard, but let's try it. Everybody - I
want you to think really hard about the "Mona Lisa". Visualize the painting
in your mind. Okay? Meanwhile, I'm going to ask this computer a question.
Performer: (types into computer) Please show us what Bob is thinking about?
(Note: the Performer does not hit ENTER yet - giving folks time to read the
question.)
Performer: (reads question aloud) "Please show us what Bob is thinking about?"
Performer: Okay, I've asked the computer to show us what Bob is thinking
about. Is Everyone still thinking about the Mona Lisa? Okay...
(Performer presses the ENTER key with a flourish. The computer starts retrieving
images...).
Performer: Okay... let's see what this computer is thinking... and...
(The computer begins to display pictures of the Mona Lisa).
Performer: Voila! The computer has read your mind, Bob!
Amazed Spectator: My garsh! How did you DO that?
Performer: It's a magical mind-reading computer! Amazing, ain't it?
When it appeared that the performer was typing:
Please show us what Bob is thinking about?
The performer was really typing:
/mona lisa/ us what Bob is thinking about?
Note the slashes. The slash is what triggers the magic-trick effect. The performer has secretly instructed MetaScope to do a search on "Mona Lisa".
Pretty simple, huh?
You can put anything you want between the slashes (whatever the person is thinking of...), and after the 2nd slash, you can type anything you want to finish the question off. If you mis-type "mona lisa" (or whatever it is), you may use the backspace key to correct it.
While you are typing the stuff between the slashes, MetaScope echoes letters from the following intentionally vague "question" to the screen: Please show us what you think that it might be, pretty please, okay?... I've made this question long enough that you can type in a fairly lengthy and complicated search phrase.
After you type the second slash, Metascope will echo whatever you actually type. This is a good time to personalize the question - for example, adding the person's name, as I did with "Bob" in the example.
If you are a touch typist who usually looks at the screen while typing, you will find it MUCH easier if you look at the *keyboard* while typing the part between the slashes, and then look up at the screen to finish it. I find that if I look at the screen or talk while typing the secret part, I tend to get confused. However, if you can manage to look at the screen and read the "fake question" while you're typing the secret part -- my hat is off to you -- you have the makings of a master mentalist!
A fun (but potentially cruel) twist on the trick is to intentionally mis-type Bob's answer. For example, if Bob says he's thinking about "Home Improvement," you tell the computer he is really thinking about "Britney Spears".
Some final notes:
In order for this trick to be effective, you must practice it a few times until you are confident with it.
This trick is effective enough that you can usually repeat it once (especially if you use the "twist" mentioned above. However, don't repeat it over and over, or the secret will probably be uncovered by your audience (or you will bore them to to death).
Also, if you are a hunt-and-peck typist, you should probably improve your typing skills before you can perform the trick with confidence.
If you enjoy the magic trick, let me know by sending email to dad@krazydad.com. Perhaps I will create a "magicians-add-on" to MetaScope with lots of other hidden features. You may also like my free program Orville, and my website the Internet Lie Detector, both of which operate on similar principles. They can be found at my personal website (www.jbum.com).
Enjoy!
Jim Bumgardner (KrazyDad)