Day One : 0.1%

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OK, in order to get this typing tutor up to full spec, I'm going to need a LOT of words, phrases and other such things.
Phrases can come later. Today I'm starting with just the words.
I have a few gameplay mechanics in mind, so I wrote a php script that can run through the word list (currently using Shoebox's word list) and that can generate new, smaller lists of words, which follow a specific set of rules.

Why PHP?
Because if I use the text editor "TextMate" on MacOS, I can edit a php script, hit Command+Shift+R (Command is where Left-Alt is), and TextMate will run the php script inside a little window. It makes for GREAT functionality, especially when working with files and lots of text or variables and such. I used to be able to get this functionality out of Blitz/BlitzMax, but trying to get those to run flawlessly on MacOS lately has been such a pain.
Could I have used JSE? Possibly, but I don't think it could cope with a 170,000+ word list!!! I certainly wouldn't like to see it trudge through that array!!

Anyhoo, I currently have 2 such functions.
ScanWords("LETTERS") and ScanWords2("LETTERA","LETTERB")

ScanWords will scan the word list for words that only contain the given letters.
That is, if I ask it for "ASDFG", it'll return a list of words that can be typed with the left hand in the home position. "SAD DAD FADS", etc.

And this is when the first obvious issue arose, when it gave me the words ASS and FAGS.
Oh dear...
So, next up will be super-sanitising my word list!!

Also, the earliest tutorials will have to have random letter none-words.
Your right hand at the home position, on the middle row, can only hit "HJKL".. And that can't really make any kind of word at all!!! I know because my script said so!



With this function, I can make lists of words with a focus on different hand positions, different finger layouts, and things like that.
Sanitise it all up, and throw it all together.. I should be able to make nice little phrases and such.

The ScanWords2 function is a little bit quirkier. Instead of searching for words with One set of letters, it does it for two, but alternatively..
That is to say, if you give it all the keys from the top row of your right hand (YUIOP), followed by all the keys from the bottom row of your right hand (B* NM), it'll find words like MINIMUM.

The word jumps between bottom and top row, and all the keys are struck by your right hand.
Try typing the word MINIMUM. It's alarmingly fun to type, and it's something I've never really noticed before.
It's like a Tongue Twister for your fingers, especially if you use the "proper" fingers to do it.
Eeek!

...

So, I can generate lists of words that follow these rules.
Once I've gathered some nice lists I can start to feed them into the AI's to see if I can get some nice useable phrases. I'll have to manually flick through those, though, because... Good grief, who knows what might happen if I add too much AI into the mix!

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*B : When typing the letter B, do you use your left index finger, or your right one?
I tend to use either, depending on what fingers are currently busy, but I think the "Rule" is left index.. I might have to teach myself how to type properly before I carry on writing this!!
Try typing the phrase "Humble Freebies" and let me know which fingers hit the B's.

A.I. Corner

"B"

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"Cartoon @Derek isn't sure which finger he should use to hit the letter B on the keyboard." by ArtFlow.ai

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