Kaleidoscope  -  Colourful symmetrical random patterns

by Jean van Mourik

Kaleidoscope produces amazingly hypnotic symmetrical patterns on your screen in a multitude of colours. It's ideal when you're feeling stressed, or perhaps for background graphics at a party.

The program can be run from the RISC User menu system or by double-clicking on its icon in a directory viewer. When run, the screen is cleared and you are then offered a few simple choices before the graphics start. First of all a brief description of the controls is printed; press Space to continue. Next you must choose whether to use a full colour set or a restricted number of colours. Pressing 1, 2, or 3 as prompted will make the choice.

The patterns consist of circles of dots which move from the centre of the screen outwards and then back inwards again, changing colour all the time. The effect is a hypnotic kaleidoscope of colours. While the pattern is being displayed, you can alter the distance between dots, and therefore the speed of change, using the mouse. Pressing the Select button speeds it up while Adjust slows it down. Pressing Menu starts a new pattern.

You can save the screen at any point by pressing the S key. This will save a file in the currently selected directory called "Imagenn", where nn is a 2-digit number which increments with each save.

Copyright  RISC User 1996
