MoodRing
by Patrick Dugan
patrickd@usti.com

You should have uncompressed the files into a temporary directory and 
simply run the setup program.  The program will then be installed and
essentially consists of the main program (moodring.exe) and the 
document (moodring.rtf).  The docuemnt is presented here is standard
text form.

MoodRing version 1.0 January 1997.  This program is freeware and is freely distributable.
By Patrick Dugan (patrickd@usti.com)

About MoodRing
This program created using Delphi 2.0.  The program inspired by a 
similar program written for Windows 3.11 some time ago.  I wanted to 
carry the same idea over to Win95 and hopefully design a "cute" 32 bit 
program. MoodRing is simply designed to gather information from mouse 
input to the computer from the user.  The color changes that occur will
be somewhat slow so if the user is not inputting anything the ring will
"cool down" and after several minutes will eventually drop to black.  
The color changes are: Black to brown to green to turquoise to blue.  
The accuracy of the color changes corresponding to your moods in highly
questionable.  Normally a mood ring depends on your body temperature to
alter crystals into certain colors.  The colors indicate the fingers 
temperature and (in theory) your mood.  Since the computer does not 
have any temperature probes then I can rely only on the sparse input 
available through mouse or keyboard. In this case I decided using the 
mouse for now.  By monitoring the mouse I can determine the speed and 
consistency of your interaction.  I simply use mouse activity as the 
deciding factor of moving the color.  Obviously the program could use 
some improvement especially in determining the input (and using other 
types of input such as the keyboard) and using some algorithm  to 
actually decide the "mood" of the user.  I welcome any input and I 
will gladly incorporate any suggestions that prove accurate. (Speed 
is NOT such a factor it can depend on the experience not just mood of 
the user).  I am considering using a table and keeping track of the 
users input and monitoring any change but it might require the 
program to "learn" the behavior of the user before being somewhat 
usable. Anyway please send any suggestions to me through email.

Using MoodRing
When you first start the program you have four choices.  First when you
click the left mouse button in the window the ring will appear and the 
main window disappears.  The ring can be moved about by dragging with 
the mouse.  The window can be brought back into view by double-clicking
the ring.  The second button is the ? button that displays the text 
file you are reading now.  The file is in RTF (rich Text Format) and 
can be printed by any Win95 word processor that supports the RTF 
format. The last selection occurs when right clicking the main window.
A small window will appear allowing you to choose the ring style (Gold 
or Silver).  Finally you can click the button in the upper right hand 
corner of the main window that closes the program completely.  

Once the ring is started the main window will disappear and simply 
leave the ring on the screen.  Over time it will change color according
to the activity it perceives on the computer. You can right-click the 
mouse to cause it to run through a full color change from cold-hot-cold
and that can be "frozen" by clicking the left mouse button.  This 
approach can be used to "warm up" the ring early.

The program was written purely for fun and to learn a little about 
programming in Delphi.  If you have any comments or suggestions you 
can contact me at patrickd@usti.com.


