David Swyze's mind dodges through the corridors of the haunted Cranston Manor in a perilous search for the 16 treasures inside.  He is playing a video game and learning how to think.

The game is "Cranston Manor," one of dozens of games that computer, impresario Steven Feinberg, also known as "The Wizard," has in his house to provide children and adults with a better understanding of computer technology.

Feinberg says his learning games differ from the usual arcade variety because they are "attention-getting devices," which challenge players to think their way through fun problems - with him alongside as coach.

Swyze, 14, is an eighth-grader at Jordan-Elbridge Middle School and has a learning disability.  Last week, he began working with Feinberg, and now he is a skillful player of "Cranston Manor.'

Swyze types the commands into the Computer via a home television screen, communicating the direction in which he is going to find the treasure.  He applauds himself for each correct move.  Changing screens present problems of direction and require players to tell the machine what will be the next move.

"I like this game because it's a lot of fun to play and I understand what I'm doing," Swyze said. "Playing with the computers also helps me with my school work because it helps me think a lot more."

Feinberg does most of his work in an Onondaga Community College classroom, where he teaches computer literacy.  For personal tutoring, he takes a computer to his students' homes.

He has had more than 20 children and adults referred to him for help in overcoming learning and emotional disabilities.  His tool is the computer, which he programs for special games suited to his students' learning needs. He charges a standard rate of $10 an hour for his assistance.

Most referrals are made informally, though Jeffrey Leaman, a family therapist with Catholic Charities, introduced Feinberg to Swyze, who is not being charged for his computer tutoring.

"For about the last two years, I've been working with several of the learning disability tutors to help children and adults with brain trauma and their families deal with the problems," Leaman said.

"I've been working with Steve (Feinberg) for four months in Jordan under the Catholic Charities Outreach Program," he said.  "If you're working as hard as you can and you're still not achieving like others, you can get angry and depressed."

Feinberg, a 32-year-old Syracusan, sees his Apple II computer as a learning device for children and adults.  His "Computer Ventures" business started last August; it was previously called "Wizard's Den Computer Gaming."

"Last year, I was asked to come down to University College and operate some of my computer games for two male students," Feinberg said.  "Well, after watching them work for about three hours, the only thing that I noticed is they were terrible spellers, but otherwise, they worked fine.

"I was later told we were being watched because these guys were supposedly the most unencourageable and the worst of the learning disabled," Feinberg said.

Feinberg said his business is "the only one of its kind anywhere."