public static char leftOf(char direction){	//determine the direction to the left of this one
		switch(direction){					//TODO: figure out a better way to handle directions than these commands
		case '1':
			return '2';
		case '2':
			return'3';
		case '3':
			return '6';
		case '4':
			return '1';
		case '6':
			return '9';
		case '7':
			return '4';
		case '8':
			return '7';
		case '9':
			return '8';
		default:		
			return '0';
		}
	}