
				1stTalk for Kids


VERSION
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	1.0


DATE:
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	31 March 1999




OVERVIEW:
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	1stTalk for Kids is a software program which allows very young children to
 	associate pictures with sounds.
	
	Colours, Animals, Numbers are ready-made examples of what 1stTalk for Kids can teach.
	Other examples can be downloaded from the Internet at the author's homepage,
	or simply created by an experienced Windows user.


	1stTalk for Kids can help a very young child to:

		1. recognize colour, animals, and numbers, or any user-defined PictureSets.
	
		2. learn their names in multi-languages.
	
		3. memorise picture locations (*).
	
		4. learn mouse control (*).


	(*) Supervised Learning: 
		An experienced user can ask the child to point out where a hidden picture is.




OPTIONS:
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	The file "Options.ini" contains the following settings for 1stTalk for Kids
	
	RandomizePictures ; No  --> starts pictures at fixed locations
			  ; Yes --> starts pictures at randomized locations

	DefaultPictureSet ; is the name of the Picture folder for the initial PictureSet

	DefaultLanguage   ; is the name of the Language folder for the initial Language Sound




EXTENSIBILITY:
--------------

	1stTalk for Kids is a fully user-extensible system. An experienced user can
	add/edit/remove a PictureSet with its associated sounds in any language(s), or
	just add/edit/remove sounds in any language(s) for an existing PictureSet.
	(e.g. "Geometry Shapes", "Alphabet Letters", "Face Parts", "Transport Modes" etc...)


   1stTalk for Kids can support sound for as many languages as needed.
   Sounds for any language can be added/changed/removed at any time.
   

   A. ADDING A PICTURE SET:

	1. Inside the program main folder "1stTalk", make a copy an existing PictureSet, and
	   rename it with the name of the desired PictureSet.

	2. Overwrite the *.bmp files inside the folder "Pictures".
	
	3. Overwrite the *.wav files inside the unwanted language folder inside the "Sounds" folder.

	

   B. ADDING A LANGUAGE:

	1. Inside the folder "Sounds", make a copy an existing language folder, and
	   rename it with the name of the desired language.

	2. Record the new language' sounds over the existing *.wav files inside that folder.


   C. CHANGING AN EXISTING LANGUAGE:

	1. Inside the folder "Sounds", rename the folder of the language to be changed.

	2. Record the new language sounds over the existing *.wav files inside that folder.


   Note: You can use the Sound Recorder in Start | Programs | Accessories | Entertainment to
         over-record a *.wav file by dragging-and-dropping it onto the  Sound Recorder
         and start recording. Try to record all sounds in the same tone, 
         so as not to influence the child imagination or memory association.





BUGS/SUGGESTIONS:
-----------------

	To report a bug or make a suggestion, please send the author an email with
	Subject = 1stTalk stating the nature of the bug/suggestion.




STATUS:
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	Freeware.



COPYRIGHTS:
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	Author:		Ali Adams ©1999
	Email:		aliadams@cheerful.com
	URL:		http://come.to/aliadams


