xdp - ideo

:: ideo ::

Introduction
Features
Registration
Operations

Platform:	Windows
License:	Freeware
Release:	1.01
Last update:	05 Feb 2001
Description:	ideogram learning, with sound, modular lessons and virtual teacher

I N T R O D U C T I O N

"Ideo" is a small program that I wrote to learn quickly the japanese ideograms. Learning comes from different paths: sound <-> meaning <->symbol, with the combination of these elements our brain can extract the information to build the language.

A long practice is the only way to learn an idom, but a teacher can shorten the learning curve. "Ideo" has an internal teacher that keeps track of your errors and how fast you find the right answer, so the order of the questions varies with you experience. You can also edit and save the status of your lessons for highly customized trainings.

F E A T U R E S

Modular structure : each lesson can contain up to 100 modules, and each module up to 1000 items
6 different types of questions (guess translation or pronunciation from ideogram and vice versa, fill blanks, question-answer).
Language independent: accept any ideograms based idiom as input and any alphabet as output.
Keeps track of your skills.
A severe internal teacher controls your answers and your quickness.
Build-in lesson editor, to manage and create your personal course.

R E G I S T R A T I O N (optional)

ideo is free of charge for ANY purpose, commercial or private, without restriction, however I'd like a feedback from users that try this software and find it useful. To persuade you to register, a nag screen will prompt you once if you guessed more than 300 questions, afterthat the program will work as before. To avoid this nag, simply send me an e-mail with object: "ideo key=########", where ######## is the number in the key box. In this mail you may include questions or suggestions, I will reply in few days with your registration code. Registered users will also receive notifications on program updates and news.

O P E R A T I O N S

	1	Opens a lesson (.jpl file) or a single module (.jpm file)
	2	Saves the current lesson/module skill
	3	Opens the "Options" dialog.
	4	Selects the next item
	5	Plays the current item pronunciation
	6	Switch between lesson mode. Typically each item presents two kind of answer, for example an ideogram has a translation and a pronunciation, you can choose to focus your answers on one of this, or switch during the lesson. The skill of each mode is independent from the other.
	7	This is a skill progress indicator. Its growth may seem slow, but this is the reality.
	8	This is the box where you must pick the correct answer. To make your choice, use the mouse or the keys from "1" to "4". If the answer is correct, the background become green. You can press "Space", "Enter" or click on the button (4) to select the next question. If you skip a question or give one or more incorrect answers , your skill will decrease and the program will insist on that question.
	9	This is the ideogram box. You must guess what this picture stands for.