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Flash Card Factory provides users with a simple way of improving their foreign language vocabulary. Though it features a pair of excellent tools for the job, the program doesn't provide all it promises.

The program's interface will take some experimenting in order to get used to it. For the most part, navigating and utilizing its functions is simple, but the smaller tools are unlabeled, and it might take a visit to the Help file to fully understand them. The program's flash card function was the highlight of the program. A cartoon image of a hand holding a … Read more

ABA English Mini Course helps users with a sense of the English language to get a better grasp. By teaching and testing, this simple program will help users speak and read English better.

Users will be able to navigate easily through the tutorials and tests as long as they have a fairly basic understanding of the English language. A useful Help file is available as well. Our only complaint was that the tests were done online and not within the downloaded program. This program starts users off with a mini program to help them brush up on some English basics. … Read more

Desktop Sprite for TOEFL iBT Words aims to help users who are studying for the TOEFL English language test. This simple program gives users a lot of information, but requires a great deal of their attention to learn.

The program's interface is incredibly simple since it requires practically no user interaction. Laid out like a stock ticker, users will find three command buttons that are intuitive to operate. Not surprisingly, this program does not provide a Help file for users, but fortunately, none is required since it is so simple. The program consists primarily of words scrolling through the … Read more

Albert Einstein has come back to life in the form of a robot with a bushy mustache and a highly expressive face. Especially noteworthy is that rather than requiring manual programming, robo-Einstein has taught itself to smile, frown, and grimace.

Researchers from the University of California at San Diego relied on developmental psychology and feedback from real-time facial expression recognition to teach the bot to form a series of complex expressions. In an era when robot faces are becoming increasingly realistic (and sometimes downright eerie), the scientists believe their work (PDF) could help circumvent the costly need for human recalibration of robots. It could also offer insight into how infants learn to make facial expressions.

Psychologists speculate that babies learn to control their bodies through systematic exploratory movements, including babbling to learn to speak. The scientists at UCSD's Machine Perception Laboratory applied the same idea to teaching their Einstein robot to form realistic facial expressions.

The Einstein robot head, which was created by Hanson Robotics, is covered in a material called Frubber and has about 30 facial muscles, each moved by a tiny servo motor connected to the muscle by a string.

The researchers directed the robot head to twist and turn its face in all directions while analyzing its own facial expressions using a video camera and software called CERT (Computer Expression Recognition Toolbox) developed at UC San Diego. This process, which took place on an Intel-based Mac Mini, essentially taught the bot the correlation between facial expressions and the muscle movements required to make them. It then could build on that know-how to form its own expressions. … Read more

MB Tarot Reader and Tutor Software prepares users to understand and remember the tarot deck. With a helpful layout and good graphics, this is a fantastic tool for those starting out in the world of tarot.

The program's interface is slightly cluttered to begin with, but soon evolves into a user-friendly program. The program is divided into tabs, some of which are thick with text and radio buttons to coordinate settings, while the teaching and testing tabs are well spaced and intuitive. Users can take a glance at the Help file, but should know it isn't incredibly in-depth. … Read more

MB Learn Graphology gives users a tutorial and a test on the many details involved in a person's handwriting. With a simple setup, users can begin reading between the lines and interpreting handwriting samples.

The interface of this program was surprisingly simple, given the complicated subject matter. Users navigate the tutorial and the test by mouse clicks that are well labeled. In addition, the photography is crisp and adds to the experience. There is a Help file, but the layout of this program is so self-explanatory most will not need assistance. This program is divided into two primary functions: … Read more

MB Learn Tarot Software provides users with a way to learn and test themselves in the art of tarot card reading. With a simple interface and helpful organization, this program's minor flaw in its added features can be overlooked.

This program provides users with a simple interface that is very useful toward learning how to read tarot. Divided into separate tabs, users are able to quickly navigate through each and achieve the goal of memorizing tarot cards. Our only complaint here was the Help file's lack of tarot insight, though it did provide step-by-step instructions on operating the … Read more

FastChords offers those with a keyboard the chance to learn or perfect their piano playing. With a surprisingly easy way of dictating and learning songs, this is an intriguing option for pianists of all levels.

The program's interface was impressive, featuring a piano keyboard along the top, which lights up to showcase a chord. In addition, the tool to input notes and listen to music looks like a calculator and felt instantly familiar, even for nonpianists. There is a wonderful Help file that not only illuminates the program's functions, but also discusses terms and techniques that new pianists … Read more

Keyboard shortcuts don't just save you time, they're also good for you. Using shortcuts is one of the easiest ways to wean yourself from your mouse and cut down on repetitive strain injuries in your hands and wrists. So any app like KeyCue that can help you learn new shortcuts and remember old ones is worth a look.

KeyCue is a very simple app; you just hold down the command key (or any key combination you choose), and KeyCue instantly displays a clear, clickable menu of all the shortcuts currently available in the application you're using.

KeyCue … Read more