Welcome to Language On The Run! version 1.0

Author: Ed Caulfield ( Ed.Caulfield@Munich.Netsurf.De)

Release Date: January 21, 1998

This is a very simple and easy to use program that can be used to expand your German language vocabulary. The current version has a dictionary of over common 100 nouns and verbs. Early on people created (and some still do) flash cards to help them practice their vocabulary. With computers, flash cards have been for the most part replaced by programs. However, even the most modern of computers have the simple problem that they are inconvenient to lug around and pull out at a convenient moment when you would like to practice your vocabulary. The reason that I wrote the program is that I wanted a quick and convenient way that I could practice - in a bus, on a plane, or simply anywhere that I am bored or have a few minutes that I want to use constructively instead of idly waiting for someone or something.

If you have any specific questions about the application, or desires for future releases and dictionaries, please contact me at Ed.Caulfield@Munich.Netsurf.De. Additional dictionaries and desktop applications are planned, so please feel free to provide your input. Current plans are for future releases to be made available from the page http://home.munich.netsurf.de/Ed.Caulfield/.

Very simple. Use your Palm Pilot application installation routine to install the two files "German Words.prc" (the executable) and "WordDictionary.pdb" (the word dictionary). Execution is as simple as tapping on the "German Words" application that should normally appear at the top left of your Palm Pilot screen.

This program uses simple repetition to help you expand your vocabulary. What it will do is to pick a group of words from the dictionary (default of 10 words) and show you a word in one language (configurable) and a list of potential matching words in the other language, as well as the word used in a context. The context is very important, as many words change their meaning based upon the context of their use. Once you select the correct word, you will be given an opportunity to correctly identify its gender and plural form (in the case of a noun) or its characteristics and conjugations (in the case of a verb). Once a word has been presented twice, it will be dropped from the word group. After the word has been presented to you 5 times (configurable) via selection in various word groups, you will then need to write it instead of chose it. Don't worry if you haven't mastered the Palm Pilot script, as there is a button that will allow you to bring up the keyboard to type the word in. Once the word is correctly typed and you confirm the correct word characteristics, it will be considered learned. If you make an error or press the "??" button on any screen, the word counters will be put back one point - something which you can increase or reduce. Once 50% (also configurable) of the word group has been learned a new word group will be selected.

Send me a check or money order for US $35 payable to Ed Caulfield by normal post (currently, at least) to "Ed Caulfield, Ermlandstrasse 5, 81929 Munich, Germany" along with your name, postal address, email address, the UserID for you Palm Pilot and the Serial Number for your Palm Pilot (under the bar code on the back of the Palm Pilot), specifying whether you would like the to receive the Registration Key via post, email or fax. The Registration Key that you will receive is tied to both the User ID and the Serial Number, so please make sure that both are correct. Once payment has cleared, the Registration Key will be sent.

There are two numbers presented at the top right of the main page. They are the current group size ( on the left ) and the number of times the word currently up for selection has been correctly chosen ( on the right ).

Configuring the details

If you don't like any of the defaults for the program, most of them can be modified from a menu choice on the "Word Selection" screen (the first screen you see when the application executes). This screen has one menu "Edit" with three options - Page Preferences, Working Preferences and Dictionary.

Edit Page Preferences

In this screen you can select which screens you will be presented with for the chosen words. By default, nouns will ask you to select the gender and plural forms. Verbs, however, only use the Characteristics screen by default. This was chosen as conjugation takes time and might be considered "boring" by some. If you want to conjugate your verbs, simply select the tenses and viola - conjugate away. This screen also allows you to set the size of the popup menu used when working with verb conjugations.

Edit Working Preferences

This screen allows you to control whether or not you will be working with nouns and/or verbs as well as how the program selects and disposes of its word groups. By default, the word group size is 10, the word will be considered learned once *correctly* selected 8 times in a row and the word group will be rechosen after 50% are dropped from the group. It also allows you to select the direction of translation to be used when you are first shown a word and a list of potential matches to select from.

Edit Dictionary

This screen is perhaps the most "dangerous" of all, as it allows you to modify the current state of any word as well as to delete it. While I haven't made up my mind, I am considering moving this over to another standalone application that can be optionally loaded. What do you think?

Options on this screen allow you to list either learned or unlearned words (or both), to display the word in English or German, to scroll the list up and down, to change a word from learned to unlearned and vice-versa, to change the number of times a word has been correctly selected by the user and finally, to delete the word from the database completely.

Registration

This screen is used to enter the registration number that you will receive once you purchase the application. If you have already registered, this menu option will send you directly back to the main form.

Information on the buttons

* The "??" button can be used on any screen to obtain the correct answer(s) for the screen.

* The "Skip" button can be used on any screen to skip the word being worked on. Using the Skip button will cause the counters for the word not to be updated.

* The "<-" button on any screen can be used to go back to the previous screen.

* The "->" button on any screen can be used to go to the next screen. When there is no next screen, it will update the current word's counters and bring you to a new Word Selection screen.

* The "Learn!" button on the Word Selection screen is used to configure the displayed word as learned, so that you will not be presented with this word again.

* The "Why?" button on the noun's Gender page can be used to obtain a general rule of thumb that explains why a noun would have a specific gender. Not all nouns have an explanation for their gender, but many do. As well, it is only a rule of thumb. Languages are not engineered - they evolve.

* The "New Group" button on the Main page will generate a new word group.

Although all copyrights, rights to the reproduction and distribution of this software are held by Ed Caulfield (me!), this current version is available as shareware for a charge of US $35. You may physically duplicate this program and give it to as many individuals as you wish. You may not reverse engineer it or steal its paradigms for use in other programs.

Please be assured that this program, like any other, has bugs. The program, however, is presented "as is" and I will not be held liable for any economic, emotional or intellectual damages, loss of data, loss of productivity or loss of face (from using the wrong word!) associated with its use. If these terms are too strict for you to comfortably use this software, please don't.

Please read this document carefully before using the software. This Agreement licenses the software to you and contains warranty and liability disclaimers. By using the software, you are confirming your acceptance of the software and agreeing to become bound by the terms of this Agreement.

1. LICENSE

This Agreement allows you to use the program on the registered Palm Pilot.

2. RESTRICTIONS

You may not decompile, reverse engineer, disassemble, or otherwise reduce the program to a human-perceivable form. You may not modify, rent, resell for profit, distribute or create derivative works based upon the program or any part thereof.

3. DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES AND OF TECHNICAL SUPPORT:

The program is provided to you on an "AS IS" basis, without any technical support or warranty of any kind including, without limitation, a warranty of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose and non-infringement. These limitations or exclusions of warranties and liability do not affect or prejudice the statutory rights of a consumer; i.e., a person acquiring goods otherwise than in the course of a business.

4. LIMITATION OF DAMAGES:

Ed Caulfield SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR LOSS (INCLUDING DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF BUSINESS, LOSS OF PROFITS, OR THE LIKE), WHETHER BASED ON BREACH OF CONTRACT, TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE), PRODUCT LIABILITY OR OTHERWISE, EVEN IF Ed Caulfield OR HIS REPRESENTATIVES HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE LIMITATION OR EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, SO THIS LIMITATION OR EXCLUSION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. The limited warranty, exclusive remedies and limited liability set forth above are fundamental elements of the basis of the bargain between Ed Caulfield and you.