Binding: CD-ROM Brand: TOPICS Entertainment EAN: 0781735801178 Format: CD-ROM Label: Topics Entertainment Manufacturer: Topics Entertainment Model: CS-117d Number Of Items: 1 Publisher: Topics Entertainment Release Date: November 07, 2001 Sales Rank: 4612 Studio: Topics Entertainment
Features:
PC Compatible, Pentium II 300 MHz or faster, Windows 95/98/Me/2000, 48 MB RAM (64 MB recommended), 20 MB HD, 1024x768 pixels, 16-bit high color, 4x CD-ROM drive drive, Internet Browser, Sound Card, Mo
Product Description: As the third most commonly used language in the United States, American Sign Language is the fastest growing form of communication. Instant Immersion American Sign Language is the quick and easy way for beginners to learn how to sign. Includes: SigningAvatar Friends, SignLink, Personal Communicator, and HyperSign Kids.
Amazon.com Review: The Instant Immersion American Sign Language package is a four-CD-ROM set that will get you started in learning the language of the deaf. The four discs attempt to meet the individual learning styles and needs of students of ASL.
The SigningAvatar Friends disc is the most visually impressive of the four. Using the same video animation as you'd find in some of today's popular games, the characters come to life and interact with you in sign. This is a flexible application, allowing you to adjust the signing speed and the angle at which you view the signs, and select the character you favor most. The characters can each translate phrases for you, of any length, or you can follow along as they tell you their life story.
The SignLink disc will be a great supplemental resource for those looking to find specific signs for words in English or to learn about deaf culture. The lexicon provides over 2,000 signs, presented in clear, QuickTime format. Also on this disc are other sections that are much like a printed book, covering ASL parameters (like hand position, movement, non-manual behavior, and so on), grammar, and American deaf culture. This disc is definitely good for practice and felt very inviting to us.
The other two discs, Personal Communicator and HyperSign Kids, were more disappointing. Comparing the high video quality and wide-reaching content presented in the first two discs, we found that these two had little to offer. There was little age-specific content on the Kids disc (other than a child's voice pronouncing each word); in fact, both of these discs shared poor-quality video and uninviting interfaces. The picture identification and matching games on the children's version were the best feature of both of these discs overall.
A note about install: each disc functions as its own standalone package. Unfortunately, none required a system restart or indicated that one was necessary. However, we found that the restart is necessary after each installation and trying to install another package without restarting led to system problems for us. The SignLink disc had additional problems because it required the installation of a very old version of QuickTime (2.1) and would not proceed without installing it.
Overall, we highly recommend the first two discs of this set as strong learning tools for those interested in learning American Sign Language and getting a sense of American deaf culture. --Emilie Herbst
Amazon.com Product Description: Instant Immersion American Sign Language is a quick and easy way for beginners to learn how to sign. Based on the same tried and proven techniques that allow people to quickly pick up a spoken language, this software offers the key to signing success: immersion. The Instant Immersion method provides this atmosphere and allows you to put your lessons to use immediately. Suitable for all ages, this four-CD-ROM set includes SigningAvatar Friends, Personal Communicator, SignLink, and HyperSign Kids, which aids children in developing essential analytical skills. With 3-D characters, one-on-one interactive dialogue features, digital and full-motion video, word and phrase translators, and three interactive games, you can move from beginner to advanced in a short time.
Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: - good product
I was involved in sign language classes, and this helped get some
of the signs down. I have two hearing impaired at work that it comes in
handy everyday.
JL
Rating: - Older program
I had to return this program to the company because it would not work on windows vista
Rating: - This is from 1995 and won't run on XP
Needless to say I was disappointed in this impulse buy at a local store. Though it claims to be compatible with "Windows95 and above" and while the outside box lists a copyright date of 2003, the software in fact is from 1995 and doesn't come close to installing. Despite having the latest version of Quicktime installed, the installer says Quicktime is not detected and tries to install version 1.0 of Quicktime, and then once you run the program, you get a DirectorPlayer error on startup, preventing the program from loading, saying you need at least "3 MB of Virtual Memory." My virtual memory is at 1300 MB.
One of the discs, a dictionary, works, but the videos are so tiny and grainy that you can't see anything.
Rating: - No stars
What a poor design. Avatars, indeed! This "system" is
NOT to be recommended. The interfaces are small and rough,
the "Signing With Avatar Friends" is totally useless.
Rating: - There is a newer edition!
Part of the reason for the declining reviews for this product is the fact that it is aging.
While the ASL Deluxe product is probably the way to go, there is a new 5 CD ROM ASL edition out from TOPICS too at about the same (or lower) price as this old one, called TOPICS ENTERTAINMENT Total Immersion American Sign Language 2.0 ( Windows ) here on Amazon.
There is also a new basic 2 CD ROM package with selected new content.
The new versions have a dark-haired woman on the box.
It's confusing because they have called this outdated product 2.0 as well.
Check out the new edition(s) before making your decision!
- good product
- Older program
- This is from 1995 and won't run on XP
