Monday, November 27, 2000		Kids Chat

Make funny faces

Hello kids and welcome to the kids chat.

Fluppy: You know, although I’ve been surfing the Net for quite some time, yet I feel that Internet is not basically designed for us kids.

Cliparti: Why do you say that?

Windy: Technological barriers?

Fluppy: Not only that, but while surfing the Net we come across a wide lot of junk floating round the cyberspace. Not only is it useless but it also wastes a lot of energy, time and pocket money.

Windy: Hey, you can always avoid it

Fluppy: How would that be possible?

Windy: You can download www.winshare.com, which is a kid’s browser. This is a software that works with an Internet Explorer and provides with an entertaining and educational environment. With the help of this multimedia browser, you can explore the Net and can always type the name or term of the word you are looking for, and the program will guide you to the related Web sites. You can work forward or backward and can even bookmark for future reference. AT kids browser provides a variety of categorised links, which includes arts and sciences, games and more. What’s more, it even includes humorous agent characters that speak.

Fluppy: That’s nice. Now I think I can spend some fruitful time on the Net.

Windy: Fruitful? Look who is talking? I guess by fruitful you mean some more time for games.

Fluppy: You don’t understand. Actually, after going through all that junk I used to get so tired that I needed to refresh myself. That is why I played games.

Windy: So you mean to say that now you will have time for some educational sites.

Fluppy: Well, yes why not?

Windy: Okay, then I think I should tell you of some good educational sites.

Fluppy: Oh, Well okay, if you really want to.

Windy: Why not? You can download www.kidwaresoftware.com and you will come across some good exercises for elementary classes. All subjects like math, spelling, comprehension, and geography are covered and activities range from basic to quite challenging. Then of course, accu-reading is another software, which you can download from http://www.meritsoftware.com/. This is an extremely interesting download that helps you in enhancing the reading proficiency through comprehension, vocabulary, factual recall, reasoning and drawing conclusions.

Fluppy: I think you’ve told me of this download before.

Windy: Is that so? Never mind I can tell you of other downloads.

Fluppy: I didn’t mean that.

Windy: Planet Math is another software where you can learn about the solar system. This supports a soundboard and you can hear a real human voice. Throughout the program you can see real images of planets. It would even teach addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fraction and algebra. Visit http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/schoolmom to download

Cliparti: SkyMap Pro 5 is another software, which really brings a planetarium to the desktop. This is good for serious, amateur and novice user. You can view the stars and heavens; draw accurate maps of the sky showing stars, planets, comets and deep sky objects. You can download it from http://www.skymap.com/

Windy: But Cliparti, Fluppy wants to know only about "educational software". This would unnecessary provide him with entertainment, which he does not require.

Fluppy: I never said I didn’t want any entertaining sites____

Windy: I know what you want dear.

Cliparti: Stop teasing him Windy. Fluppy I have this wonderful software for you. I am sure you will love it.

Fluppy: Thanks for saving me Cliparti. What software are you talking about?

Cliparti: Its called Whirlwords. You can download it from http://www.familygames.com.It’s like a word chain game where you have to connect a starting word to an ending word. This is easy to learn yet difficult to master. You are required to follow a number of rules. In case you are stuck up you can opt for hint that would virtually reveal the correct steps. Once you successfully complete it you are greeted with a chime and bouncing balloons. This is a freeware, courtesy AHA! software.

Windy: I have another software for you, Fluppy.

Fluppy: Thanks, I don’t think I would like to hear it.

Windy: Hey, you seem to be angry with me.

Fluppy: No. But please spare me. I don’t wish to hear any of your so-called "educational" software.

Windy: Okay, for a change I will tell you of funny software called Funny Faces. I guess it is just suited for you.

Cliparti: That sounds funny. Why don’t you hear it Fluppy?

Fluppy: Okay. Only because Cliparti insists.

Windy: Right. So as the name suggests this is a cartooning program.

Fluppy: You mean to tell me that I am a cartoon that is why it is suited just for me?

Windy: How can I call you that on your face? Don’t you think I have some manners?

Fluppy: You mean to say you can call me that behind my back?

Cliparti: Hey you two — stop the fight. Will you? And Windy, why don’t you carry on with what the software really has?

Windy: I was coming to that only. Provided, of course, Fluppy lets me proceed.

Fluppy: You may go on.

Windy: Okay. This is an interesting program for kids of all ages. You can download it from http://www.zware-usa.com and prepare n number of unique and humorous faces. It has 40 odd facial images and you can add or delete types of eyes, ears, nose, mouths, or beards to it. Let your imagination run wild and see what funny characters you can produce. What’s more you can even paint it adding colours and save it on the hard drive or put it on the Web page.

Cliparti: This one is surely nice and creative for the young ones. Isn’t it Fluppy?

Fluppy: Coming from Windy, it sure is creditable.

Windy: What do you mean, I don’t have nice and creative sites to tell?

Fluppy: How can I tell you that on your face. Don’t you think I have some manners?

Cliparti: Please don’t start it all over again and keep your mouths shut.