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Re: [kidsgames] Linux Letters and Numbers



Hello Paul,

On Sun, 13 Feb 2000, Paul Kienzle wrote:

-->Date: Sun, 13 Feb 2000 15:14:05 +0000 (GMT)
-->From: Paul Kienzle <pkienzle@kienzle.powernet.co.uk>
-->Reply-To: kidsgames@smluc.org
-->To: kidsgames@smluc.org
-->Subject: Re: [kidsgames] Linux Letters and Numbers
-->
<snip>
-->
-->See http://users.powernet.co.uk/lletters-0.1.7pak.tar.gz
-->

Ok.

<snip>
-->>a) multi-language support so my children can easily hear
-->>and see foriegn language alphabets and vocabulary....
-->
-->Unless you want a symlink forest, you will need to add a control
-->file which associates sounds, pictures and words.  Meanwhile you
-->can fake it by pointing foreign-named image to the existing english
-->named image.  Indeed, I do that already for things like 8Eight_Legs.png
-->pointing to Octopus.png, and having 8Eight_Legs.wav saying "Eight legs
-->on the octopus".
-->

This is where I see the database that Brian has started REALLY making
things work for us.  Instead of parsing this "symlink forest" we simply
make a request (hopefully through CORBA) to the database for the type of
data we want.  In this case it would be "give me something starting with
E" (of course that would probably be an SQL statement).

-->> 
-->>b)bunches of pictures and sounds so that it has a myriad of
-->>words to learn.
-->
-->I think the whole notion of pretending that computers can teach language
-->is bogus.  It is as bad as Sesame Street pretending to teach prepositions.
-->If the kid can't figure it out from the language environment himself, then
-->fat chance a non-human teacher (TV or computer) is going to be able to
-->help him.
-->

Umm, who words to be ReInforced then?

-->>
-->>c) make the words it chooses from come from a user selected (or
-->>parent/teacher selectable) list.  
-->
-->Again, it needs a resource file mapping words, letters and sounds.
-->

See comments about database above.

-->>
-->>d) make it display words with the same beginning letter in alphabetical
-->>order cycling back to the first one when done.
-->
-->Agreed!  Though maybe using a random permutation, but going through an
-->entire permutation before starting the next.
-->

Perhaps multiple orderings could be available to choose from (maybe even
"playlist" order similar to xmms' functionality)

-->>
-->>e) give it a configuration panel, to allow choosing things like sound
-->>support, random vs. alphabetical display, where data is located, etc.
-->
-->Suggestions for accessing the configuration panel?  The way I do it
-->in stickers is very shoddy.  Secret parent keys?
-->

Perhaps a look at Manhanttan and AUC would give a few pointers as they are
designed to handle whole "communities" of user's?!

-->>
-->>f) have a program to gather the pictures and sounds together.  Gimp works
-->>to make pictures to a degree and perhaps maybe just a plugin to gimp for
-->>specifically manipulating the files for this game is in order.
-->
-->It seems to me that limited efforts would best be directed elsewhere.
-->

If there is NO program to get the data in easily, then other non
programmer types CAN'T HELP you make that data available to the program.
I agree we have limited resources but in order to facilitate growth I
think we need to make our data that we draw from be able to grow even
without US directly growing?  I'm I rambling too much now...

-->>
-->>g) instead of storing the files in the filesystem, and using their names
-->>to decide how to display them, I think it would be best if they came out
-->>of a database.  This would preferable be the database we've talked about
-->>before and that Brian Thompson has started working on and actually has a
-->>Starbase database started.  It hasn't made it to the list because it is
-->>too big :)  As soon as I can get it done I will start an area on
-->>sourceforge.net and place that database into the cvs there....
-->
-->I'm a fan of separate but shareable.

I think I know what you mean, but please ELABORATE on this point.

-->  As soon as you need many components
-->to get any component to work, you are asking for trouble.

Yes that would be true.

-->  The amount
-->of hassle I've encountered just for using Imlib is ridiculous.

I know I had trouble just compile what you already built and so I agree it
must BE MADE BETTER.

-->  BTW, my
-->understanding is that gdkrbg is now as fast or faster than imlib for
-->display, so it isn't strictly needed.  Of course, that doesn't solve
-->the image loading problem.  gdkpixbuf is supposed to do that, but it
-->is buried deep within gnome, and is therefore a pain to use unless you
-->already happen to have a development version of gnome kicking around.
-->As I was saying about separate but shareable...
-->

You are out of my depth, I'm not familiar with these pieces.

<snip>

-- 
Jeff Waddell
jeff@smluc.org

Kids Games Project Coordinator
main website at http://smluc.org/SIA/kidsgames/


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