Interfact Reference Earth

Age Group: Age 8 and Up Type: Science, Teaching Tools, Reference Price: $20

PC version requires:
Windows-P133Mhz, Windows 3.1+, 32Mb RAM, 640x480 and 256 colours, Arial fon

Mac version requires:
100Mhz PowerPC, system 7.6.1 (or later); 32Mb RAM

Description:

Upon beginning Interfact Reference Earth, each child will be asked to fill out their Geopass. They select a character to represent them on their ID and provide their name, nationality, age, and sex. As the child travels they will be able to earn a stamp, activity permit, that will allow them to return and play an activity/game whenever they want to.

To earn an activity permit the child must complete a three question quiz. They are asked two multiple choice questions, and may refer to the 48-page, full-color illustrated book for help. The third question requires the book. They will need to find a special term geologists use and type in the page number where the word can be found in the book. Encouragement to utilize the Table of Contents and the Index makes for quicker research. If all three answers are correct they will earn their activity permit. HINT: Not all answers can be found in the book, do some exploring before heading for the activities. Besides, you'll need the knowledge gained through exploration to be successful!

From the main menu visit Land, Rivers, Weather, Earthquakes, Mountains, Oceans, or Volcanoes. When clicking to find information a bubble will appear with text inside. Keep clicking on the same area until you have read all the bubbles. Example: When visiting the "Ocean", If you want to learn more about the Indian Ocean you will need to click three times on Indian Ocean to read all the information. To learn about the Antarctic Ocean only two clicks are required to read all the text.

Land - Increase knowledge of Polar Land, Boreal Forests, Temperate Deciduous Forests, Grasslands, Rainforests, and Deserts. Play Jigmap and pick up the pieces of the world and put it back together. Increase knowledge of tectonic plates and climate zones.

Rivers - From the Amazon to Zambezi there's lots of information to obtain. Play Course to the Source and travel the length of the mighty Amazon in a tropical adventure. Map-reading skills and a knowledge of rivers required to succeed.

Weather - Eight different climates to explore from Tropical to Polar and everything in between. Play Under the Weather and steer your character through the layers of the atmosphere. Don't let your judgment become 'clouded' or you may get blown off course.

Earthquakes - Learn about Earthquakes that have occurred all over the world and how they happen. Then, visit the Earthquake Institute and help study tremors from around the world. Witness the earthquake in a TV report when you give the correct readings.

Mountains - Explore the worlds land mountains and mountain ranges. Play Higher or Lower, a TV game show. The world's mountains, rivers and minerals are on the back of playing cards and you must decide whether the next card will be higher or lower.

Oceans - The Bering Sea to the Sea of Okhotsk and information on the Continental Shelf. Play Underwater Mission and steer a submersible through the ocean, there's a computer on-board to provide clues, that when followed will allow you to photograph some of the mysteries of the deep.

Volcanoes - Did you know that Mount Fuji is the highest mountain in Japan and that Mount Vesuvius is the only active volcano on the mainland of Europe? Learn all kinds of interesting information then play Blow Your Top! Create the right conditions for an eruption and see what happens.

No matter where you are you can access the Toolbar. The toolbar appears when you move the cursor to the right-hand side of the screen. There are seven options: Click the Earth to return to the main menu, click the Geopass to see which activities have been earned and review personal information, click the Gifts to visit the museum shop and purchase items with your earth dollars (earn earth dollars by successfully completing the activities), click the File Index to use the glossary, click on the Notepad to take notes that are organized by area categories, click the Question Mark for help, and click the "Q" to quit.

Features:

• Interfact Reference, a book & disk that work together
• 10 detailed maps of natural features found on the Earth
• Each interactive map leads to a game/activity
• Glossary explains bold words

Technical Aspects:

Report and Conclusions:

Two-Can also offers 14 other INTERFACT titles: Electricity Magnetism, Vikings, Oceans, Rainforests, Solar System, Egyptians, Polar Lands, Volcanoes, Weather, Romans, Plants, Aztecs, Senses, and Ancient Greece.