RAM 3.5 is a small freeware device for presenting word-groups sequentially at a pace chosen by the user. It is a tachistoscope ("rapid-viewer") that supports efficient and rhythmic reading, rehearsal of text-comprehension, and acceleration in reading speed. It facilitates the repetition that has long been known to be essential for language-learning.

Though it can be used for different purposes (e.g., vocabulary-learning, text-file viewing, speed-reading in one's native language, rehearsal of texts for memorization), RAM 3.5 is a device primarily designed to help foreign-language learners practice texts through the sequential delivery of word-groups to a monitor screen. The device will be especially useful in conjunction with an approach to language-learning that stresses the importance of mastering lexical phrases rather than individual vocabulary words.

Users load a plain ASCII or ANSI-textfile that consists of lines separated by carriage returns. They then negotiate this loaded list by FORWARD and BACK buttons, or through the automatic-review features.

The window is customizable and the control-panel can be hidden:

Scrollbars set and display the desired rate for:

• Per-line speed;
   
• Per-word speed: each word can add a slight delay so that, for example, a five-word phrase will take longer than a four-word phrase;
   
• Inter-item screen-blanking, which allows for a momentary blankness on the screen after an item has flashed.

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RAM 3.5 enhancements

• Drag and Drop feature
• Stay on Top saveable option
• Screensaver disabled during Autoplay
• Fontsize indicated on Status panel
• Minor fixes

RAM 3.0 enhancements

• Greater capacity: no more 60k text-file limit under Windows 98
• Save speed- and option-settings, in addition to font, color, position settings
• Paired-list option: for bi-lingual or dual-element lists
• More speed-key options
• Fuller Menus
• Better list-navigation
• Saveable Bookmark-Number for quick return to chosen point of list
• Status Panel
• Powered by Delphi 4
• Sleeker interface

    Download RAM 3.5

This software is copyrighted, but freely provided as is for non-commercial, educational use, with no attendant guarantees or liabilities.   The author (at pavurcn@slu.edu) would appreciate comments and bug-reports.

 

FILE	SIZE	DESCRIPTION
r35help.txt	7kb	Read this file in your browser now to get a better idea of the program. Download it for use with RAM, perhaps as the first file that you will open in it. The help text explains how to install, use, and uninstall the software, gives tips, and lists all of the speed keys.
ram35.exe	448kb	All you really need is this one file. It is the RAM 3.5 program file, ready to run with a double-click. Not zipped.
r35whelp.exe	270kb	RAM executable file zipped into an executable file. This option only requires a double click to start a program that will ask for a directory into which it should unpack the files. The help file will be placed into the same directory.

 

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Troubleshooting and Known issues:

• There is sometimes a doubling of the last few words during an Autoplay.

3.5: July 4, 1999: Drag-and-drop; Stay-on-top saveable setting; screensaver disabled during autoplay; fontsize displayed on status panel.

3.0: June 13, 1999: Greatly expanded text-file capacity under Windows 98; the ability to save timer-settings, viewing options and a bookmark-number; a sleeker control panel with a status panel; many more speed-key options and better keyboard-control; a new matched-list option (for dual-item lists or for bilingual lists in which every other item is in the alternate language); coding in the fast and powerful programming language of Inprise / Borland's Delphi 4.

2.0: July 19, 1998: Saveable font-, color-, window-position settings, more menu-commands and shortcut-keys, last-file re-loading

1.5: July 13, 1998: Menus, Color-choices, Hideable Control-Panel, correction of minor bugs.

1.01: July 9, 1998: Resizable window, greater font-size range.

1.0: March 14, 1998: Initial Release