Info Exchange Magazine

Apps Alert No. 25 22 January 2014

Free or Lite indicates that the app is free today. Some apps may be for

Android devices, as well as for iPads. Editor: Florence Longhorn

florencelonghorn@gmail.com InfoXchangeMag@aol.com

 

 

Note the new flyers available on the Info Exchange website for Flo’s courses and workshops for the first half of 2014! Access them from the link on the Info

Exchange website home page.  

Please send an email to florencelonghorn@gmail.com if there are any particular areas of apps of interest to you. I am happy to research and produce such a list, not only for you, but for other readers to use as well.

Fergus Ferry HD (Free at the moment) Take to the harbour with Fergus Ferry and all his friends with many stories (24 in all, which is amazing as it is free). This series may challenge Thomas the Tank!

It is aimed at the 3-6 year old which gives an idea about the reading level. The drawings are the modern originals from the book (see www.fergusferry.com for further information). There is no animation but the sound effects are effective, I am listening to the fireworks and now to the burning boat which has been set on fire by a rocket. Help! The stories are available on two levels. The read-along level is read by the author, JW Noble, with a UK accent. The read-myself level is where you can read the stories yourself. The 'Go! Fergus' Game is where the reader can drive Fergus Ferry around the harbour to rescue people, save boats, scare off sharks and avoid crashes with other ferries. This game has simple touch controls, full voiceover instructions and the opportunity to earn points and get on the scoreboard.

Thinking Time Cognitive Training for Kids Free This app is described as 'a groundbreaking neuroscience-based approach to help kids 3-7 enhance learning capacity.' It was designed with developmental neuroscientists from Harvard and UC Berkeley USA, which probably accounts for the rather learned titles for the tasks! Thinking

 Time trains memory, attention, reasoning and key cognitive skills through scientific games. The games are fun but may be a little complex in design, but they do start on an early level and repeat the task if unsuccessful. I like the 'response inhibition', which is sorting shapes! I would take the level of three year olds as rather high but well worth a try. This is the blurb from the developers which will definitely impress an inspector! 'Early childhood is a period when the brain has its highest levels of plasticity-the brain’s ability to form new pathways and structures. Research shows that children’s cognitive skills are a better predictor of success than raw IQ. “Children with stronger worker memory, inhibition and attentional skills have been found to make larger gains on tests of early math, language and literacy development.” - Harvard University. Contrary to popular belief, these skills do not automatically happen as children mature, and those with problems may not outgrow them. The good news is that specific training programs can actively promote the development of these skills, with benefits extending to better performance on intelligence tests. BASED ON REAL SCIENCE - Our games are designed from behaviors and evidence-based techniques proven in scientific studies to improve cognitive functions. We develop them in collaboration with our Scientific Advisory Board comprised of leading researchers in developmental neuroscience from Harvard and UC Berkeley. ADAPTIVE ALGORITHMS - Each game begins at a basic level and adapts along multiple vectors of difficulty to match the appropriate level of each child. This allows children to just pick up the app and play, and ensure that they are always challenged but not frustrated.'

Learn with Henry Free In complete contrast, such fun and quite rude! Henry is a little blue alien who will only eat what he demands. Feed him the right thing and he will be happy; feed him the wrong thing and there will be trouble. Henry might be an alien but he acts just like a toddler! Such fun and easy to follow.

He is viewed in a room with his 'feed me' bowl and when it is tapped, pictures appear. Henry asks for his favourite to be dragged to his open mouth. I have just given him a waffle, now a fish and he has burped! There are three levels:

• match a picture with a picture • match a letter and a picture • match a word and a picture

 

Autimo Free Lite Version The Autimo app has been designed for learning to identify the emotions and expressions of the face through three activities (pairs, intruders, riddles) with photos.

There is a beginner or advanced level. The beginner level has a set of photos with paired facial images, which fade away if paired. As you progress, it gets harder. I found them quite difficult as the ones I used where they are not animated, but enjoyed the task. The criticism is that there were not many different nationalities to view. However, a strong point is that in the full version, the contents are totally customizable with pictures and animations.

Pocket Pond Free A classic app, just dabble a finger in the water and watch the fish come and nibble. Create relaxing ripples while you enjoy the sounds of nature. Interact with the fish, scare them, feed them, and watch

their behavior. The app features:

! Interactive water reacts to touches and swipes ! Feed the koi! ! Relaxing nature soundscape ! Stereo sound effects (best experienced with headphones) ! Customizable lily pads ! Thunderstorm effects

My Fish 3D Virtual Aquarium Free

A much more complex 3D aquarium with a wide range of fish and exotic underwater scenes,