What is a tachistoscope?
A device which repetively displays images at a rapid synchronized rate in order to test and train memory and learning.

Why did you make it?
Designing a device to enable accelerated learning of foreign languages was my original intent. It's a great tool for this purpose.

Is it just for learning foreign languages?
It can do much more.  My tachistoscope is a “swiss army knife” for students.   It also does more than project images. You can input three text fields, two audio files, and one graphic file for each data entry. What the data is composed of is up to you. Quickly improve your vocabulary. Memorize physics formulae.  Learn anatomy  or jokes and punchlines.  Any number of subjects can be input. What you use the tachistoscope for is only limited by your imagination.

Can anybody use it?
If you have epilepsy or if you are subject to seizures, do not use the Tachistoscope.  Flashing lights may precipitate seizures in succeptable individuals.

How does your tachistoscope work?
Any combination of the text, graphics, and sound is flashed at you in timed intervals ranging from 1/10 of a second to 4 seconds. Both textfields actually contain two textfields which you can toggle back and forth when you are in setup mode. This lets you choose any of three possible combinations of text. You can adjust timing, the color of the background, the color and size of the text, the size of the graphics, and the volume of the sound.  Left alone, the tachistoscope will continually cycle the data. While memorizing a list of words, you can remove the ones you know one by one by clicking a remove button. Stop and restart the tachistoscope by clicking anywhere on the botttom 1/3 of the program. 

Does it have any other features?
There's a flashcard mode, two multiple choice games to test your newly acquired knowledge, and a print program for making one or two sided flashcards..

What's Flashcard mode ?
It's where you can and view and listen to the data either sequentially or randomly using step buttons.  In Flashcard mode you can drop and drag both texts and the graphic image, toggle which words are displayed, toggle the visibility of the words and graphics on and off, adjust the size of the words and the graphic, adjust the volume,   By using accelerated learning techniques with the Tachistoscope, reviewing with the Flashcard module, and testing yourself with the multiple choice games, you will learn faster and with less effort. 

How easy is it to use?
I designed the tachistoscope to have an intuitive feel to it. I also made it fun to use.  Without any instructions you would probably be using it successfully after no more than five minutes. You can also watch the Tachistoscope setup tutorials.   Lastly, when you run the demo, you can click on the question mark button (the 'dot' part of the question mark).  Then, when you move your mouse over the various sliders and buttons, you'll get popup text windows explaining what they do.

How do you enter data?
A built in database and utility program enable both inputting data, selecting files, and adjusting the size of the file to be used.  You can also download files from quickbrain.net or swap files with your friends.

How easy is it to use the database and utility programs?
Again, there are tutorials that show you how to do this.  Basically, you type and push a few buttons. There's a built in voice recorder for audio files. Enter graphics by clicking a button, finding your file, and selecting it. If you don't want to add audio or graphics, there's a button you can press to enter default files. Once again, I designed these programs with simplicity in mind.

What kind of sound  and graphic files does it use?
Sound is MP3 files.  Graphics are JPEG, GIF, and PNG files. The graphic files should all be approximately the same size (300 x 300 pixels is a good size to use).

What graphic software should I use to make graphic files?
Any graphic program where you can adjust the size of the image and save the file in JPEG, GIF, or PNG format will work.

How do you enter characters that aren’t part of the English alphabet?
Again, the tutorials show you how to do this. You can also check out the links section.

Can I get database files here?
The Files section is where you can download datafiles. I upload data files from time to time. It’s my hope that users post their files to enable other users.

Do you offer group discounts to schools and individuals?
Yes. Please contact me at webmaster@quickbrain.net if you are interested in group discounts.

After I buy it, how do I install it on my computer?
Read the instructions on the Purchase page