January 2002 — Software/Courseware
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Focus on Arts & Humanities
PC Pro comes with several new features, including color adjustment options in three levels, from out-of-the-box color accuracy to end-to-end color management. Special color editing features help optimize images and simplify the interface to Adobe Photoshop for more advanced editing needs. Users can even create and utilize custom output profiles. Photographers can also choose the resolution they want. It also supports more advanced image adjustment tools, such as f-stop adjustments, image sharpening and noise filtering. Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, NY, (800) 235-6325, www.kodak.com/go/professional.
GollyGee Blocks
is a 3-D creativity program for children ages 5-12 that uses 
traditional building blocks in a new way. Children can create their
own 3-D world on their computers using the building block shapes and
premade objects they're accustomed to. Editing tools let children
organize and play with their shapes by stacking, stretching,
rotating, translating, copying, coloring and adding texture to their
blocks for different scenes.
The flexibility of the program gives children the opportunity to learn spatial reasoning, critical thinking and problem-solving skills. GollyGee also offers an activity guide containing more than 50 standards-based classroom activities for grades K-6 using GollyGee Blocks. The guide covers art, social studies, language, math, science and more. Students, together with their parents and teachers, can use the program to explore historic buildings, landmarks, reading and writing skills. GollyGee Software Inc., Reston, VA, (703) 437-8342, www.gollygee.com.
Students looking to transfer their handwritten notes into a computer file without spending too much time typing it all out can use CharacTell's SoftWriting software. SoftWriting enables students to convert handwritten text into a computer file such as a Microsoft Word document.
SoftWriting recognizes almost any nonconnected handwriting in English, German, Spanish, Portuguese and Dutch. It can be used with any TWAIN-compatible scanner, and the translated document can be saved in a text or Word file. SoftWriting can also transfer hand-drawn sketches and diagrams computer documents. In addition, the program has the ability to recognize handwritten abbreviations and translate them into the proper form in a text file. CharacTell Ltd., Tel Aviv, Israel, +972-3-648-9484, www.charactell.com.
-Anne Kim
akim@thejournal.com
