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Software

Interactive CD-ROMs, DVDs and software to bring science alive

Click on the product's name or the summary to find out more. Newest entries are shown in blue.

Astronomy Plus	Space Software/Avanquest	Software + DVD	Excellent planetarium software for beginners and occasional sky watchers with a bonus DVD. Great value.
Atlas of the Sky	Space Software/Avanquest	DVD	Not so much an atlas as an astronomy mini-series on a DVD. Impressive exploration of the solar system and the stars
Colours of Infinity	Blue Dolphin	DVD	Three videos on fractals with a general documentary, a biography of Mandelbrot and a video on fractal mathematics on consciousness. Lacked professional zippiness, but some interesting content.
Cosmos: Voyage through the Universe	Softkey/Science Museum	CD-ROM	Astronomy CD-ROM with planetarium, explorations, facts, but presentation not up to modern standards
Deep Space Explorer	Space Software/Avanquest	Software	Software enables you to fly around the galaxies, with a multimedia "agent" explaining things: fun, but hard to sustain interest
Discovering Life: Water, Air, Matter (Smart Kids)	Softkey/Science Museum	CD-ROM	Fun interactive kids' CD-ROM with 100 experiments to gain insights into water, air and matter. Some problems with the transfer from French, though
Eyes on Mars	Space Software/Avanquest	DVD	Long feature with 6 mini-bonus features on Mars. Very well put together and informative, though perhaps a lot to sit through in one go.
History of Life	Ransom	CD-ROM	Entertaining and educational CD-ROM tour of life with good interactive features. Would have done better but needs a little updating and Windows XP compatibility.
History of the Universe	Ransom	CD-ROM	Impressive exploration of fundamental physics and cosmology on a CD-ROM. Should have scored better, but needs a little updating and Windows XP compatibility.
Hubble: 15 Years of Discovery	ESA/Armagh Planetarium	DVD	Enjoyable and informative DVD on the Hubble space telescope, its trials and tribulations and the results it produced. Beautiful to look at, but a little slow moving
Redshift 5.1 Deluxe	USM/Maris/Focus	Software	Very good value for money in a powerful and flexible planetarium that gives Starry Night a run for its money.
Redshift 6 Premium Edition	USM/Maris/Focus	Software	Redshift comes of age in version 6 with telescope control and package that really challenges Starry Night, with very attractive pricing.
Science Genius: Solar System Explorer	Mindscape/Focus	CD-ROM	Space CD-ROM for UK key stage 2 (8 to 11) - 100 interactive onscreen experiments. A bit less potential for real hands on than the virtual lab, but still effective.
Science Genius: Virtual Laboratory	Mindscape/Focus	CD-ROM	Science CD-ROM for UK key stage 2 (8 to 11) - 100 interactive onscreen experiments. Nice that you can also print off a good range for hands on experiments..
Secrets of the Mind	Softkey/Science Museum	CD-ROM	CD-ROM on mind and brain with 11 experts, fair content and some neat experiments, but no spark
Secrets of the Universe	Softkey/Science Museum	CD-ROM	CD-ROM on astrophysics and quantum theory with 9 expert talking heads and some neat demonstrations, but no spark
Starry Night: Complete Space and Astronomy Pack Version 2	Space Software/Avanquest	Software + DVD	Excellent planetarium software for beginners and occasional sky watchers with great information and exploration features. Brilliant value too.
Starry Night: Enthusiast	Space Software/Avanquest	Software + DVD	Superb planetarium software for amateur astronomers with a wealth of features and information and superb detail. Recommended..
Starry Night: Pro	Space Software/Avanquest	Software + DVD	Superb planetarium software for serious amateur astronomers with a wealth of features and information and superb detail. Includes telescope control. Recommended..
Starry Night: Pro Plus	Space Software/Avanquest	Software + DVD	Absolute top of the range planetarium software for the serious amateur that adds a superb, detailed 20,000 photo mosaic of the night sky, the ability to incorporate your own images and more to Pro Plus. Includes telescope control. Recommended..
Teaching You Astronomy Skills (Redshift Planetarium)	Focus	CD-ROM	Powerful if not entirely intuitive planetarium software coupled with piles of guided tours, videos and photos in value for money package
Touring the Planets (Smart Kids)	Softkey/Science Museum	CD-ROM	Fun interactive kids' CD-ROM with 100 experiments to gain insights into solar system science. Some problems with the transfer from French, though

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