Talking Clock

Great idea, very average execution. The program uses the standard IIGS graphical user interface and the program lets you know about it after it boots with a detailed description. This introduction includes so much text that Orange Cherry looks like they're assuming kids aren't loading the program by themselves, because the amount of text is well beyond the appreciation of the target audience of the program - 5 to 8 year olds!

Using the standard pull down menu interface is probably less appealing to the particularly younger players. Regardless of the interface, the program itself is fairly limited in its scope. You can change the hours, minutes and seconds from the 'Set Clock' menu, but only one at a time. As you change the time, the computer speaks it, in hours, minutes and seconds.

As kids become familiar with changing the hands on the clock, and the spoken times given, there's a quiz that can test their newfound knowledge.

And that's it. For the original asking price of $49.95 U.S. this program should have offered a great deal more. The program is slow to load, the speech is very average and the whole presentation doesn't really work for kids wanting to explore on their own.

Eventually, Orange Cherry would go on to create much more worthwhile software.