1). Up-to-date Web browser. Internet Explorer version 6.0 (with SP2) or newer is recommended and available free from http://www.microsoft.com. Netscape Communicator version 7.2 (7.1 should be minimum) is recommended and available free from http://www.netscape.com. You may also use the latest versions of Opera or Firefox but I have not tested these browsers for compatibility. You should have your Java Virtual Machine (JVM) and Javascript versions up-to-date (versions 1.5) - see http://tychousa.umuc.edu/sys/browserinfo.html. Windows XP Professional or Home Edition is preferred, but Windows 2000 Pro will also suffice. You must have administrator access over the compter.

2). Viewers. PowerPoint Viewer for Office 97 or newer is available free from Microsoft or from Dan's faculty web page, http://faculty.ed.umuc.edu/~bennette/files. The PowerPoint Viewer (or full version) might be necessary to view any slide presentations created for sharing information. If you have the MS-PowerPoint software installed, then you will not need the Viewer. You will also need an Unzip (e.g., WinZip, WinRar, Unzip, etc.) program to reduce the size of files used in our class.. If you don't have an Unzip (decompress) program, see my homepage at http://faculty.ed.umuc.edu/~bennette/files and retrieve the shareware program WINZIP for Windows and evaluate it. Alternatively, you can use the freeware program FreeZip. Another viewer that may be needed is the Adobe Acrobat Viewer, available for free at http://www.adobe.com for viewing PDF files.

3). PGP. Pretty Good Privacy version 8.1x is recommended and required for the successful completion of project #2. Either the International or U.S. version is acceptable and available from http://www.pgpi.com. Students have successfully installed PGP on Windows environments like Win98, WinME, Win2K, WinXP. If you are not able to install PGP onto one of these environments, then you will need to work with the PGP Solaris version on our "student server." GnuPG is a PGP compatible alternative. It is not necessary to obtain version 9 of PGP, as this version is a commercial product and the evaluation period is relatively short. We will not be utilizing components of PGP that require incurring any cost.

4). Ability to create GIF screenshots.. You must be able to create, display and share screenshots. You can use a freeware tool called HyperSnap (available on my web page at http://faculty.ed.umuc.edu/~bennette/files) or use any equivalent method (pressing ALT-PrintScreen and PASTE into PAINT). Another FREE handy tool (MWSnap) for making screen snapshots is available at http://www.mirekw.com/winfreeware/index.html.

5) Qualcomm PureVoice. The Qualcomm PureVoice mail plug-in may be required or an equivalent program to create MP3 sound files. The software PureVoice is available from http://www.eudora.com and may be used to share "voice" attachments when mailing the instructor.

6). Up-to-date Virus scanner. This should be a standard program that you already own and use. We will be conducting our virtual classroom on the Internet, downloading and visiting many world wide web sites. This type of program is for your protection and I strongly urge you to utilize it appropriately to diminish the chances of your PC getting infected and you passing infections on to our virtual classmates (for which you could be additionally penalized). Most of you may be eligible to acquire your anti-virus software free from your military IT offices.

7) Online Library access.  Please contact our librarian, Denise Sokolowski (dsoko@ed.umuc.edu) if you are not able to access the Library resources from within WebTycho. We will be reading materials from the databases there. If you have not taken the VLIB course, you should do so early in this course.

8) Wireless Router or Access Point. It is highly recommended that you have a wireless router or access point (Cisco, Linksys, D-Link, NetGear, SMC, Belkin, or similar) under your administrative control. A matching WiFi certified IEEE 802.11a, 802.11b or 802.11g network adaptor.