Some of the material available from the course web pages will include soundfiles. You should make sure that you can listen to these soundfiles by trying the sample file on the home page. If you have difficulties, your first port of call is the information on configuring your browser (Netscape) available through the online help desk (http://conweb.acns.nwu.edu/helpdesk).
The second resource is a set of hypercard stacks which are available only through Macintosh computers which are connected to the university network. This includes companion software to the textbook A Course in Phonetics and a comprehensive database called The Sounds of the World's Languages. Hypercard stacks are simple point-and-click programs which you will find easy to use. However connecting to the central computer (server) which contains the software is a little complex. There are three basic steps:
If not, you can use some of the publicly available Macs in the Halls or in the Library or in Vogelback. Information on public access is available at http://www.at.nwu.edu/ctg/labs. Make sure to take some walkman headphones with you. If you forget, you can probably borrow a set of headphones from the attendant on duty.
Select the 'AppleShare' icon to indicate that you want to connect to a server (rather than a printer).
Now enter the address of the server. The address has two parts. First specify the 'zone', which in this case is ACNS Staffnet. Do this by clicking on the 'ACNS Staffnet' line in the box below the icons. You may have to scroll through the list to find the right choice. If there are no addresses in these boxes, it means the computer you are using is not networked and so you can't access the server.
Now specify which file server you want within the zone, which here is ITG Server. Click on the 'ITG Server' line in the box to the right of the icons. Again, you may have to scroll through the list. Now click 'OK'.
You should now be asked for a username and password. The username is Linguistics B07 (that's 'zero', not 'oh'), and the password is sound. Be careful about upper and lower case. They matter. Now click 'OK'. If you are asked which service you require, just click 'OK' again.
A new icon should appear on the desktop. That is the file server called 'ITG Server'. Close the Chooser by clicking in its top left corner. That was the hard bit. Well done.
If there is no sound, go back to the Apple menu, select Control Panels. Find Monitors and Sound and double click it. Click on the sound icon. If you are in a public lab using headphones, turn the Sound Out Level up and turn the Computer Speaker Volume down. IF you are in your room and not using headphones, turn the Computer Speaker Volume up.
To quit hypercard, choose Quit from the file menu.
To close the connection to the file server, drag the icon for the file server to the trash can. Make sure to do this before leaving any public computer.