Genius 1.7.250 user reviews

This is definitely a very useful application. It works, it looks great, and it's free!

However, I wish there were more study options. Typing in the answers can be very time-consuming. It would be great if you had the option to rate yourself on how well you know it, for when you don't have time to type everything in.

One big weakness is that the flash cards can only include text. I am studying a foreign language, and hearing how it is pronounced is of the utmost importance.

But overall, this is a very useful program. I would highly recommend it.

I really like this app, but one update you could incorporate is the ability to be able to deselect all or select a range of questions by drag-selecting
its annoying having to deselect each question to choose the appropriate ones especially if there are alot of questions

but overall love it.

This is a very bare bones (zero bells and whistles) application that is extremely reliable. I use it to memorize long texts and it's just the best thing out there. I've been using it for years now!

I'm hoping the developer is planning an iPad release.

hi,
i really want to use this for my ipod touch but whenever i download it, it doesnt work it goes right back to the save downloading window.
can u please help me unintstall it from my computer then reinstall it to get it to work. Oh and how much is it?

So far, it's been very helpful. I was able to memorize things more effectively as compared to just reading and re-reading my notes.

Downside is that it's very time consuming to type up all the questions, especially if there are a lot of questions.

I have loved this program for a while, now. Language learners should find use in this for memorizing declensions and irregularly conjugated words.

As for features, it only supports text-based questions. With modifications for speech recognition and audio playback, it could become more flexible, allowing you to memorize pronunciation and spelling. Images would work too, though the questions would have to be one-way (unless you want to go for full-blown image recognition software, too).

Note:
1.Claims and comments as of 2006-11-25
2.Comments are based on Genius version 1.6

Claim (CL)
Comment (CO)
CL: Genius helps you memorize things.
CO: True.
CL: It organizes your information using the Leitner "learning cardfile" system,
CO: False.
Rule violation: The "scores" obviously represent compartments of the card file, but there are more than Leitner's 5 compartments, meaning that items are unnecessarily repeated. In fact, it seems to run forever, if the user's patience allows for that.
Rule violation: Genius lets you learn items, that you have successfully retrieved most recently (Learn/review slider in the middle). Note: Could not be reproduced at the time of this evaluation.
Rule violation: According to Leitner you retrieve items from one compartment only at a specific learning session, but Genius offers items from all compartments at a specific learning session.
Leitners "Learning Solitaire" for difficult stuff is not implemented.
Leitner does not mention a functionality represented by Genius' Learn/Review slider. This slider leads to rule violations because learning and reviewing is exactly defined.
CL: and it quizzes you using a spaced repetition method.
CO: False.
"Spacing" is done by the user's pace, who can learn all items on a single day, if it is feasible and he chooses so. Leitner says, that items in higher compartments are due to be repeated less freqently, for example after months when in compartment 5. Genius does not ensure this "spaced repetition".
CL: For each quiz, Genius carefully chooses each question
CO: ? How can a computer program be "careful" or careless ?
CL: based on your past performance,
CO: That probably means you are offered less frequently trained items first.
CL: by combining repetition intervals and
CO: As mentioned above, the repetition intervals are not Leitner-conform.
CL: weighted random selection.
CO: False
If the selection were "weighted" then you would not get items from more than one compartment. Compartments represent different accomplishment states.
Leitner explains how items are put in and retrieved from compartments (first in, last out). There is not only no need for a random selection, it would also be counterproductive, because you would be confronted with more recent items first, instead of vice versa.
Even the switching of compartments is defined, no need for randomness here either.
CL: It even performs lexical similarity analysis for fuzzy answer checking.
CO: False.
Genius makes no difference if you slightly misspell a word or enter a totally wrong one. Example: Right answer "Charlie", Genius cannot distinguish between "Charli" and "Otto"

This evaluation does not mean, that Genius cannot help you memorizing (it is just different from the Leitner System), nor that it does not make fun. Also, from all learing software of various platforms I took notice of, Genius has the most appealing user interface, altough the user interface's font is rather small on a modern screen with a large number of pixels per square inch.

Finally, the "developer's homepage" http://web.mac.com/jrc/Genius/ does not mention Leitner at all :-), however, they talk about "careful programs" (same wording as above) :-).