# Setting Up the Teaching Machine on Your Own Computer

The Teaching Machine itself is written in Java.

To display our examples on our web pages we also employ JavaScript.

Thus you must have both Java and JavaScript enabled in your browser.

You must also have Java (specifically the Java Runtime Environment or JRE) installed on your computer.

You must also have a recent, supported browser .

## Supported Browsers

We test the Teaching Machine and the web pages on recent versions of

1. Firefox
2. Internet Explorer

### Derived Browsers

Firefox uses the same codebase as

1. Netscape
2. Mozilla

so although we don't test these browsers explicitly, we do expect that both the web pages and the Teaching Machine will run on them (as long as they are set up properly and Java is installed).

### Planned Support

We plan to add the following browser to our supported list (by May, 2006):

1. Safari (latest version only)

### Unsupported Browsers

These browsers are not supported and are not likely to be supported.

1. Internet Explorer versions earlier than 6
2. Netscape versions earlier than
3. Other browsers not mentioned above

## Operating Systems Supported

Operating systems are not an issue. per se, except to the degree that they can or cannot run modern browsers or the JRE

The Teaching Machine is known to run on Windows XP, Linux and the Mac OS.

## Installing the TM on your Machine

### 1. Get the JRE

You must get and install the Java Runtime Environment (JRE). This allows Java to run on your computer. Make sure you get the version appropriate for your operating system. Here's Sun's get JRE button.

Just follow Sun's download and installation instructions. (Did we mention you should be sure to get the version appropriate for your operating system?)

### 2. Get a Modern Browser

Firefox is the browser we recommend. Make sure you have a recent version. You can get it here.

Alternatively, you may use a recent version of Internet Explorer which you may get from Microsoft

### 3. Setting Up Firefox

You must set up Firefox so that it will use both Java and JavaScript.

Here's how it is done in Firefox, as of Feb. 15, 2006.

Click on `Tools` and choose `Options`, as shown below

You will get the following screen. Pick the `Content` tab as shown and make sure

`Block Popup Windows` is unchecked

`Enable Java` is checked

`Enable Javascript` is checked.

The others don't matter.

Click `OK` and restart your browser.

### 3 (alt). Setting Up IE

You must set up IE so that it will use both Java and JavaScript.

Warning: Microsoft has changed setups overnight in the past. If they do so again, and your browser is automatically updated, it may invalidate these instructions.

Here's how it is done in IE, as of Feb. 15, 2006 using IE version 6.0.2900.2180.xpsp_sp2_gdr.050301-1519 (and thank-you so much, Microsoft, for not allowing me to cut and paste this from my help-about box).

Click on `Tools` and choose `Internet Options`, as shown below

Click on the `Security` tab and click `Internet`

Now, `select Custom Level...` to get the window below. Note, there are a lot of settings so you will have to scroll down to find the `Java VM` settings shown below. You want to make sure that `Disable Java` is not selected. As you can see here, `High safety` will work just fine.

Before you click `OK` scroll down again…

…to find these settings: Make sure that `Scripting of Java Applets` is checked `Enable`.

Now you can click `OK`. That will get you back to the `Security` tab. Now select the `Advanced` tab and scroll down until you see these check boxes. Select the `Java(Sun) JRE` and not the `Microsoft VM` (although that ought to work for the moment, we expect to leave the Microsoft VM behind soon).

Now you can click `OK`.

Close your browser and restart it to make sure all settings take effect.