"The Storm" is a very sophisticated Java applet used to create a multimedia interactive learning environment.

This multimedia experience is enriched with audio and animated graphics. If you are fortunate to have a BIG sound system coupled to your computer (or WebTV) you will enjoy an awesome sound experience.

The two interesting characteristics of this applet is the script file that defines all of the image and sound objects, and the extensive randomizing routines that create a very unpredictable and natural appearance of the lightning strikes and thunder.

This beta version is not currently downloadable, but may be so in the future.

Many more images and sound clips are to be added in the future. We are patiently waiting for the next North Texas Storm so that we may record another set of sounds of an authentic North Texas Storm.

If you are used to web pages downloading quickly, you must realize that this applet requires a number of large graphic and audio files to create the rich experience. Even though the initial applet will begin after a reasonable time of download, the full fury of "The Storm" is only experienced after all of the multimedia files have been downloaded. Patience is rewarded by the full intensity of "The Storm".

This applet has been recently enhanced to contain additional barnyard and natural sounds that you can initiate with a mouse click. Realism of "The Storm" has been increased with the automatic mode of cycling the storm through periods of intense violence separated by relatively quiet periods. If you really crave the fury, you can click on "manual" and set "The Storm" to the intensity that you desire.

If you wish to experience a quiet time, go to "manual" and set the intensity to enjoy the southing sound of the rain only.

However you desire, enjoy!

Bill, creator of "The Storm".