'Desktop platforms' refers to the hardware, software and operating systems required by end-users on desktop computers to utilise VET e-learning content and systems. This section provides recommendations for the minimum set of browser plug-ins and the minimum software and hardware platform that VET practitioners should have access to and that developers should use to test their e-learning content with.
The Desktop Platforms specifications are based on statistical data and information provided by the VET sector through the E-standards Expert Group, and reflect what is most commonly in use in the sector. The Recommended Applications’ (Table 1) system requirements as defined by their various publishers have been cross-referenced with the Recommended Test Platforms (Table 2),
You may wish to use the Software Analyser Tool to check your current computer setup and plug-ins.
Usage notes: As a minimum the following applications should be available in the test environment.
| Table 1 - Recommended applications and browser plugins |
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| QuickTime 7 (Opens in new window) |
| Adobe Flash Player 10 (Opens in new window) |
| Java Runtime Environment (RTE)1.6 (Opens in new window) Note: developers using the ADL SCORM Test Suite will need to install the Java Runtime Environment version 1.5 on a separate machine. |
| Adobe Acrobat Reader 9 (Opens in new window) |
| Microsoft Office Suite Viewers (Opens in new window) |
Usage note: Developers must ensure that content is tested and operable in the following desktop environments.
| Table 2 -Recommended test platforms for e-learning content |
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| Component | Windows XP | Windows 7 32bit | Windows 7 64bit | Macintosh | Linux |
| CPU (processor) | Intel® Pentium III 1GHz+ | 1GHz+ x86 | 1GHz+ x64 | Intel Core Duo 1.33GHz | 800MHz+ processor |
| RAM (memory) | 512MB | 1GB | 2GB | 1GB | 512MB |
| Operating system (platform) | Windows XP | Windows 7 | Windows 7 | MAC OSX v10.6 (Snow Leopard) | Ubuntu 9.04 or a distribution of equivalent support |
| Web browser |
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| Video monitor (resolution) | 1024x768 | ||||
| Video adapter | Video card with 256 MB of RAM (video RAM or VRAM) | ||||
| Network connection | 10/100 Mbit/s; or Wireless IEEE 802.11x adapter | ||||
| Optical drive | CD-ROM, DVD | ||||
| Sound | Soundcard and speakers/headphones | ||||