Frequently Asked Questions

The CD-ROM

What makes the CD a "Virtual Tour"?
It is very unfortunate, but many people cannot go to Israel. To help them get at least some idea of the amazing things to be seen there, the Holyland Virtual Tour was created to provide a "like you were there" experience. The "virtual" part of this CD is the ability to look 360 degrees around you while listening to professional tour guides and teachers. Seeing and hearing are the two most powerful learning senses, the Holyland Virtual Tour comes close to satisfying both.

Should I take the tutorial?
If this is your first time using the CD-ROM, yes! It will teach you everything you need to know about using the Virtual Tour.

How do I get the most out of this Holyland Virtual Tour?
Keep your Bible, notebook and pen handy. See the square buttons on the main page? Go to only one of these a day. In most cases, each box represents a day of touring (sometimes even two or three). If you like to snack while exploring the CD-ROM, warm some pocket pita bread slices and use humus as a dip. See if you can find some Mediterranean foods such as green olives and cheeses for snacking on as well.

The CD opened with the page "QuickTime Required". What is this for?
QuickTime is the main engine that powers the media content of the Holyland Virtual Tour. Without it you cannot see or hear much of the content.

I can see everything, but I do not hear any sound.
Make sure you have your computer volume up at least 3/4 full and not muted. Check to see if your computer is set up for sound properly. Make sure that the Virtual Tour CD-ROM is the only application running. Try uninstalling Quicktime, then reinstall Quicktime from the CD.

I get an error message when the CD-ROM starts.
It is very difficult to anticipate how this CD-ROM will behave on so many different machines and operating systems. Remove the CD-ROM and restart the computer, then reinsert the CD-ROM again. It may be that your computer does not have enough memory. The best way is to try it on another computer to see if the problem persists. Make sure the the Holyland Virtual Tour is the only application running.

I am a Bible teacher, can I use any of the media on the CD?
Yes! Anything that spreads the good Word. All I ask is that your students are made aware of the CD for future study and that the media is not copied off of the CD for use on the web or for publishing elsewhere.

Navigation

I see the map of Israel, now what do I do?
If you are confused on how to use this tour, take the tutorial. It only takes a few minutes, and it will show you how everything on this tour works.

Why are some buttons square while others are round?
A square button represents another map having a group of locations. The round button is an actual location. For example, on the main menu, Petra has a circle because it is the only location to go to in that area of Jordan.

How do I get back to the Main Menu?
Click on the small Israel map in the lower-left corner of the screen.

What are the different colored icons for?
This and other navigation questions can be answered in the supplied tutorial.

I need a little more help as I explore the tour.
On the main menu page, click on the box called "Tooltips". This will provide a few hints for navigation in the thin text box above the playback window.

The maps do not appear very accurate.
They are not; the maps and the compass directions are just visual helps to give you a sense of orientation. Some maps were made from memory, others by artistic license, and others from a photo taken from a placard at the site.

Audio Teaching

Why does the audio teaching start and stop or hesitate during playback?
This may be due to either a slow computer or a slow CD-ROM drive. The audio is played back in packets; if it cannot load the next packet fast enough, the audio has to wait, thus the gap of silence.

Why do we have only audio teachings? Why not have video as well?
An audio teachings can be anywhere from 10 to 20 minutes in length. If video of the speaker was included, it would not be able to fit on the CD-ROM. You will notice that all the video on the tour tends to be short in length; this is due to this size issue. Another reason is that without the video content present, you can navigate a VR or view a photo while listening to the audio teaching.

Can I use the audio teaching on my MP3 player?
Yes, quit the Virtual Tour and "explore" the CD content. Look for the folder called "Sermons," and you will find all the MP3 audio there.

Media Content

My video playback is jerky. Can I improve it?
Video and VR playback takes quite a bit of computer power. Try clicking on the square video resize button in the upper right-hand corner. This will make the playback window smaller and thus smoother in playback.

What is a VR?
Put simply, a VR (or Virtual Reality) is a 360 degree photo of an area that can be navigated by the viewer. Position the mouse cursor over the playback window, click the mouse button down, and while it is down move left, right, up, and down. Doing this allows you to see the location toward the north, south, east, and west! But that is not all! You can even zoom in and out. Again, position the mouse cursor over the VR. Press the shift key and you will zoom in. Press the control key and you will zoom out. This is great if you see an item of interest that requires a "closer look".

Can I pause the video?
Yes, click on the video playback window. Click again to continue. If the video plays once and you wish to restart it, click on the window again.