What do I need to listen to sound?

In our games and other features you can sometimes listen to audio. Wherever you see these symbols, there is sound to go with the text:

To listen, your computer needs an extra bit of free software called a plug-in. We publish audio in Realaudio format so the plug-in you will need is called Real Player. If this is not already installed on your computer you can download it for free. It should only take a minute or two and the instructions to follow are on the BBC WebWise guide to downloads.

Don't forget that your computer will also need some equipment called a sound card (most computers have these) and some speakers or headphones too!

Do I already have Real Player?

To find out if you have Real Player already installed, see if you can listen to the story.
Does a Real pop-up window appear?
Is there a green play button at the bottom or top of the window?
Can you hear the story?
If the answer is no, you will need to download the plug-in.

Find out more about plug-ins in general here.

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