What type of hardware do I need to run Touching Triton?

Touching Triton will run on a variety of hardware devices that connect to the Internet. We have designed the activity to run on the latest versions of many of the most popular Internet browser softwares like Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Safari, and Mozilla Firefox. The application is optimized for Google Chrome. Using one of these web browsers, you can access Touching Triton with a desktop computer (Mac or PC), a laptop computer (Mac or PC), an Android-based tablet (i.e. Samsung GalaxyTab, Dell Venue), or an Apple iPad. Using a 10-inch or larger tablet is recommended as Touching Triton has been designed to work within the resolution of screens 10-inches or larger.

Touching Triton does not require any specialized server hardware to run, as the application is housed on external servers to your school. Simply use one of the devices and web browsers mentioned above to access triton.hudsonalpha.org.

Do I have to have internet access to run Touching Triton?

Currently, the only way to access Touching Triton is by using an Internet connection. We have worked very hard to make the experience as quick as possible, even on slow networks. However, there is only so much that can be done programmatically. If you experience very slow connection speeds, it is likely due to a restriction on the data allowed via the network to which you are connected. We use an Amazon Cloud Server that is made to handle large amounts of data transfer in order to accommodate a large number of users simultaneously to reduce any speed issues from the application side.

Will I need to download anything to use Touching Triton?

Touching Triton is currently housed completely online and does not require any downloads to use. The application does require an updated web browser software such as Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Safari or Mozilla Firefox. If your computer does not have the most recent version, you will need to update prior to using Touching Triton. This may require a download, but is not part of the Touching Triton software.

Do I need an account to use Touching Triton?

An account is not required to use Touching Triton. The "Play as Guest" feature in the upper right-hand corner of the screen at triton.hudsonalpha.org allows users to explore the activity without creating an account. Creating a basic account using the "Register Here" link at the top of the screen will create an account that allows you to login and save progress, but is not linked to a specific class.

Access to the teacher portal and teacher tools requires a teacher account. Currently, only those teachers that have attended a HudsonAlpha led training session will be provided teacher accounts. For more information on training sessions, visit http://hudsonalpha.org/education/teachers/touching-triton.

We are currently working on creating an online training experience for teachers not able to attend an in-person training event. As those materials are created and made available online, we will open up access for any teacher to create a fully functional teacher account.

Do I need an account to use Touching Triton as a student?

An account is not required to use Touching Triton. The "Play as Guest" feature in the upper right-hand corner of the screen at triton.hudsonalpha.org allows users to explore the activity without creating an account. If a student would like to be included in a class managed by a teacher, that student account needs to be created by the teacher using the Teacher Tools available to him/her with a Teacher Account. Currently, only those teachers that have been to a HudsonAlpha led training session will have teacher accounts. For more information on training sessions, visit http://hudsonalpha.org/education/teachers/touching-triton.

Please note that creating a basic account using the Register Here link at the top of the screen at triton.hudsonalpha.org, will create an account that allows you to login and save progress, but is not linked to a class or teacher.

How fast does my internet need to be in order to run Touching Triton?

Touching Triton has been designed to run even on slow internet speeds by modern standards. If you have an exceedingly slow connection or are limited in bandwidth, you may need to be patient. There may be limitations to the experience depending on restrictions or firewalls. One of the most common issues is that the embedded videos will not load. If this occurs, it is likely due to either insufficient bandwidth to stream the videos or video and audio streaming have been blocked by your network administrator. If this is the case, we suggest contacting your network administrator to resolve this issue. Transcripts of each video are available in the activity even if the videos do not play.

Can I run Touching Triton in a computer lab or with a laptop cart?

The location of the computers you are using for Touching Triton is not an issue as long as all of the devices are connected to the internet and are able to access triton.hudsonalpha.org. If you are using a computer lab, those computers are likely already connected to the internet. If you are using a laptop cart, you may need to set up the computers to access the WiFi signal before using Touching Triton.

I am running Touching Triton, but none of the videos will play. What is wrong?

There are three common causes for videos not playing when they should.

1- Video and/or audio streaming may be blocked by restrictions or a firewall on your network. If that is the case, please contact your network administrator to allow video/audio streaming from triton.hudsonalpha.org.

2- The internet connection speed is slow or limited and will not load or will take a very long time to load the videos. This is likely due to restrictions put on the network. Touching Triton uses a very fast and powerful Amazon Cloud Server that pushes data to your network but may run into a block once it reaches your network. If that is the case, you may need to contact your network administrator and ask for more bandwidth for the application.

3- You have an outdated web browser software program that does not support video and audio streams. If this is the case, you will need to upgrade the latest version of your web browser. In a school setting, this might mean you need to contact your network administrator in order to get access to update.

Touching Triton seems to be running very slowly, what can I do?

There are a number of reason why Touching Triton may be running slowly. There may be restrictions on your Internet capacity limiting the amount of data and speed by which it can be passed to and from your computer. Unfortunately, there is no way to internally check to see if this is the cause. If you are in a school setting, you may need to contact your network administrator for assistance.

If you are using an outdated web browser, Touching Triton may not be operating at maximum capacity. We have designed the program to use HTML5 technology which is fully supported by most common updated web browser programs like Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Safari and Mozilla Firefox. You may need to update your version of the web browser.

There may be an abundance of users of the activity at the same time you are working on Touching Triton. We monitor our usage rates quite closely to ensure we are not the cause of a slow experience, however, we may miss a day of particularly heavy traffic. We appreciate your patience.

If I or my students do not finish the activity, is there a way to save progress?

If you are logged into a Touching Triton account, all of your progress will be saved automatically with every click. There is no need to click a save button or leave your web browser open to save your progress. The next time you log in, your mission will be exactly as you left it.

Does my IT department need to load anything on my computer for Touching Triton to work?

With the exception of an updated web browser like Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Safari or Mozilla Firefox, there should be nothing that you need to install on any computer to use Touching Triton.

I have old computers in my school. Will they be able to run Touching Triton?

Because Touching Triton is an online application, as long as you have an updated web browser program installed on the computer, you should not have any issues running the application, even on an older computer.

I do not have access to a computer lab but I have an iPad/tablet cart. Will that work?

We have gone to great lengths to make sure that Touching Triton is formatted and works on iPads and tablets. Users with accounts can log in just like they can with a desktop or laptop computer. The only difference is that the resolution has been formatted to fit the screen and the experience has been optimized for touch instead of use with a mouse.

Can I run Touching Triton with iPod Touches?

Although Touching Triton works well on tablets, iPads and computers, the small screen size of an iPod Touch or similar devices makes the experience very difficult for the user. There is a considerable amount of important text on the screen that needs to be easily read. The screen size of these more portable devices make it very difficult to read that information. Although the application may run on those devices, we do not recommend using them.

I get an error when I try to access triton.hudsonalpha.org that says the site is blocked. What do I do?

Some school systems have firewalls that prevent unauthorized sites from being viewed. We strongly recommend that you test access to triton.hudsonalpha.org on a school computer connected to the school network prior to using Touching Triton with a class. If an error loading the page due to access restrictions occurs, this will allow time for a network administrator to allow access to the site.

Who can I contact for more information or questions that are not listed above?

You can reach Touching Triton staff at touchingtriton@hudsonalpha.org if you have specific questions or would like more information.