Chapter 5

JavaScript


CONTENTS

Calculators

Base Calculator

by Marc Matteo
Contact Info: mmatteo@sna.com
URL: http://www.sna.com/mmatteo/Java/basecalc.html
Load Time: Fast
Source Code Included: Yes

Author's Description: I needed a decimal/hex/binary calculator and I couldn't find one ... so I wrote one. A simple JavaScript page that acts like a base calculator.

A nice and simple calculator, accompanied by logical usage notes. Download the source (and visit the author's other applets and such) at the linked "Here" page. For comparison, also check out the Base Converter (this section).

Base Converter

by Alexander Bogomolny
Contact Info: abogolm@superlink.net
URL: http://mars.superlink.net/abogom/binary.html

Source Code Included: Yes

Author's Description: A JavaScript to convert numbers between several bases: binary, ternary, hexadecimal, decimal, octal, quintal.

This JavaScript resource is a lot like the Base Calculator (this section) but with more bases. Both provide the user with additional helpful math, and both provide the source.

Compressible Aerodynamics Calculator

by William Devenport
Contact Info: devenport@aoe.vt.edu
URL: http://www.aoe.vt.edu/aoe3114/calc.html
Load Time: Very Fast
Source Code Included: Yes

Author's Description: This calculator is designed to replace tables (e.g. NACA 1135) in performing basic compressible aerodynamic calculations. It is designed for those learning, teaching, or using compressible aerodynamics. It computes (both forward and backward) isentropic flow, normal shock, and oblique shock relations. It also has a scratch pad for doing the additional arithmetic usually needed to solve compressible aero problems.

If you're not an aerospace engineer or engineering student, you'll need to consult the linked What's This? or explanation page to have a ghost of a chance at using this calculator.

Great Circle Distance Calculator

by Lin Hsin Hsin
Contact Info: artist@lhham.com.sg
URL: http://www.lhham.com.sg/tsq/form1.html
Load Time: Very Fast
Source Code Included: No

Author's Description: The Great Circle Distance Calculator is to compute great circle distance (in kilometers) between any two points on earth, given the latitudes and longitudes of the city. A list of latitudes and longitudes of major cities in the world are listed.

Choose a major city or airport from the scroll-down list at the bottom of this applet page, input the latitudes and longitudes, and click Compute. The answer will appear almost instantly in the given field at the bottom of the calculator.

Individual Win/Loss Calculator

by Dean Turcoliver
Contact Info: deano@nerc1nerc.com
URL: http://cmr.sph.unc.edu/~deano/bball/articles/binomind.html
Load Time: Very Fast
Source Code Included: Yes

Author's Description: JavaScript code that uses a fairly quick random number generator to estimate how often an individual basketball player contributes to a win.

This calculator brushes aside the particular strengths and weaknesses of individual famous basketball players and uses statistics to determine how often they really help win a game. Other basketball-related resources on the Gamelan directory include BullSweep (Miscellaneous: Other Miscellaneous Resources) and Journal of Basketball Studies (News: Other News Resources).

Physical Calculator

by Chris Dolan
Contact Info: dolan@astro.wisc.edu
URL: http://www.astro.wisc.edu/~dolan/constants/calc.html
Load Time: Very Fast
Source Code Included: No

Author's Description: This is a JavaScript calculator with several physical and astronomical constants programmed into it. It is based on the Scientific Calculator by Rolf Howarth (http://www.parallax.co.uk/~rolf/Calculator).

Scroll down the applet page to peruse the list of what this calculator covers-15 physical and eight astronomical constants. UNIX users should expand the applet window if this calculator looks fuzzy or fragmented, though Macintosh users with similar problems are probably out of luck.

Runner's Calorie Counter

by Chris Van Buskirk
Contact Info: cvanbus@tcs.tulane.edu
URL: http://studentweb.tulane.edu/~cvanbus/calorie1.html
Load Time: Very Fast
Source Code Included: Yes

Author's Description: JavaScript program that will calculate calories burned during a run.

A simple, straightforward JavaScript resource. Source is included.

Standard Atmosphere Computations

by Stanford Aircraft Aerodynamics and Design Group
Contact Info: kroo@leland.stanford.edu
URL: http://aero.stanford.edu/stdatm.html
Load Time: Fast
Source Code Included: No

Author's Description: This form uses JavaScript to computer properties related to the 1976 standard atmosphere up to 230,000 ft.

Calculate air temperature, density, viscosity, pressure, and more-in English or metric measurements-by inputting an altitude, speed, and reference length.

Steve's Consume-a-Tron

by Steve Orth
Contact Info: sorth@oz.net
URL: http://www.oz.net/~sorth/consume.html
Load Time: Very Fast
Source Code Included: Yes

Author's Description: Consume-a-tron shows you how the little things in life can really add up. Drink three cups of coffee a day? See how many cups that is over one week, three months, six years. JavaScript applet lets you calculate different rates of consumption.

Measure your addictions-this simple JavaScript will reveal just how much caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, chocolate, or whatever you consume in mass quantities over whatever length of time you specify. It's eye-opening!

Examples

Danny Goodman's JavaScript Lab

by Danny Goodman
Contact Info: dannyg@dannyg.com
URL: http://www.dannyg.com/javascript
Load Time: Very Fast
Source Code Included: Yes

Author's Description: See what the user scripting guru and author of the forthcoming book Danny Goodman's JavaScript Handbook is up to. Some of his latest JavaScript experimental pages are here.

There are several JavaScript files, lesson excerpts, and other resources on this applet page, including helpful bug warnings about various platforms and browsers. The applications are downloadable from the linked Support Center page.

JavaScript Tip of the Week

by Nick Heinle
Contact Info: carter@gis.net
URL: http://www.gis.net/~carter/therest/tip_week.html
Load Time: Very Fast
Source Code Included: Yes

Author's Description: Every week a cool set of JavaScript tips or tricks to help you on your way to JavaScript bliss. If they don't improve you, they'll improve your page. Updated weekly with tips, ideas, tricks, and code examples.

Extremely useful information for all kinds of JavaScript enthusiasts, beginners to professionals, presented with documentation and examples. Click the yellow source buttons to jump directly to the code.

Figure 5.1 :

Finance

IMComputnt Car Cost Calculator

by I.M. Computnt
Contact Info: imcomputnt@aol.com
URL: http://members.aol.com/imcomputnt
Load Time: Fast
Source Code Included: No

Author's Description: Based upon invoice cost, incentives/rebates, down payment, percentage above invoice, state tax, APR and destination charge of new vehicles, this calculator figures out your monthly payments. Print it out and take it to the dealer with you to guarantee the best deal!

The author recommends you search Edmund's pricing guide (http://www.enews.com/magazines/edmunds) and choose figures for an actual car so you can really use this applet.

Games

The Amazing JavaScript Maze

by Steven Weinberger
Contact Info: steve@garcia.tisny.com
URL: http://www.tisny.com/js_maze.html
Load Time: Very Fast
Source Code Included: Yes

Author's Description: The Amazing JavaScript Maze Game. Navigate through a maze to get to the end! Gamebard can be expanded to a variety of game ideas.

No frills maze with simple clickable controls. Check out Maze (Art and Entertainment: Puzzles), a 3-D version that also comes with source code-or, if you feel more aggressive, there's always Decency or Throw 'em to the Dungeon (both Art and Entertainment: Resources).

Blackjack

by Alden Bliss
Contact Info: alden@oz.net
URL: http://www.oz.net/~alden/javascript/blackjack/blackjack.html
Load Time: Very Fast
Source Code Included: No

Author's Description: A JavaScript version of Blackjack.

Mostly this JavaScript is a straightforward thing-if you see Push in the JavaScript alert box, it just means you tied the dealer. Also see Virtual Blackjack (this section).

Bram's JavaScript Life Page

by Bram Cohen
Contact Info: bram@earthweb.com
URL: http://www.earthweb.com/~bram/life.html
Load Time: Very Fast
Source Code Included: Yes

Author's Description: This is a very sophisticated demonstration of what can be done with JavaScript-it requires Navigator 3.0 (beta 4). A simulation of the game Life-uses 100% pure, unadulterated JavaScript, with no helper plug-ins or Java whatsoever.

Other Life games and related resources on the Gamelan directory include Exploring Emergence (Education: Other Educational Resources), Conway's Game of Life and The Life's Game in Java (Art and Entertainment: Life Games), and, for reference, Biomorphs (Education: Biology).

Crossword Puzzle in JavaScript

by Eric Frias
Contact Info: efrias@vt.edu
URL: http://csugrad.cs.vt.edu/~efrias/crossword.html
Load Time: Very Fast
Source Code Included: No

Author's Description: This is a fairly nice-looking crossword puzzle in JavaScript. The only thing I am sure it works on is Netscape 3.0 (beta)-it may or may not work on earlier versions.

Other word games on the Gamelan directory include Cryptarithms (this section), Word Search Applet (Art and Entertainment: Puzzles), Interactive Sentence Builder (Education: Other Educational Resources), Crossword Puzzle (Art and Entertainment: Puzzles), and Cypherspace (this section).

Figure 5.2 :

Cryptarithms

by Various authors (puzzles taken from different sources)
Contact Info: http://www.ccnet.com/~aaron/resume
URL: http://mars.superlink.net/abogom/st_crypto.html
Load Time: Very Fast
Source Code Included: Yes

Author's Description: Cryptarithms are puzzles obtained from geometric identities by replacing digits with letters. The problem is to recover the original identity. This JavaScript setup has a stack to remember, and when needed, to retrieve the state of a puzzle, making it a much better tool than paper and pencil.

All the numbers in these puzzles have been replaced with letters-you try to break the code and solve the math. Contact the collector of these puzzles via his Web site for more examples. Other word games on the Gamelan directory include Word Search Applet (Art and Entertainment: Puzzles), Crossword Puzzle in JavaScript (this section), Interactive Sentence Builder (Education: Other Educational Resources), Crossword Puzzle (Art and Entertainment: Puzzles), and Cypherspace (this section).

Cypherspace

by Todd Grupe
Contact Info: tgrupe@netvoyage.net
URL: http://www.netvoyage.net/~tgrupe/crypto0.htm
Load Time: Fast
Source Code Included: Yes

Author's Description: An interactive cryptogram game written in JavaScript. Features include 100 different cryptograms, an automatic reset button, a solving timer, and online help. Using Netscape cookies, the program remembers your best solving time and records which cryptograms you've already solved, and automatically chooses a new one.

Other word games on the Gamelan directory include Cryptarithms (this section), Word Search Applet (Art and Entertainment: Puzzles), Crossword Puzzle in JavaScript (this section), Interactive Sentence Builder (Education: Other Educational Resources), and Crossword Puzzle (Art and Entertainment: Puzzles).

Five Card Stud

by Jason Bloomberg
Contact Info: jbloomberg@lhouse.com
URL: http://www.lhouse.com/~jbloomberg/stud
Load Time: Fast
Source Code Included: Yes

Author's Description: An interactive stud poker game complete with a colorful computer opponent. Extensive use of JavaScript. Bet you can't beat Black Bart!

There are three versions of this classic betting game to choose from, depending upon the size of your screen and whether you're using a PC or a Macintosh. It takes a moment for the cards to turn up, but afterwards the play is immediately responsive.

Figure 5.3 :

The Great Reality Caper

by SMLB Interactive/South American Airways

Contact Info: clive@smlb.co.za

URL: http://www.saa.co.za/saa/reality.html

Load Time: Fast

Source Code Included: Yes

Author's Description: The Great Reality Caper is one of the first graphical adventure games on the World Wide Web. Sponsored by South African Airways.

This fantastic interactive adventure has a similar look and feel to really good Japanimation-after you register with a username and password, you choose one of five characters for yourself and jump right into the fray. Be prepared to die pretty quickly, though. Those reality police can be mean.

Herr QuizMaster

by Kerri Schiller
Contact Info: kerri@ee.unr.edu
URL: http://www.wp.com/kerri/quiz.html
Load Time: Very Fast
Source Code Included: No

Author's Description: Can you count in German? Herr QuizMaster is a tool to help you learn. Can be modified to test memorization of other words or concepts.

Use this simple quiz to help teach and memorize German numbers as is, or to learn any set of simple, equivalent words by altering the HTML appropriately.

Igor's JavaScript Memory

by Igor Clukas
Contact Info: IgorClukas@europeonline.com
URL: http://www-city.europeonline.com/cyberhome/igorclukas/version2/memory/memory.html 
Load Time: Very Fast
Source Code Included: Yes

Author's Description: Well, almost everyone has played the game of Memory in their youth. This is my humble rendition of this game with (so far) three different card sets.

The response time between moves lags a bit, but you can click both cards in a would-be match at the same time. Choose from Animals, Fonts (Typo-Memory), and Landscapes.

Magic Squares

by Alexander Bogomolny
Contact Info: abogolm@superlink.net
URL: http://mars.superlink.net/abogom/game_st.html
Load Time: Very Fast
Source Code Included: Yes

Author's Description: A JavaScript game with a simple, though not trivial, theory behind it. The game could be played by everyone. To understand how it works, some knowledge of linear spaces is required.

Try to make the pattern of checks and blanks in the first box match the pattern in the second-it's not as simple as it sounds. Read the Rules and Theory Outline pages for a detailed explanation of the game algorithm.

Figure 5.4 :

The Mysterious World of MISSED!

by Joseph Byrd
Contact Info: jlbyrd@vnet.net
URL: http://www.lhouse.com/~jbloomberg/play/missed.html
Load Time: Fast
Source Code Included: Yes

Author's Description: JavaScript-based parody of Myst. Extensive use of frames.

Find the six keys, rescue the damsel in distress, save the world (wide Web) ... it's all in a day's surf.

Tic Tac Toe Plus

by Peter Nguyen
Contact Info: pbn@inet1.inetworld.net
URL: http://intergalacticnet.com/games/ttt/tictactoe.html
Load Time: Very Fast
Source Code Included: Yes

Author's Description: Go first or second against the computer; choose blue, red, green, or gray; X or O.

Realtime play response and reset, nice use of frames. Source code is included. Also check out Fish Tac Toe (Art and Entertainment: Resources).

Virtual Blackjack

by Ming Din
Contact Info: steve@vax2.winona.msus.edu
URL: http://www.cyberdragon.com/cgi-bin/php.cgi/bj
Load Time: Fast
Source Code Included: Yes

Author's Description: A virtual BlackJack program written in JavaScript. Features include session score saving, graphics interface, etc.

You have to give your first and last name and an e-mail address to spark the configuration setup, but it's worth it. Check out a second version of this game, BlackJack (this section).

Graphics

Image Flipper

by Cameron Gregory
Contact Info: cameron@corona.att.com
URL: http://www.att.com/homes/cameron/javascript/Flipper
Load Time: Very Fast
Source Code Included: Yes

Author's Description: This JavaScript allows you to easily and automatically flip through a number of images on the page.

The source, some instructions, and other helpful stuff for use and installation are all available on this applet page. Other slideshow/movie resources on the Gamelan directory include Scrolling Images (Special Effects: Other Special Effects Resources), drz.applet.movie (Multimedia: Animation), Slide Projector with Audio (Special Effects: Other Special Effects Resources), Snap Shot Applet (Multimedia: Animation), and Graphics Slide Show (HongKong, Java (the Island) (Multimedia: Graphics Resources). Also check out CMosaic.class Slide Viewer Applet (Multimedia: Other Multimedia Resources).

Java Flash

by João Sousa
Contact Info: jas@mail.fct.unl.pt
URL: http://www.dg.fct.unl.pt/qoa/java
Load Time: Fast
Source Code Included: Yes

Author's Description: A Javascript applet that flashes around a Web page! It creates a very impressive effect on loading .... Four different special effects included.

Really cool flashing frame effects-try each of the four individually or in combinations. Use the code as long as you mention where you got it from.

JavaScript Object for Blinking Lights

by Dave Coleman
Contact Info: coleman@faxint.com
URL: http://www.tiac.net/users/coleman/buttons.html
Load Time: Fast
Source Code Included: Yes

Author's Description: JavaScript demo which defines a buttons object and creates three instances of the object. The object simulates blinking lights using RADIO objects.

Customize the property values of these button objects by using the author's specifications. Try to synchronize the top one with the bottom just for fun.

Figure 5.5 :

Home Pages

The Inter(net)View

by John Peterson
Contact Info: petey@slip.net
URL: http://www.c2.org/~hire-me/pages
Load Time: Very Fast
Source Code Included: No

Author's Description: The world's first fully interactive cyber interview. Somebody, please, hire this guy!

Quite the original way to look for employment. John Peterson does his best to convince you to pay his salary by showing you his resume, references, and chutzpah. Why not hire him? He apparently put this applet together in two days.

Javascript Utilities Resources

The AmazinglySimple Color Selector

by Govind Sheshadri
Contact Info: govind_sheshadri@mgic.com
URL: http://www.mgic.com/colors/amazing.html
Load Time: Fast
Source Code Included: No

Author's Description: The AmazinglySimple Color Selector is one of the easiest yet most functional color selection utilities available. Generates HTML tags for selected attributes.

Select a color from the scroll-down list, click it, and see your choice immediately reflected in the bottom frame. The author does include the BODY tag to insert in your HTML, which also changes with each new color selection.

ColorCenter

by HIdaho Design
Contact Info: bdortch@hidaho.com
URL: http://www.hidaho.com/colorcenter
Load Time: Very Fast
Source Code Included: Yes

Author's Description: ColorCenter lets you try out text and background colors and background textures on the fly. The new (beta) version has a cleaner interface, and makes it easy to collect textures and graphics from a number of popular sites. Users of the 16-bit Windows version of Netscape should be sure to use the 2.01 release (Netscape's bug, not mine).

Even if you're not looking for a color selection utility, check out the rotating 3-D text at the top of this applet page-it's cool! Choose a color from the palette in the bottom frame and use the sliding R, G, and B to customize the amounts of red, blue, and green in your color of choice.

HTMLjive

by Ray Daly
Contact Info: webmaster@mailcall.com
URL: http://www.cris.com/~raydaly/htmljive.html
Load Time: Very Fast
Source Code Included: Yes

Author's Description: HTMLjive is an HTML editor written in JavaScript that allows you to create HTML documents with your browser.

Read the author's detailed comments on licensing and usage of this editor before downloading the source. But check out the demo either way-it's very flexible and easy to use if you possess a solid understanding of HTML. Other building environments on the Gamelan directory include PaintJava (Programming: Graphics), Rogue Wave Software (Programming: Development Tools), FutureTense Texture (Multimedia: Graphics Resources), Java WebIDE (Utilities: Other Utilities), OEW/Java (Programming: Databases) and Visual Java (Programming: Development Tools).

rollLeft()

by Christoffer Lette
Contact Info: lette@ts.umu.se
URL: http://www.ts.umu.se/~lette/solutions
Load Time: Fast
Source Code Included: Yes

Author's Description: This is a version of the popular text scrolling function in the browsers' statusbar. Contrary to other functions of this sort, this one is very simple with very little code overhead!

Documentation, source, and introductory instructions and help are included.

Javascript Web Site Resources

Ask the JavaScript Pro

by Dave Wagner
Contact Info: dave@inquiry.com
URL: http://www.inquiry.com/techtips/js_pro
Load Time: Fast
Source Code Included: No

Author's Description: Ask the JavaScript Pro is a free service of inquiry.com providing technical advice from a JavaScript expert.

All types and levels of JavaScript user can find something of interest at this site-Ask the JavaScript Pro is only one of many resources offered here, also including discussion forums, a product directory, and an article database. If you're looking for good information on Java, check out the Java FAQ (Programming: Documents about Java) or Java 411 (JavaScript: Other JavaScript Resources) for another introductory look at JavaScript.

Figure 5.6 :

Search

Avenue Search

by Aquinas Software
Contact Info: aquinas@avenue.com
URL: http://www.avenue.com/search
Load Time: Very Fast
Source Code Included: Yes

Author's Description: Wonderful search engine wrapper.

This search engine script combines the power of many individual search engines, databases, traditional reference materials, and more, all in one. Conduct single or multi-window searches by keyword. Other search and surfing aids on the Gamelan directory include Furl It (Miscellaneous: Other Miscellaneous Resources), Channel Surfer (JavaScript: Other JavaScript Resources) Webroute 66 (this section), Ultra Nav (Miscellaneous: Other Miscellaneous Resources), Surf-o-matic (Miscellaneous: Other Miscellaneous Resources), Bingo! (Utilities: Other Utilities), CompuLink Services (Utilities: Other Utilities), Surf Tool 1.0 (this section), and The Watcher (Network and Communications: Other Network and Communications Resources).

SurfTool 1.0

by Chris Bloom
Contact Info: bloom@genmagic.com
URL: http://www.meer.com/~bloom
Load Time: Very Fast
Source Code Included: No

Author's Description: Surf Tool 1.0 is a JavaScript and Frames enhanced console for the surfing professional. Make this your home page for a more productive surfing experience.

This is the ultimate bookmarker-much prettier and easy-to-use than a scroll-down menu. Customize your lists and categories, surf within one frame while keeping the console at hand. Other search and surfing aids on the Gamelan directory include Furl It (Miscellaneous: Other Miscellaneous Resources), Channel Surfer (JavaScript: Other JavaScript Resources) Webroute 66 (this section), Ultra Nav (Miscellaneous: Other Miscellaneous Resources), Surf-o-matic (Miscellaneous: Other Miscellaneous Resources), Avenue Search (this section), Bingo! (Utilities: Other Utilities), CompuLink Services (Utilities: Other Utilities), and The Watcher (Network and Communications: Other Network and Communications Resources).

Webroute 66

by Patrik Falk
Contact Info: webroute66.wineasy.se
URL: http://www.users.wineasy.se/webroute66
Load Time: Very Fast
Source Code Included: No

Author's Description: Using JavaScript, Java applets, ShockWave, and RealAudio, this site is designed to make your Net surfing the easiest possible. Tools that let you search several databases at the same time! So make this your startup site the next time you go online.

The best feature of this site-search up to four Web databases at the same time by keyword. You must put in a personal name to run this site or you'll get a JavaScript error. Other search and surfing aids on the Gamelan directory include Furl It (Miscellaneous: Other Miscellaneous Resources), Channel Surfer (this section), Ultra Nav (Miscellaneous: Other Miscellaneous Resources), Surf-o-matic (Miscellaneous: Other Miscellaneous Resources), Avenue Search (this section), Bingo! (Utilities: Other Utilities), CompuLink Services (Utilities: Other Utilities), Surf Tool 1.0 (this section), and The Watcher (Network and Communications: Other Network and Communications Resources).

Wordbot

by Keith Golden
Contact Info: kgolden@cs.washington.edu
URL: http://wwws.cs.washington.edu/kgolden/wordbot-js.html
Load Time: Very Fast
Source Code Included: No

Author's Description: A tool for automating reference lookup on the Web. When you load a page through Wordbot, you can click on any word to look up its meaning in a dictionary. You can follow links in the document normally, and you will still be in Wordbot. You can also look up words buried in links. You can use any dictionary, and view any Web page.

This JavaScript isn't just for English speakers-the dictionary scroll-down menu includes German, French, Esperanto, Italian, and biotechnical references for an international appeal.

Web Sites

PathIT Pathology Online

by Anil Dhiri
Contact Info: webmaster@pathit.com
URL: http://www.pathit.com
Load Time: Fast
Source Code Included: No

Author's Description: A premier site for pathologists, developed using Netscape technology to provide context linked information, resources links, and directories. Judicious use of Java and JavaScript.

All you ever wanted to know about pathology and probably more-some of the links and other graphic stuff is not for the squeamish or the lunchtime surfer. Also see (or avoid) the NPAC Visible Human Viewer (Multimedia: Graphics Resources).

Other Javascript Resources

Biorhythm

by Sabine Wolf
Contact Info: lythande@cs.tu-berlin.de
URL: http://www.cs.tu-berlin.de/~lythande/bio.html
Load Time: Very Fast
Source Code Included: No

Author's Description: This page calculates your personal biorhythm and gives you some graphical output.

Other biorhythm resources on the Gamelan directory include Biorythm (Miscellaneous: Other Miscellaneous Resources) and Java Rythm (Miscellaneous: Other Miscellaneous Resources).

Figure 5.7 :

Calendar

by Michael McDonnell
Contact Info: michaelm@afternet.com
URL: http://michaelm.afternet.com/Java/JavaScript
Load Time: Very Fast
Source Code Included: Yes

Author's Description: This is a simple interactive calendar written in JavaScript with a CGI backend. The calendar lets a user add text info associated with each day of the month. The CGI backend stores that info between sessions.

Stop by the demo and add your own opinion to the Comment box. Source code for the CGI (written in PERL) is included, plus the cut-and-paste source for the JavaScript.

CatchPhrase

by HIdaho Design
Contact Info: bdortch@hidaho.com
URL: http://www.hidaho.com/catchphrase
Load Time: Very Fast
Source Code Included: Yes

Author's Description: CatchPhrase generates random phrases based on built-in word lists. Occasionally, very occasionally, it spits out something amusing. But then, perhaps you're easily amused.

The best out of five random hits? "Smell my nasty nice elbow." For more, er, colorful (read as: not G-rated) randomly generated sentences, there's the Textual Abuse Page (Web Sites: Home Pages).

Figure 5.8 :

ChannelSurfer

by Ken Shirriff
Contact Info: shirriff@eng.sun.com
URL: http://www.sunlabs.com/~shirriff/java/surfer.html
Load Time: Fast
Source Code Included: Yes

Author's Description: ChannelSurfer gives you a new broswer that lets you surf four pages at once without even having to choose links. Merely select the channels you're interested in and click the remote to bring up new Web pages.

Click the Zoom button to focus on a particular page, scroll down the menu of choices for subject parameter to semi-customize the kind of page which will appear in each frame, and see much more of what's out there. Fair warning, though: If your connection is normally slow, there's a good chance that navigation via ChannelSurfer will be equally slow or slower. Other search and surfing aids on the Gamelan directory include Furl It (Miscellaneous: Other Miscellaneous Resources), Webroute 66 (JavaScript: Search), Ultra Nav (Miscellaneous: Other Miscellaneous Resources), Surf-o-matic (Miscellaneous: Other Miscellaneous Resources), Avenue Search (JavaScript: Search), Bingo! (Utilities: Other Utilities), CompuLink Services (Utilities: Other Utilities), Surf Tool 1.0 (JavaScript: Search), and The Watcher (Network and Communications: Other Network and Communications Resources).

Figure 5.9 :

Chant Hare Krishna and Be Happy!

by Vijay Sadananda Pai
Contact Info: vijaypai@ece.rice.edu
URL: http://www-ece.rice.edu/~vijaypai/chant.html
Load Time: Very Fast
Source Code Included: Yes

Author's Description: Hare Krishnas aren't allowed to have coffee. Java is another matter. Mantra meditation and a random link service!

A sort of mantra pace car for the dedicated chanter-you set the speed and number of mantras you want to recite within a given space of time. This applet also lists spiritual "offenses" for same-time memorization if you're feeling up to multitasking. Check out the Zen Koan Generator, too (this section).

Chinese Character Pronunciations

by Worldwide Phlogiston Cartel
Contact Info: ocrat@webcom.com
URL: http://www.webcom.com/ocrat/reaf
Load Time: Very Fast
Source Code Included: Yes

Author's Description: Input (cut and paste) any Chinese text and obtain the transliteration in Mandarin (pinyin) or Chinese.

To use any of the downloadable JavaScripts available on this page, you will more than likely need to download additional software first, or your computer will not be able to print or recognize Chinese characters. The author has helpfully provided Windows, Macintosh, and UNIX users with various software combination options, as well as links and other instructions on how to get what you need. Other Chinese language-related resources on the Gamelan directory inclue Chinese/Japanese/Korean Input Script (Utilities: Other Utilities), Create Chinese Text GIFs (Utilities: Other Utilities), LED Sign V2.5 Chinese Fonts Support (Special Effects: Text), and Chinese Method Applet for a Chinese Web Search Engine (Network and Communications: Other Network and Communications Resources).

The Death Clock

by Raymond Camden
Contact Info: rkc7747@usl.edu
URL: http://www.ucs.usl.edu/~rkc7747/death.html
Load Time: Very Fast
Source Code Included: No

Author's Description: The Death Clock is a simple program that calculates how many seconds you have left to live. For a while it was only a CGI program, but I have added a JavaScript version that works much neater.

Another morbid, pessimistic look at your life, or lack thereof-the Death Clock relies on average human life span estimates, plus the birthdate and gender information you input, to calculate how many seconds you have left to live. Just the thing to install on your desktop at work, right? An additional bonus is the Celebrity Death Clock, featuring a who's-next archive and the specific estimated times of departure. Loads and calculates quickly, does a very nicely pessimistic job. See also Clock O' Doom (Utilities: Clocks).

DoodlePad

by HIdaho Design
Contact Info: bdortch@hidaho.com
URL: http://www.hidaho.com/doodlepad
Load Time: Medium Fast
Source Code Included: Yes

Author's Description: Yes, it's another drawing program, but with a twist-this one's written in JavaScript. Generates IBM images on the fly. Have a fast machine and Netscape 3.0 for best results.

More a novelty item than useful tool-there are better drawing programs located elsewhere in the Gamelan directory, namely WebDraw and NINA (Multimedia: Graphics Resources).

Double-Zeta Calculation of the Ground State of the Helium Atom

by David Mosely
Contact Info: David_Mosley@fundp.ac.be
URL: http://www.chimie.fundp.ac.be/javas/he_dz_calc.html
Load Time: Very Fast
Source Code Included: Yes

Author's Description: This is an illustration of the use of JavaScript in a simple quantum chemical application: the SCF-LCAO calculation of the 1s2 ground state of the helium atom. The user is able to choose the orbital exponents, convergence threshold, and maximum number of iterations. An outline of the theory and links to key equations are also provided.

This is one of those extremely high-end mathematical/chemistry resources; it's very cool but very specialized.

Figure 5.10:

Group Z, Belgium: LOVE

by Michael Samyn-Group Z, Belgium
Contact Info: michael.samyn@ping.be
URL: http://adaweb.com/adaweb/influx/GroupZ/LOVE
Load Time: Very Fast
Source Code Included: No

Author's Description: This third HTML art work by Group Z, Belgium uses JavaScript for its under userface.

Peace, love, and flowers that blossom. Try to find all 49 pages.

The HTML Neural Networks

by Horace (Kicker) Vallas
Contact Info: hav@hav.com
URL: http://www.neosoft.com/~hav/nnhtml.htm
Load Time: Very Fast
Source Code Included: No

Author's Description: An example using JavaScript to implement several Neural Network consultation applications.

There are two neural-network JavaScripts to check out on this page-all the various frames contain relevant information, so skim them all before starting the demos. Both the 2-way XOR and 3-D Kohonen JavaScripts come with instruction links, histories, and bug reports. Other resources on the Gamelan directory related to neural networks include Boltzmann Machine Tutorial (Education: Chemistry) and Hopfield Neural Network (Education: Computer Science).

JavaScript 411

by Andy Augustine
Contact Info: aug@ix.netcom.com
URL: http://www.freqgrafx.com/411
Load Time: Very Fast
Source Code Included: No

Author's Description: A great source for learning the inside scoop about JavaScript. This site includes the JavaScript FAQ, your one-stop spot for all known workarounds and bugs.

Beginning users will appreciate the Tutorial, while all users will appreciate the Library of public code snippets and the keyword/topic Search function. Also check out Ask The JavaScript Pro (JavaScript: Web Sites: Other) for more on JavaScript, and the Java FAQ (Programming: Documents about Java) for an introduction to Java.

ST8PL8S (State Plates)

by Rene Feliciano
Contact Info: rfelicia@eecs.uic.edu
URL: http://icarus.uic.edu/~rfelic2/ST8PL8S.html
Load Time: Very Fast
Source Code Included: No

Author's Description: A vanity plate site in JavaScript.

Create your own vanity plates, choosing designs from any state in the union. Check out previous entries in the archive.

Figure 5.11:

Zen Koan Generator

by Colin Lingle
Contact Info: colin@speakeasy.org
URL: http://www.wrldpwr.com/javascriptzen.html
Load Time: Very Fast
Source Code Included: Yes

Author's Description: Uses JavaScript to generate a random Zen Koan.

Regardless of whether you're looking for spiritual insight, look into this applet-the author has some comments on creating randomness. Also link to the 24 Hours of Democracy site (http://www.hotwired.com/userland/24) for a similar generator that kicks out free speech slogans, and Chant Hare Krishna (this section) for more meditation.