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I wrote the following letter to the USMLEworld folks. I was wondering if anyone had a similar problem and if they ever found a solution to this problem:
I am a subscriber to usmleworld. I enjoy the service and I think the questions are great. However I have a big problem with the user interface. You guys use a java-based interface which, once in a block, does not allow me to minimize the window and use other applications. I look up a lot of stuff online (usually wikipedia) as I am reading the usmleworld content. When there is something I don't remember the meaning of, or I want to delve into more deeply, it's very easy for me to look it up online as opposed to lugging out a big dictionary and reference books around with me. The only way I can do this currently is to first suspend the block I am in so that the usmleworld window can be minimized. This is quite a hassle because I usually feel a need to look things up with every question. I have a slow internet connection where I live (Pakistan) and this frequent suspension and reloading of the block takes a lot of time and causes me significant delays and a lot of frustration. My entire flow of thought is interrupted as I sit staring at the "Loading" window for upto 5 minutes at a time.
Please give me some sort of a workaround to this problem. I am sure I'm not the only one with this problem. With online resources like wikipedia, and emedicine.com becoming increasingly convenient means of looking up information during our Step 2 review, users in the future will want to have an easily minimizable window. I used Kaplan Qbank for Step 1 and their interface did not have such a problem. I benefited greatly from being able to look stuff up on wikipedia during my Step 1 prep. I am unable to do this with your service and I feel it is hurting my review.
I hope I hear from you soon with a solution to my dilemma.
I am a subscriber to usmleworld. I enjoy the service and I think the questions are great. However I have a big problem with the user interface. You guys use a java-based interface which, once in a block, does not allow me to minimize the window and use other applications. I look up a lot of stuff online (usually wikipedia) as I am reading the usmleworld content. When there is something I don't remember the meaning of, or I want to delve into more deeply, it's very easy for me to look it up online as opposed to lugging out a big dictionary and reference books around with me. The only way I can do this currently is to first suspend the block I am in so that the usmleworld window can be minimized. This is quite a hassle because I usually feel a need to look things up with every question. I have a slow internet connection where I live (Pakistan) and this frequent suspension and reloading of the block takes a lot of time and causes me significant delays and a lot of frustration. My entire flow of thought is interrupted as I sit staring at the "Loading" window for upto 5 minutes at a time.
Please give me some sort of a workaround to this problem. I am sure I'm not the only one with this problem. With online resources like wikipedia, and emedicine.com becoming increasingly convenient means of looking up information during our Step 2 review, users in the future will want to have an easily minimizable window. I used Kaplan Qbank for Step 1 and their interface did not have such a problem. I benefited greatly from being able to look stuff up on wikipedia during my Step 1 prep. I am unable to do this with your service and I feel it is hurting my review.
I hope I hear from you soon with a solution to my dilemma.
