Top 5 downloads for self-improvement

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By the PCWorld.com Downloads Team

(IDG) -- Feel like you're in a rut? Upgrade yourself with these downloads.

Top 5 downloads for self-improvement

1. AceReader: This self-improvement tool helps you become more proficient at reading, both on and off your computer. It helps you break bad habits, such as subvocalization (inaudibly pronouncing the words with your lips while you read), and re-reading (letting your eyes wander back to text that you previously read). The program paces you to read at higher speeds, and it displays text by flashing word sets, preventing you from re-reading.

2. Coeli--Stella 2000: Observe the heavens with this realistic simulation of the night sky, which features planets, comets, and over 15,500 stars. From your virtual observatory, you can view the sky from 0 to 90 degrees of elevation and 0 to 360 degrees of the compass; you can also advance or retard the sky by years, months, days, or minutes of sidereal or solar time. Each star has tint and each planet has hue, cast over with tropospheric blue. The cosmos is at your fingertips.

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3. Guitar ChordBuster: Having trouble remembering how to change chords from G to D? Don't worry, it's happened to all the greats. And although this program may not be able to turn you into another Jimi Hendrix, it does include an encyclopedia that has over 300,000 chords in its database. You can play any chord and pick sequences that you can play on a real guitar. Advanced players can use the Chord Filter to instantly explore all chords possible for the chosen strings and frets. The program can also tell you the name of your own custom chords.

If you don't play guitar, you can still point and click guitar accompaniments into your composition, and get the right chords for your song from the Scale Selector. You can also export your sequences in MIDI format.

4. Visible Human Radiologic Atlas of Sectional Anatomy: Interactively view fully registered Gross, CT, and MRI images of a human cadaver. All of the anatomy has been identified and labeled in full detail. You can view any part in each imaging modality with a click of the mouse. The intuitive interface allows you to quickly and easily navigate through the whole human body and peel it away in 3D as well. You can also test your knowledge with the program's review and test mode.

5. Kith and Kin: Want to explore your roots? In Kith and Kin, you input information on the date and place of births, baptisms, marriages, divorces, deaths, and burials, as well as any multiple marriages and aliases for each person. The program shows you a time line displaying the events associated with selected family members interspersed with notable historic events of the time.

Use the utility supplied free with every registered copy of Kith and Kin to edit or add to the events.You can also edit the notes for each person and family; the notes are included in printed reports, as well. Full clipboard support allows you to exchange text, pictures, diagrams, sounds, and videos with other applications.