Operating system requirements

Using LiveEcon

Using Engage

Contacting LiveEcon

Known Issues

Operating System Requirements

What system requirements do I need to consider?

Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows NT or Windows 2003

What screen resolution should I set to run LiveEcon™ ?

LiveEcon™ runs on 1280 x 1024 (recommended); 1024 x 768 (minimum)

Is LiveEcon available for the Mac Operating System?

Unfortunately LiveEcon is not supported on the Mac operating system, and there are currently no plans for a Mac compliant version.  However we are looking at the possibility of developing a web-enabled version of the product.

Using LiveEcon

Do I have to be connected to the Internet to use LiveEcon?

No, LiveEcon is an off-line product which works on your PC. However, you do have to be connected to the internet when you activate it. This only takes a few minutes. You do need to be connected to the internet to use Engage.

Do I have to disable my Anti-Virus software to activate LiveEcon?

Some anti-virus software may block the LiveEcon activation process, so if you are having difficulties it may be helpful to disable your anti-virus software while you are activating LiveEcon. Once it is activated your anti-virus software will not affect it.

How user friendly is LiveEcon to someone who has relatively little experience in working with computers?

LiveEcon is very easy to navigate through and after only a few minutes you will be accomplished at finding your way around thanks to the clear main menu that is provided. before you begin it is recommended that you take the brief guided tour which will explain key features of LiveEcon that are there to make the whole LiveEcon experience enjoyable. However, if you are having problems getting started, our friendly customer service team will be delighted to help.

It could be possible that your screen resolution is set incorrectly for the use of LiveEcon.  To change this come out of LiveEcon altogether and if you are using Windows, click on your start menu at the bottom left hand corner of your screen and select Control Panel.  In this folder open Display and then select the tab Settings; here your screen resolution will be found on the right hand side.  Please change this to 1280 by 1024 pixels and then select Apply at the bottom right of the Window.  Enter LiveEcon once again and see if this problem persists.  If you are still unable to see certain features please contact customer support for help.

Will I be able to relate LiveEcon to the textbook that I use?

LiveEcon was designed to be highly compatible with the textbook you use. To facilitate this, course pilots are provided so that comparisons between the LiveEcon and major textbooks are easy. You will be able to relate every chapter of your textbook to a corresponding one in LiveEcon.

What are the main advantages that LiveEcon provides?

LiveEcon is an extremely interactive economics e-learning tool which provides the user with a sound knowledge of the principles of their course in a fun learning-by-doing environment.  This is brought about by the unique U-Drive-it! feature which allows you the user to manipulate the key economic variables and immediately see the effects such changes have on the economy.  Dynamic moving tutorials at the end of chapters are also available to consolidate what has been learnt previously in an assortment of question and answer sessions.

Yet the features of LiveEcon can not be given justice in a paragraph.  The best way to view them is to download the free 2 week trial or alternatively observe the demos of Micro and Macroeconomics that are also present on the website.  Only then can one appreciate the full extent of its coverage.

What is the difference between LiveEcon and a textbook?

LiveEcon is different from a textbook because of its ability to engage the user.  With LiveEcon you are frequently presented with the opportunity to put into practice what you have learnt and see the effect it has on the economy instantly.  Although a textbook can still be proven to be useful and we recommend that LiveEcon is used in conjunction with one, LiveEcon offers all the resources of a textbook and significantly more.

I don't have enough money to buy both a textbook and LiveEcon, what do you recommend?

LiveEcon is a complete package so it is possible to use it for every element of your course.  The traditional textbook is useful for explaining the meaning of certain principles in-depth. However it is not a necessity and in the context of one or the other, LiveEcon will significantly improve your learning experience on its own!

How much content does LiveEcon contain? Does the scope go beyond that of my course?

LiveEcon Microeconomics Essentials and its macroeconomics equivalent extensively cover the material in most first year economic courses, while Macroeconomics Intermediate is at the level of 2nd year.  The good news is that Interactyx is currently in the process of extending the library of subjects that we cater for. You can see the contents lists here.

How much does LiveEcon cost?

The retail price of the LiveEcon suite of products can be found in our online shop, where they are available to purchase. If your lecturer/professor has asked you to use liveEcon as part of your course, there may be a special student discount available. Ask your lecturer for details.

Engage

Why can’t I sign into Engage?

If you are still unable to sign into Engage simply click on the prompt found under the “Forgotten your user name or password?” question on the log-in screen.  After selecting this you will then be asked to put either your user name or email address in the corresponding boxes so your details may be found and sent to you via email.

If you are a guest user, the maximum number of guest users may have been reached, and you will have to try again later. Check that the PC you are using is a valid guest user PC.

Can I log in to Engage from any computer?

Yes, if you have purchased LiveEcon you can log in to Engage from any PC providing it has internet access and you have your username and password. If you are a guest user, you can log in from allocated PCs on campus.

Why does my Engage not work after I sign in?

Please refresh the page, and if this fails, try logging out and logging in again. If the problem persists and you require further assistance, please contact customer support for help .

Why am I unable to open my assignments - quizzes or scenarios?

You may have already completed the assignment or reached the maximum number of attempts allowed for that task. Alternatively, the end date for the task has passed.

Who has access to my Engage page?

You are the only person who can see your Engage page. Your lecturer can only see your results and the times when you logged in and out. The page is completely secure from outside users.

How will my participation in the course be monitored by my lecturer?

Your participation will be monitored by your lecturer using Engage, where you can be assigned tests, scenarios and exam questions to be completed for a specific date or in a limited time, at the discretion of your lecturer.  At any stage, your lecturer will be able to view who has attempted the tasks that he/she has set with the grade that was achieved present beside the student’s name.

Contacting Us

How can I contact LiveEcon?

You can contact us by phone or email and we will be happy to help with any problems that you are experiencing and answer any of your support related questions.

Who do I contact with a payment related issue?

Please contact customer support by phone or email - see details at top of page

If I have any queries that are not covered in these FAQs, can I contact Interactyx directly to remedy any problems?

Our customer service team are always happy to help you if problems or queries crop up. Our contact details can be found at the top of this page.

Chapter 3 U-Drive-It! version 2.4 - There is an error in the U-Drive-It! in Chapter 3 of LiveEcon Macroeconomics version 2.4. Please contact support to request a patch

Synchronisation of scroll log with animation in chapter 3, tutorial 1 - It has been identified that sometimes the data that is written to the scroll log does not correspond with the text in parts of the tutorial. There is no fix for this issue, but it has been corrected in subsequent releases (after 2.0.7).