How to play the movies:

*.gif:
    they run with any web browser;
    if your machine is fast enough they are supposed to go at 5 frames per second.
    Linux:
	we recommend to use xanim:  
        this allows to go through the movie frame by frame,
	play forward and reverse, change the frame rate, ...
	if the movie is big and memory is an issue, use mplayer	
	If you have enough memory and a fast machine, any web browser may do

    Windows:
        the best player I have found so far is Qicktime 5.0
	please let me know if you find something better
	If you have enough memory and a fast machine, IE or Firefox may do as well

*.mpg
    Linux:
	mpeg_play 
        or most other multimedia players
    Windows:
        the usual suspects
	probably best as above
	the MS Media Player does it as well