From: langston@memstvx1.memst.edu (Mark C. Langston)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.advocacy
Subject: <None>
Date: 10 Nov 92 03:46:15 -0600
Distribution: world
Organization: Memphis State University

In article <1992Nov10.035827.27941@usl.edu>, das9674@usl.edu (Stephenson Daniel A) writes:
> In article <1992Nov10.005021.13155@ra.msstate.edu> skip@tacky.cs.olemiss.edu (Skip Sauls) writes:
>>In article <1992Nov9.231206.20185@usl.edu> das9674@usl.edu (Stephenson Daniel A) writes:

 [...hitherto unobserved phenomena of deletia...]

> Personally, I do not see them inherit benefits of this so called 'Multimedia'
> standard.  I think it has been pretty hyped up.  I would think of it more
> as 'oohh, a CDROM with an interactive encyclopedia with digitized sound samples'.
> 
> In other words, Mutlimedia, IMNSHO != good presentation software.  This show
> how C= is outta touch with what 'multimedia' is to most people.  When they know
> enough about multimedia to do "multimedia things", they won't consider an Amiga.
> MAYBE if it used a CD a lot....otherwise I just see them going and getting
> a PC.

  [...mucho deletia...]

> --
> Dan Stephenson                                                 das9674@usl.edu  
> "There once was a Lady from Hyde/who ate some bad apples and died/but while we
> lamented/the apples fermented/making cider inside her inside!" 
>                         -Member of the Court, Texas Renaissance Festival  

Okay folks, here I go again...
  This time I'm not going to stick up for Amiga's _per_se_, but instead do a
bit of (gack!) bashing...for those of you keeping track, get your scorecards
out.

  Now then.  It's been amusing so far, but now you've encroached my field of
research:  eudcational multi/hypermedia and human-computer interaction.
Okay, okay, okay.  I write my papers on a Mac.  So sue me.  I don't control
the research grant.  But let me say one thing:  If I was forced to use
something like QuickTime or any IBM equivalent to manipulate video from VCR,
live video, CD-ROM, integrate it into an object-oriented environment,
overlay various data structures, and support all of it with complex
navigational software, I think I'd just as soon go try to impregnate a rock
(but let's not get into questions of virility...I'll supply a reliable
reference if you're feeling that dirty-minded...).  
  All of you seem to be batting around, "Well, I have much more experience
than you using platform X, so there....", and then bring up multimedia
applications.  Well, (ahem!), let me just say that I have experience in this
area, and I'd just like to make a few points:

  a)  I've had to extensively investigate my multimedia options lately for
possible expansion of my current program of research.

  b)  After some serious investigation of the actual pragmatics of 
_programming_ the various platforms, I've come to the conclusion that the
Amiga offers the most tightly integrated/easy to use platform for such
applications.

  c)  For those of you who gripe about lack of decent software in the
multimedia end-user area, remember:  It's a new field.  It's still in
the R&D stages re: end-user effectiveness.  It's just beginning to gain
theoretical support.  _AND_THE_RESEARCH_AND_EDUCATIONAL_INSTITUTIONS_
DEVELOPING_THESE_SOFTWARE_PACKAGES_ARE_BEING_LED_LIKE_LEMMINGS_OVER_THE_
IBM/MAC_CLIFF!  It has gotten to the point that people will buy the
technology if it is necessary regardless of usability issues simply because
it's compatible with what they already own.  The situation is somewhat
comparable to trying to put a nail into a wall with the business end of a
shoe because you're too lazy/busy/inconveniently located to the hammer in
the garage.

  I have spent the past few days talking to a colleague of mine working at
a major medical research center regarding their need of a genlock/real-time
video/a-d/d-a conversion/manipulation/smpte timebase package for research
purposes.  Until he and I ganged up on them (he doesn't even own an Amiga...
but he's seen mine) we've managed to talk them out of spending about $15,000
per platform (IBM based, using about 4 3rd party post-processing hardware
packages), long enough to entertain the idea of setting up Toaster workstations
instead.
  One of the themes in these posts seems to be ease of use...if you want to
discuss frustration using hacked-up systems, try doing serious data collection
, genlocking, and data display/overlay in real time on an IBM platform.

  My point here is basically this:  Even though CDTV applications for the
Amiga arent the hottest thing going, and other multimedia software is suffering
similarly, it is not the fault of the Amiga.  People are simply not doing the
R&D necessary to develop these Amiga-specific packages because they're still
wowed and confused by the new, hard to use/program, and somewhat non-integrable
multimedia tools available for the other systems.  The only intelligent use
of the technology I have seen so far involved the custom development of CD-ROMS
specifically organized for the interface being used...and I can tell you, they
hand coded each index number from the original videotapes.  Multimedia is
more of a buzzword than a reality, but it is not overhyped; it is
under-researched.  The poor integrability of the major (read IBM/MAC) platforms
serves to hinder the research.  I _wish_ I had a Toaster workstation to do
R&D with.  Unfortunately, over two years of research has gone into one of the
other platforms due to lack of available software for the Amiga (and this has
nothing to do with multimedia...there were specific environments not available
that were necessary for the project.  Now, however, our backs are against the
multimedia wall, and I dread having to make due with what's out there for the
IBM/MAC...and yes, I have used some of them.)

I'll go to bed now, and one day I may actually post something during daylight
hours...but don't bet on it.  


-- 
+--------8<------Cut Here------8<------Cut Here------8<------Cut Here---------+
  Mark C. Langston   |  "Secrecy is the beginning of tyranny."                 
  Psychology Dept.   |  "Always listen to experts.  They'll tell you what can't
  Memphis State U.   |     be done, and why.  Then do it."                      
      "Pftph!"       |           -From the notebooks of Lazarus Long