From: jt34@prism.gatech.EDU (THOMPSON,JOHN C)
Newsgroups: comp.multimedia
Subject: Overcoming Barriers to Multimedia
Date: 22 Jan 93 14:32:01 GMT
Organization: Georgia Institute of Technology


I am currently writing a paper concerning overcoming barriers to computer
based interactive multimedia in education and training. It is my hypothesis
that the success of a project depends on many factors of which the selection
of delivery/development platform (Mac, Pc, Amiga, Windows, DOS, OS/2, UNIX,
etc.) plays a big role from a number of perspectives. One of the most talked
about issues concerns technical capabilties of the various hardware and
software alternatives, another concerns the perceived advantages of these
various platforms by both users and developers, another issue concerns
baseline capabilities in the installed base of equipment, another is cost -
both before and after installation, and another depends on availablitiy
and widespread knowledge of available titles. What do you think?

I would appreciate answers to any or all of the following questions to be
included in my paper:
1) Do you use, select, develop, or teach with multimedia now?
2) Why or why not?
3) If you were beginning a multimedia development project how would go about
choosing a development/delivery platform?
4) If you were asked to select computers for multimedia use by students in
K-12 what and why would you choose?
5) 4 - higher education?
6) What if any advantages do you see that any of the available multimedia 
platforms offer in terms of succeeding at development and/or delivery?
7) What role do the low-cost platforms such as CDI, CDTV, or Tandy's VIS have?
8) Where would you go to find already developed educational software for your platform?
9) In your opinion what is the easiset multimedia machine to use, or develop
for? why?
10) What do you think is the biggest barrier to widespread adoption and use
of multimedia in education and training?
11) Does the available pool of knowledgable developers for a platform matter?
12) Does current market presence matter much?
13) What technical capabilities of a multimedia platform for education do
you consider to be essential, desired, hyped but non-essential? why?
14) How important to success is platform selection? (success being widespread
use and adoption of multimedia in education and training)

I am very interested in everyone's opinion and perceptions. Please do not think
I intend to prove that one machine is better than another, instead I hope
to uncover what people think are the real issues to success? If you have other
ideas for questions please let me know! Maybe selection of platform does not
matter, but it certainly seems to be a part of most early discussions I have had
In the end I will be happy to post a copy of my paper or mail it to anyone who
responds with some feedback.

My definition of Interactive Multimedia: Computer based presentation of
information in multiple modalities including but not limited to textual,
audio,still graphics, and motion video in a way that requires active interaction
by the user (active response and control - not just passive viewing).

I look forward to hearing from lots of people including those who are not
currently using or knowledgable of the technology. Thanks.
Newsgroups: comp.multimedia,comp.os.ms-windows.programmer.misc