This allows the novice user to become familiar with the technology before making a purchase. In the meantime, new products are being developed, existing products improved, and prices coming down in this highly competitive market. As enthusiastic as users have been toward CD-ROM and other optical disk technologies, the most exciting news is yet to come. They are also exploring ways to increase the capacity of compact disks further, which would allow storage of more full-text databases such as newspapers. Greater storage space increases the potential for more powerful software, including highly interactive programs, natural language interfaces, and artificial intelligence.
Databases are only the beginning.
Optical disk applications include education and training at all levels from kindergarten to corporation. With enhanced interactivity and creative combinations of text, audio, and video, education in general will become more like entertainment. Other products include intelligent games and simulations, drawing and painting, filming and animation, musical composition, and of course much improved capabilities for document writing and data analysis. Inconveniences of current CD-ROM systems are being addressed. Hardware in general will become more standardized, less expensive, and more transportable.