We are implementing a new approach this fall, using NCSA Mosaic as our front-end for multimedia courseware delivery. When users call up programs created with Mosaic, helper applications handle the delivery of graphics, audio and video and do so by creating temp files which are then deleted when the user exits the program. The programs created can be stored on a local PC server or on a larger Unix system. Our Mosaic courseware, for example, will eventually be placed on our local DEC computer, which has larger storage capacity than our own server. Documents on Mosaic are displayed directly on screen, but they can also be downloaded to disk, for later use locally.
Users can save text and graphics files.
Due to storage considerations, it is less practical to download incoming digital audio and video. All Mosaic documents have the same basic hypertext interface which is easy for users to learn. Retrieving documents is the same process whether the materials are stored locally or on the other side of the globe. Once placed on a Web server, materials can be accessed by any user with an Internet connection. With the appropriate SLIP connection, this includes access from a modem.