NoL206/20 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanCommunities 30.7.88
COUNCILDECISION
of29June1988
onaCommunityactioninthefieldoflearningtechnologies—developmentofEuropean
learningthroughtechnologicaladvance(Delta)exploratoryaction
(88/417/EEC)
THECOUNCILOFTHEEUROPEANCOMMUNITIES ,Whereasabetterunderstanding oflearningandtraining
whichcanbemetbylearningtechnologyisbeneficialfor
strategiesinthisfield;
WhereastheEuropeanParliamenthasemphasized
repeatedlytheimportanceitseesineducationandtraining
forthefutureeconomicandsocialwelfareofthe
Community,andadoptedon24May1983aresolution(4)
callingforgreatereffortsineducationaridtraining;
whereastheParliamentadoptedon11November1986a
resolutioninvitingtheCommissiontopreparea
programmefortheutilizationoftechnologyin
education(s);
WhereastheEconomicandSocialCommitteehasstressed
theimportanceofusingnewinformation and
telecommunication technologiestomaintainahighly
skilledworkforcecapableofadaptingtochangejob
requirements ,therebymakingacontributiontothe
reductionofunemployment causedbylackofskills;HavingregardtotheTreatyestablishingtheEuropean
EconomicCommunity,andinparticularArticle130Q(2)
thereof,
HavingregardtotheproposalfromtheCommission(*),
IncooperationwiththeEuropeanParliament (2),
HavingregardtotheopinionoftheEconomicandSocial
Committee (3),
WhereastheCommunityhasasitstask,byestablishinga
commonmarketandprogressively approximating the
economicpoliciesofMemberStates,topromote
throughouttheCommunityaharmoniousdevelopmentof
economicactivityandcloserelationsbetweentheMember
States;
Whereaseducationandtrainingwillplayadecisiverolein
thefutureeconomicdevelopmentoftheCommunity;
whereasadvancedinformation andtelecommunications
technologiesoffernewandmoreeffectivemeanstosupport
learningactivities;
WhereastheHeadsofStateandGovernment ,meetingin
Stuttgart,Athens,Fontainebleau andBrussels,emphasized
theimportanceofstrengtheningthetechnologybaseand
competitiveness ofindustryandhaveunderlinedthe
necessityofmakingbetteruseofhumanresourcesby
meansofincreasedcooperationbetweenhighereducation
andindustry;
WhereastheHeadsofStateorofGovernment intheir
meetingof28and29June1985approvedandendorsed
theCommissionmemorandum onthestrengthening of
technological cooperationinEuropecovering,among
prioritysubjectsonwhichtoproposeaction,theeducation
andtrainingtechnologies ;Whereas,byDecision87/516/Euratom/EEC(6),the
CounciladoptedaframeworkprogrammeforCommunity
activitiesinthefieldofresearchandtechnological
development (1987to1991)providingforresearchtobe
undertakeninthefieldoftheapplicationofinformation
technologyandtelecommunications tomeetcommonsocial
needs;whereastheframeworkprogrammecontainsspecial
provisionsforaCommunityactioninthefieldof
educationaltechnology;
WhereasArticle130KoftheTreatyprovidesforthe
implementation oftheframeworkprogrammetobecarried
outbymeansofspecificprogrammesdevelopedwithin
eachactivity;
WhereasDecision87/516/Euratom/EECprovidesthata
particularaimofCommunityresearchshallbeto
strengthenthescientificandtechnological basisof
Europeanindustryespeciallyinstrategicareasofhigh
technologyandtoencourageittobecomemore
(')OJNoC265,5.10.1987,p.28.
(2)OJNoC94,11.4.1988,p.200andOJNoC187,
18.7.1988.(4)OJNoC135,25.5.1983,p.27.
(s)OJNoC322,15.12.1986,p.55.
(6)OJNoL302,24.10.1987,p.1. (3)OJNoC347,22.12.1987,p.14.

30.7.88OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanCommunities NoL206/21
HASADOPTEDTHISDECISION :
Article1
1.AnexploratoryCommunityactioninthefieldof
learningtechnologies,calledDelta,isherebyadoptedfora
maximumperiodof24monthscommencing 1Tune
1988.competitiveatinternational level;whereasthe
abovementioned Decisionfurtherprovidesthat
Communityactionisjustifiedwhereresearchcontributes
interaliatothestrengtheningoftheeconomicandsocial
cohesionoftheCommunityandthepromotionofits
overallharmoniousdevelopment,whilebeingconsistent
withthepursuitofscientificandtechnicalquality;whereas
itisintendedthattheactionfordevelopmentofEuropean
learningthroughtechnologicaladvance(Delta)should
contributetotheachievementoftheseobjectives;
Whereasthedemandforeducationandtrainingissteadily
mounting,increasingindiversityandrequires
improvementsinaccessibility;whereasprogressinlearning
technologycoincideswiththeemergenceofadvanced
communications servicesandequipmentwhichcanbe
harnessed,atincrementalcost,tosupportlearningand
thustoenabledemandfortrainingandretrainingtobemet
moreeconomically ;2.Theactionisdesignedtostimulateincremental
researchanddevelopmentwhichwillenablenew
technologiestobeincorporatedinthetoolsand
infrastructuresupportingadvancedlearning,inparticular
openanddistancelearning,intheCommunity.Theaction
willbebasedonconcertationwiththecorresponding
activitiesoftheMemberStatesoftheCommunity,inorder
tomakeavailabletothefinalusers,atminimumcostand
withminimumdelay,thelearningequipmentandsystems
whichwillenableanincreaseddemandforeducation,
trainingandretrainingtobemetinthemosteconomical
way.Whereaslearningtechnologyrepresentsastrategically
importantgrowthareaforequipmentandservices
world-wide,beingthesubjectofstronglyfocussed
developmentandinvestmenteffortsbyotherregions;
WhereasnationalandCommunityactionsininformation
technologies,telecommunications andstandardizationlay
thegroundforintroducingadvancedlearningsupport,yet
additionaleffortswillberequiredtorealizethefull
potentialofthisnewfield;Article2
Theactionshallconsistofpre-normativeandpre­
competitivetechnologyexplorationasrequiredforthe
objectiveofconcertingEuropeaneffortsinthefieldof
learningtechnology.
Thefieldofapplicationoftheactionincludes:
1.learningsystemsresearch;
2.collaborativedevelopmentofadvancedlearning
technology;
3.testingandvalidation;
4.interoperability ;
5.investigationofrelatedfactors.WhereastheCounciladopted,byDecision86/365/
EEC(*),theComettprogrammestrengthening
industry-university cooperationineducationandtraining
includingtheencouragementofdistancelearning,andthe
Comettprogrammewouldbenefitfromimprovementsin
thetechnologies,tools,equipmentandinfrastructure
requiredtosupportdistancelearning;
Whereaspreparatoryinvestigationsonbehalfofthe
Commissionhavelaidthegroundworkforaprogrammeof
workrespondingtothetrendsofexpertopinioninthe
MemberStates;whereasthepresentationofthisworkhas
attractedafullrepresentationfromacademics,industry
andpublishing;whereasapeergroupofacademicadvisers
hascontributedtotheformulationofapreliminaryplanof
work;ThesummaryandobjectivesofDeltaaresetoutinmore
detailinAnnexII.
WhereastheDeltaexploratoryactionwillbenefitfromthe
resultsofEspritandRaceandwellastheon-goingefforts
instandardization ;Article3
1.Projectsrelatingtotheprogrammeshallbeexecutedby
meansofsharedcostcontracts.Contractorsshallbe
expectedtobearasubstantialproportionofthecosts,
whichshouldnormallybeatleast50%ofthetotal
expenditure . WhereastheScientificandTechnicalResearchCommittee
(Crest)hasexpresseditsopinion,
Alternatively,inrespectofuniversitiesandresearch
institutescarryingoutprojectsoractions,theCommunity
maybearupto100%oftheadditionalexpenditureinvolved. (>)OJNoL222,8.8.1986,p.17.

NoL206/22 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanCommunities30.7.88
2.Theproposalsforprojectsshall,asarule,besubmitted
inreplytoanopeninvitationtotenderandinvolvethe
participationofatleasttwoindependentpartnersnotall
establishedinthesameMemberState.Atleastoneofthe
partnersshallbeanindustrialundertaking .Withineach
project,atleastonepartnershouldrepresenttrainingor
learninginterests.Theinvitationtotendershallbe
publishedintheOfficialJournaloftheEuropean
Communities .
3.Inexceptionalcasesconcerningprojectsindispensable
forimplementingkeyrequirementsoftheworkplan:
—whereaproposalwouldinvolve:
(i)anunreasonableburdenontheparticipants,
particularlysmallandmedium-sizedenterprises
andresearchestablishments ;
(ii)onlyoneindependentpartner;
(iii)onlyindependentpartnersestablishedinthesame
MemberState,or
;—whereanopentenderingprocedurewouldbe
unjustifiedongroundsofcostorefficiency,or
—wheretheamountofCommunity'scontributiontothe
costdoesnotexceed0,25millionECU.
itmaybedecided,inaccordancewiththeprocedureslaid
downinArticle8,todepartfromthegeneralprovisionsset
outinparagraphs1and2ofthisArticle.
4.Thecontractsforallpartsoftheactionshallbe
concludedwithundertakings ,includingsmalland
medium-sizedenterprises,publishinghouses,universities,
researchestablishments andotherbodiesestablishedinthe
Community .Article6
1.TheCommissionshallensurethattheexploratory
actionisproperlyperformedandestablishtheappropriate
implementation measures.
2.TheCommissionshallestablishadraftworkplan
definingthedetailedobjectives,thetypeofprojectsand
actionstobeundertakenandthecorresponding financial
plans.
3.TheprocedurelaiddowninArticle8shallapplyto:
—theestablishment oftheworkplanreferredtoin
paragraph2ofthisArticle,
—anydeparturefromthegeneralconditionslaiddownin
Article3(1)and(2),
—themeasurestobeundertakentoevaluateeachpartof
theexploratoryactionbyappropriateorganizations ,
groupsandotherbodies,
—theassessmentoftheproposedprojectsandthe
estimatedamountoftheCommunity'sfinancial
contributiontothemwherethiscontribution isin
excessof0,4millionECU,
—theparticipation inanyprojectbyEuropean
organizationsandenterprisesasprovidedforin
Article4.
4.TheCommissionmayconsulttheCommitteereferred
toinArticle7onanymatterfallingwithinthescopeofthis
Decision.
Article7
TheCommissionshallbeassistedintheperformanceof
itstasksbyacommittee,hereinafterreferredtoas
'thecommittee'.Thecommitteeconsistingoftwo
representativesofeachMemberState,shallbesetupbythe
CommissiononthebasisofnominationsbytheMember
States.
Membersofthecommitteemaybeassistedbyexpertsor
advisersdependingonthenatureoftheissuesunder
consideration .
Thecommitteeshallbechairedbyacommission
representative .
Theproceedingsofthecommitteeshallbeconfidential .
Thecommitteeshalladoptitsownrulesofprocedure.The
secretarialservicesshallbeprovidedbytheCommission .
Article8
1.WheretheprocedurelaiddowninthisArticleistobe
followed,thechairmanshallreferthemattertothe
committee,eitheronhisowninitiativeorattherequestof
oneofitsmembers.Article4
Whereframeworkagreementsforscientificandtechnical
cooperationbetweennon-Community Europeancountries
andtheEuropeanCommunityhavebeenconcluded,
organizationsandenterprisesestablishedinthesecountries
may,inaccordancewiththeprocedureslaiddownin
Articles3and8andonthebasisofthecriterionofmutual
advantage,becomepartnerstoaprojectundertakenwithin
thisaction.
Article5
1.ThefundsestimatedasnecessaryfortheCommunity
contributiontotheexecutionoftheexploratoryaction
amountto20millionECUoveramaximumperiodof
24monthsincludingexpenditureonastaffof12.
2.Theindicativeallocationofthesefundsissetoutin
Annex1.

30.7.88OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanCommunities NoL206/23
3.Theabovementioned reportswillbecarriedoutin
relationtothepreciseobjectivessetoutinAnnexIItothis
DecisionandinconformitywiththeprovisionsofArticle2
(2)oftheframeworkprogramme .2.Underthisprocedure,therepresentative ofthe
Commission,whoactsaschairman,refersthedraftofthe
measurestobeadoptedtothecommittee.Thecommittee
deliversanopinionwithinatimelimitwhichshallnormally
beonemonthandshallinnocaseexceedtwomonths.The
opinionisdeliveredbythemajorityspecifiedinArticle148
(2)oftheTreatyfordecisionswhichtheCouncilis
requiredtoadoptonaproposalfromtheCommission,the
votesoftherepresentativesoftheMemberStatesbeing
weightedasindicatedinthatArticle.Thechairmandoes
notvote.
3.TheCommissionshalladoptthemeasuresenvisagedif
theyareinaccordancewiththeopinionofthecommittee.
Ifthemeasuresenvisagedarenotinaccordancewiththe
opinionofthecommittee,orifnoopinionisdelivered,the
Commissionshall,withoutdelay,submittotheCouncila
proposalrelatingtothemeasurestobetaken.TheCouncil
shallactbyaqualifiedmajority.
If,ontheexpiryofaperiodwhichmayinnocaseexceed
twomonthsfromthedateofreferraltotheCouncil,the
Councilhasnotacted,theproposedmeasuresshallbe
adoptedbytheCommissionformattersfallingwithin
Article6(3).Article10
1.Withregardtotheconcertationactivitiesprovidedfor
inArticle1(2),theMemberStatesandtheCommission
shallexchangeallappropriateinformationtowhichthey
haveaccessandwhichtheyarefreetodiscloseconcerning
activitiesintheareascoveredbythisDecision,whetheror
notplannedorcarriedoutundertheirauthority.
2.Informationshallbeexchangedaccordingtoa
proceduretobedefinedbytheCommissionafter
consultingthecommittee,andshallbetreatedas
confidentialatthesupplier'srequest.
Article11
ThisDecisionshallapplyfrom1June1988.
Article12
ThisDecisionisaddressedtotheMemberStates.Article9
1.Theresultoftheactionshallbereviewedbythe
Commissionafter12months.TheCommissionshallreport
totheCouncilandtheEuropeanParliamentontheresults
ofthisreview.
2.Afterthecompletionoftheaction,theCommission
shallsendtoCouncilandtheEuropeanParliamentareport
ontheperformanceandresultsoftheaction.DoneatLuxembourg ,29June1988.
FortheCouncil
ThePresident
H.RIESENHUBER

30.7.88NoL206/24 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanCommunities
ANNEXI
INDICATIVE INTERNALALLOCATION OFFUNDS
EstimatedCommunitycontribution
(millionECU)
1.Learningsystemsresearch(ActivityI) 2,10
2.Collaborative developmentofadvancedlearningtechnology
(ActivityII) 9,80
2.1.Learnerenvironment
2.2.Authoringfacility
2.3.Learningmaterialproductionenvironment
2.4.Tutoringandmonotoringfacilities
2.5.Informationresourcemanagement
3.Testingandvalidation(ActivityIII) 2,70
3.1.Video-audioconferencing
3.2.Informationandprogrammeexchangesystem
3.3.AdaptationtoISDN
3.4.SOFToperationalplan
3.5.Designandspecificationofasatelliteeducationalchannel
3.6.Controlledexperimentation viaSOFT
4.Interoperability (ActivityIV) 2,30
4.1.Identificationofstandardsrelevanttolearning
4.2.Organizational supportforlearningstandards
5.Investigationofrelatedfactors(ActivityV) 0,85
5.1.Fiscaltreatment
5.2.Regulatoryconditions
5.3.Telecommunications policy
5.4.Copyrightandauthors'rights
Personnelcosts 1,69
Administration costs 0,56
Total 20,00

30.7.88OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanCommunities NoL206/25
ANNEXII
SUMMARYANDOBJECTIVES DELTA
(DevelopingEuropeanlearningthroughtechnologicaladvance)
1.Rationale
Modernsocietyisundergoingaprocessofprofoundandrapidtechnologicalandsocialevolution.
Symptomaticofthisaretheexplosivedevelopmentsininformationandtelecommunication technologies
andtheirintegrationintocomplexinformationsystemsthatspantheglobe.Thesesystemsrepresentthe
nervoussystemoftheemergingglobaleconomy.Thesedevelopmentshaveanimpactonindividuals,
institutionsandgovernments,affectingwhattheydo,howtheydoit,andhowtheyrelatetoeachother.'
Alreadythereisevidencethatthetraditionalapproachtolearningisboundtorequireasignificantchangein
adaptabilitytoincreasinglydiversifiedlearnerneedstomeetfuturedemand.Tomeetthischangingdemand
entails,inparalleltothedeploymentofnewtoolsofeducationandlearning,somedegreeofadaptationon
thepartofeducators,bothinthewaytheiractivityisorganizedandintheirindividualcontributionstothe
teachingprocess.Itwillalsorequireadaptationonthepartofeducationalpublishersinordertotake
advantageofthenewtoolstobedeveloped.TheDeltaprogrammeisdirectedtosupportingtechnologyand
tools.Theactiveparticipationofeducators,bothinthedefinitionandimplementation ,willbeofcrucial
importanceforthesuccessofthisaction.Deltafocusesonthecommonlearningsupportrequirements
whichwillenableeducatorstoexploitthenewtechniquesforthebenefitoftheirrespectiveeducationaltasks.
Europehasanexcellenteducationalsystemandahighstandinginlearningtechnologyresearch.However,
seizingtheopportunitiesofferedbyadvancedlearningtechnologywillrequireconcertedeffortsof
administrations ,academicsandindustry,includingpublishers,(the'mainactors')ofasufficientscaleand
continuity.
Thecreationoftheinternalmarketinthiscontext,thestrengtheningoftheinternationalcompetitivityof
industryandbusinessesaspartofapolicyforgrowthandemployment,requiresaconcertedeffortinthe
fieldofhumanresourcesataCommunitylevel.Educationandtraining—bothinitialandcontinuing
haveafundamentalroletoplayinrelationtoboththeeconomicandsocialchallenges.
InthedevelopmentandimplementationofaCommunitystrategyrelatingtohumanresources,thenew
technologiesplayakeyroleasasubjectaswellasanoptionforamoreeconomicandflexiblemeansof
providingeducationandtraining.Thisisaddressedbyasetofactionsfocusingonkeyaspectsinaspecific
manner.Theseprogrammesrelyontoday'stechnologyforeducationandtraining.
Thecomplementaryresearchanddevelopmentintoadvancedtechniquestosupportlearningistheobjective
oftheDeltaaction,whichwillfocusonthedevelopmentofnewtechnologies,toolsandinfrastructures
requiredtosupportdistancelearning.Specifically,Deltawillexploitadvancesininformationtechnology
andtelecommunications (IT&T)forthesupportoflearning.Inthiswayitwillrelyonsynergywithother
actionsintheprovisionofeducationandtrainingaswellasontheCommunityactionsinthefieldof
informationtechnology(Esprit),telecommunications (Race),IT&Tstandardizationandtheinformation
marketpolicy.
Deltaisbasedonthefollowingconsiderations :
—identifiableadvancesinIT&Tcanenrichandenhanceeducationandtraining,
thehighdegreeofcommonalityinbasiclearningrequirementsattheCommunitylevelbringabout
economiesofscale,
actioninthisfieldwillensureasupplyofleading-edgeequipmentandsystems,
—newopportunitieswillopenuptotheeducationprofessionindevelopinglearningtechnologyandtheir
applicationinlearningandtraining,
asoundbasisforconcertedactionisformedbypastandon-goingworkinthefield,

NoL206/26 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanCommunities30.-7.88
—theopeningofthisinnovativemarketwillcreateopportunitiesfortheCommunityIT&Tsector,
—advancesrequiringthecollaborationofseveralsectoractors,inparticularindustryand
educationalists .
TherationalefortheDeltaprogrammeisfurtherbasedonthefollowing:
—identifiablemilestonesinthetechnologyofpersonalcomputing,homeentertainment ,
telecommunications ,andartificialintelligencepresentauniqueopportunityforindustrial
concertation ,
—theUnitedStatesofAmericaandJapanhavegainedexperienceoverrecentyearsintheeffectiveuseof
newtechnologyinsupportoflearningcoveringlargegeographicareasandpopulations,
—thereisariskthat,withoutacommonconsistentapproach,theeffortofindividualcountriesand
organizationswouldremainbelowcriticalsizeandfragmented,
—DeltacoincideswiththesecondphaseofEsprit,withRace,Comett,Briteeffortstowardscreatinga
commoninformationmarketandthefirstresultsofacommonstandardization policyinthefieldof
informationtechnologiesandtelecommunications ,
—Deltacombinesshort-termwithlonger-termobjectives.
Thecontentoftheprogrammeresultsfromaseriesofstrategicstudies,andfromconsultationsduring1984
and1985withexpertsdrawnfromtheacademicandusercommunityandfromtheprincipalelectronic
companiesconcernedwithintheCommunity.Allthoseconsultedhaveshownahighdegreeofinterestand
convictionabouttheproposals .
Theproposalidentifiesfivemainareasofaction:
—concertationbetweentheauthorities,academics,theusersandtheindustrialcompanies,including
publishersandinformationproviders,toestablishpresentandfuturelearningsupportrequirements ,
—cooperativedevelopmentoftechnologyappropriatetotheprogressionthroughthethreemainstages
identifiedintheprogramme,
—on-goingtestingandvalidationoftheconceptsonthebasisofasharedresource('test-bed')andselected
experimentalimplementations ,
—determinedeffortstoachieveaconsiderabledegreeofharmonization ofthemanystandardsand
practiceswhich,inthisfield,wouldotherwiseconstituteacontinuingobstacletodevelopmentanduse,
bymeansofreinforcementoftheon-goingwork,
—thepromotionoffavourableconditionsforthedevelopmentoflearningtechnologyanditsuseinopen
learning.Measureswhichareproposedforfurtherconsiderationincludethereductionofthe'costof
entry'forlearnersandcompanies,andofanappropriateregulatoryregimefacilitatingtheintroduction
ofnewlearningsupporttechniques (openlearning).
2.Objectivesanddeliverables
ThedevelopmentandapplicationofadvancedtechnologytolearningwillenableEuropetoputintoeffect
thevasteffortoftraining,retrainingandcontinuousprofessionalupdatingwhichcouldnototherwisebe
undertakenonaneconomicalbasis.
Tothisend,theDeltaprogrammeseeks,viaincrementalR&D,toworkwithacademiaandindustrysoas
toharness,intheinterestoflearning,theidentifiableadvancesininformationtechnologyand
telecommunications tobeexpectedinfutureyears.Inthetelecommunications area,themainmilestonesare
theadventoftheintegratedservicesdigitalnetwork(ISDN),followed,overthenextdecade,bya
broadbandnetwork(IBC).Otherpotenttechnologicaldevelopmentstobeexpectedoverthesametime
scaleareevermorepowerfulpersonalcomputers/workstations,providingmoreeconomicalprocessingof
dataandimagesinrealtime;directbroadcastingbysatellite(DBS);highdefinitiontelevision;more
powerfulandeconomictechniquesofstoringinformation,andtheincreasinguseofartificialintelligence
techniquesofcomputingtocomplementtheconventionalmethodsandtoassistboththestructuringof
informationanditsaccessingbytheuser.
Asmeanstowardsthisobjective,Deltawillundertakeaconcertationwiththeactorsconcerned—the
administrators ,educators,industrialcompanies,publishers—inordertofullyascertaintherequirements
whicharethentobeimplementedinthecourseoftheprogramme.Deltawillbuildonthemanyrelevant
activitiesofMemberStatesinthisfield.

30.7.88OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanCommunities NoL206/27
Therequirementswillbeanalysedintermsofthevarioussectorsofthefieldwhichhavebeenidentifiedin
thecourseofconsultationduringthepreparatoryphaseasthemostsignificant.Thefirstoftheseisthe
learnerenvironment,withtheobjectivethatthelearnermaybeservedinthefuturebythetechnological
supportswhichbestmeethis/herneedsandaspirations.Deltaenvisagesthelearnerinanumberofpossible
scenarios:he/shemaybeathome,orusingaterminalorworkstationprovidedattheplaceofwork;or
he/shemaybeusingadedicatedworkstationrelatedtotheprofessionalactivityofthelearner.
Inrelationtotheauthor,Deltaseekstoprovidethathelpandsupportwhichwillenablethetalentsofthe
teachingprofessiontobedeployedfarmoreeffectivelythanatpresentinthewritingoflearningmaterial.
Deltawillnotgivefinancialsupporttothewritingoflearningcoursewareassuch.(Thistasklieswithinthe
fieldofComett.)Deltawillseekrathertoresearchanddevelopanenvironment,completewithallthe
requiredsoftwaretools,whichwillenabletheauthorofmulti-mediacoursewaretocallupthematerial
required,bytheuseofstandardcommandsandformats,sothatitcanthenbepassedonwithoptimal
efficiencyforputtingintoproduction.
Attheproductionstage,Delta'sobjectiveistoensurethatlearningmaterialisproduced—i.e.madereadyfordeliveryand/orpublication—attheveryhigheststandardsavailable.
Thelearnerofthefuturewillbeable,potentially,toacquireknowledge,byaprocessofdiscovery,toan
extenthithertoimpracticable .Tothisend,Deltawillaimtoestablishalearnerknowledgebase,organized
soastoencourageaccessbyreferencetocontentandcontext,andwiththeuseofnear-natural
language.
Deltawill,asacomplementtothetechnologicalthrust,aimtoconsiderwiththerelevantauthoritieswhat
helpcanbegiventothedemandsideoflearning,particularlyasregardsfiscal,regulatoryandcopyright
matters.
ThegoalsofDelta,seeninthislight,aretoremedythepresentshortcomingsofEuropeanactivitiesinthelearningfieldi.e.:
1.tobringamediumorlonger-termviewtobearonEuropeanlearningsupport;
2.toprovidetheopportunityandtheincentiveforEuropeanproducerorganizationsandpublishersto
adoptcommonstrategiesinthelearningfield;
3.toimprovetheaccessibilityandflexibilityofsystemstohelpboththelearnerandtheauthoroflearningmaterial;
4.toensureasupplyoflearningmaterialofgoodqualityandable,technologicallyandeconomically,to
commandawideEuropeanmarket;
5.tothisend,toachievesufficientstandardizationtomakelearningmaterialreadilytransportableas
betweenmachines,includingauthoringstationsandestablishments ;
6.toassisttheuseofnewtechniquesoftransferanddelivery—inparticulardirectbroadcastingby
satellitewithvideoreturnchannel—bothbycollaborativeresearchandbythedevelopmentofkey
elementsandinterfaces,togetherwithorganizationalassistancewhereanumberofEuropean
educationalorganizationsrequiresimilarlogisticalandothersupport.
Deltaasanexploratoryaction:
Delta,asanexploratoryactiondesignedtolastforamaximumperiodof24months,willnothavethe
resourcesorthetimetomeetthefullrangeofthesechallenges.Itseeks,therefore:
(a)totesttheapproachtoworkcollaborationonaEuropeanlevelwithintheframeworkenvisagedbv
Delta;
(b)tovalidatetheinitialassumptionsabouttherelationsbetweentheactors,theobjectivesandpriorities
ofworkbestsuitedforcooperationonaEuropeanlevel;
(c)todoinitialworkforthemostpromisingactivitiestobeundertakeninthefuture;
(d)toprovidetangibleresultsaspartoftheexploratoryaction.

NoL206/28 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanCommunities 30.7.88
Theexploratoryactionwillaimspecificallyatthefollowingdeliverables :
1.functionalspecificationsforthecategoriesoflearnerstationreferredtoaboveandfortheinterfaces
whichwillenablethemtolinktotheperipheralsandotherequipmentoffuturesystems;
2.functionalspecificationsfortheequipmentandthesoftwarerequiredfortheefficientoperationofthe
authoringandproductionactivities;
3.specificationforthesoftwareandthehardwaresupportwhichenableadvancedknowledgebasestobe
constructed,togetherwithspecificationsfortheaccesslanguage;
4.earlyidentificationofthestandardsimportanttolearningwhichrequiretobenegotiated,andthe
provisionoftheorganizational frameworkwherebythelearninginputcanbemadetotheongoing
internationaldiscussionsonstandards;
5.continuousmonitoringbytheassessmentofprogresstowardsthespecificgoalswhichwillbebuiltinto
thedetailedworkprogramme .