Using the strengths of these media types by developing a hybrid system can be an effective new technique. A CD-ROM/Web hybrid or interactive kiosk with Web links could take advantage of the strengths of each medium and form a better delivery system for instruction. Most efforts in this area rely on using a Web browser on a CD-ROM with local data (Mascha & Seaman, 1994). A process that actually links to Web accessible data from within an interactive title is relatively unique. There are many authoring tools emerging in the marketplace to make this possible in addition to custom coded solutions.
A summary of expectations and possible advantages is presented. A review of literature pertaining to this area provides insight into development techniques, cognitive design theory and other development efforts. To validate the expectations, several case studies of CD-ROM/Web and Web/kiosk projects underway at Kennedy Space Center are documented. A summary discussion of results and other future applications is also presented.
CD-ROMs hold up to 650 megabytes of data. This provides a large potential "workspace" for the development team. The data throughput for a double speed CD-ROM is greater than that of a T-1 (24 phone line) WAN connection. This allows for a relatively large data stream at 300 Kbps. The potential for delivering large amounts of information with greater speed than network connectivity is an attractive benefit of the technology. The fact that all data is local and that no scarce network resources are utilized make CD-ROM extremely attractive in certain environments
Another primary benefit of CD-ROM over other delivery media is tight control of interface design. Unlike the Web, laserdisc and even print, the CD-ROM developer has a much better control over the consistency and flexibility of the interface. The ability to combine animations with proper color, font and layout design can form an effective, consistent interface (Schneiderman, 1992). Flexibility and a more refined look to the interface also enhances the user experience (Blattner, 1994). The World Wide Web is just beginning to allow more advanced interface design (Stone & Johnson, 1994). It is possible to exert the same level of control within Webspace, but this typically happens at a heavy cost to network and server utilization.
The ability to control timing and sequencing of text, graphics, audio and video is a major advantage of the authoring tools available for CD-ROM development. Precise control of these features allows developers to capture the user's attention and guide the user through certain portions of an interactive module (Alessi & Trollip, 1991). This takes some of the burden of total locus of control off the user. In the Web environment the user is almost always in control of the direction, sequence and timing of information delivery. Only recently are tools like Java programming, RealAudio multimedia synchronization and Streamworks media servers beginning to provide the developer with a fraction of the control found in CD-ROM authoring packages.
All of the benefits presented have the potential to make up for some of the shortcomings of the World Wide Web and other delivery systems. CD-ROM has proven to be an effective delivery method for a variety of applications.
The World Wide Web is a very easy environment to develop in. The development script, HTML (HyperText Markup Language) is similar to word processor coding with several advanced multimedia extensions available. CD-ROM development requires significantly greater amounts of time and energy to create.
Because of the ease of development, the Web provides an unsurpassed level of adaptability (Wollard, 1996). The ability to provide timely data updates to information and dynamically change data with just a few keystrokes is a very powerful feature. There are also many ways to let the computer manage dynamic data changes. A simple example is a PERL script CGI for updating the Web server usage statistics or a live frame capture. Because of the static (Read-only) nature of CD-ROMs, it is much more difficult to update information or make content changes.
Universal access and the ability to develop once for all platforms is a key to the success of the Web. It is very efficient to develop content once and have it work with relative consistency across multiple platforms. CD-ROM generally requires some tweaking for performance or operating system differences even with cross-platform development tools.
While these are some of the most obvious benefits of the World Wide Web technology, there are many others that have contributed to its profound success. These characteristics point to the strengths of the Web that can be balanced against the inherent weaknesses of CD-ROM.
It is important to consider closing the data set accessible over the Web to insure that the content that is viewed is appropriate to the CD-ROM. It would be easy for users to abuse the dynamic nature of the Web if the data and access are not well structured to compliment the CD-ROM data.
Recent developments in popular authoring tools are allowing student tracking from CD-ROMs using Internet technologies. Using tools like Macromedia Director, WorldWired cT, Asymmetrix Multimedia ToolBook and Allegiant SuperCard it is possible to connect to the World Wide Web to poll for data or send information about a student's status to a central Web server. In this way the Web can transcend the Internet and add real-time tracking functionality to localized instruction. The main requirement is an Internet connection. Another tool that makes much of this external call functionality available on the Macintosh platform is Allegiant's Marionet XCMD libraries. This scriptable set of libraries allows many programs to connect to "live" data or progress reports as well as sending critical information back to the HTTP server. There are many other software tools coming that will provide similar functionality like ToolBook, IconAuthor and Quest (Levin, Eaton & Metcalf, In Press). It is important to consider this functionality for use as a performance tracking capability to support computer assisted instruction (CAI) (Markwood, 1994).
One of the unique features of this Macromedia Director-based kiosk is the capability to link to up-to-date information. This information comes from a central server containing dynamic, Web-based information about late breaking technologies. The information is accessed through an XCMD library called Marionet from Allegiant software. The software polls the server for data and imports the data into a formatted screen in the kiosk. This approach shows a significant capability to provide current data that extends the life of the kiosk and lengthens time between revisions. The development process was not easy. The talents of a skilled programmer were required to write the code that ties the XCMDs to the Director application. This feat was accomplished using the Lingo scripting language.
Another example of interaction is a full search database through a Web interface from a CD-ROM. With keyboard input and a TCP/IP network connection a user can access current information. This functionality is scheduled for a Phase III CD-ROM distribution of similar information as found on the kiosk above. While the actual implementation has not been finalized a proof-of-concept model has been developed by Roger Wright of I-NET's Multimedia Lab at KSC.
Another function made possible by XCMD links into programs is the possibility for a user to send e-mail directly to the developer or another location. This provides instantaneous feedback. The Phase III CD-ROM will also include e-mail links back to a NASA technology transfer mail alias at Kennedy Space Center. From here, users will get quick response answers to complex questions from a live expert.
There are many other applications and approaches to accessing Web-based data from a CD-ROM or local authoring environment. Another commercially available product which provides embedded Internet functionality is IconAuthor from Aimtech (1996). The program uses its Universal Media Access (UMA) capability to gather content from a variety of storage sources including a remote Internet site. The data can be formatted internally with IconAuthor's HTML Object. This technology allows the developer to place HTML documents and data into an authored application.
Both IconAuthor and Director have provisions which allow CD-ROM content to be repurposed over the World Wide Web. Each application has a plug-in for Netscape's Web browser. The integration of existing content over a Web-based interface is more difficult because of the bandwidth limitations. A small subset of the original data can be used effectively over the Internet if there is sufficient bandwidth. The integration and repurposing of data from CD-ROM is also an important factor for the productive use of media assets. While this approach is counter to the implementation of the kiosk and CD-ROM, it may have a significant place in integrating the two technologies as more bandwidth becomes available.
Allegiant Technologies (1996). _Marionet._ Vancouver, Canada: Allegiant Technologies. Allegiant Technologies (1996). _SuperCard._ Vancouver, Canada: Allegiant Technologies. Asymetrix (1996). _Multimedia Toolbook._ Bellevue, WA: Asymetrix. Blattner, M. M. (1994) In our image: interface design in the 1990s. IEEE Mutimedia, v1(1), 25-35.
Campbell, J. K. (1995). Constructing educational courseware using NCSA Mosaic and the World Wide Web. The Third International World Wide Web Conference: Technology, Tools and Applications, Proceedings. http://www.igd.fhg.de/www95.html
Levin, J. C., Eaton, M. & Metcalf, D. S. (In Press) Internet Learning Systems IEEE Southcon conference proceedings 1996.
Macromedia (1996). _Director._ San Francisco, CA: Macromedia. Markwood, R. A. (1994). Computer tools for distance education. Distance education strategies and tools. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Educational Technologies Publications.
Mascha, M. & Seaman, G. (1994) Interactive education: transitioning CD-ROMs to the Web. The First International Conference on the World Wide Web '94. http://www.elsevier.nl/WWW94/FinalProgramme.html
Schneiderman, B. (1992). Designing the user interface: Strategies for effective human-computer interaction. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley.
Stone, D. E. & Johnson, K. (1994) Multimedia on the Internet. Journal of Instructional Delivery Systems. (2), 3-5.
Wollard, R. (1996). Teach/learn: An adaptive learning system. SALT Orlando Multimedia '96 conference proceedings.
WorldWired (1996). _cT_. Atlanta, GA: WorldWired.
| Pointers to Abstract and Conference Presentation | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract | Conference Presentation | Papers & posters in this theme | All Papers & posters | AusWeb96 Home Page |
AusWeb96 The Second Australian WorldWideWeb Conference ausweb96@scu.edu.au