THE POWER OF INTERACTIVE VIDEO TECHNOLOGY

A BRIEF HISTORY

When John Logie Baird patented his first VideoDisc in Great Britain in 1927, he
could never visualize, for obvious reasons, the importance and the impact of this great tool
in educating a bilingual school population in 1990.
Despite the early introduction of the first VideoDisc, only in 1983, after failing to
transform analog VideoDisc into an interactive system, an all-digital approach was taken by
Larry Ryan at the David Sarnoff Research Center (then RCA Laboratories). Feasibility
studies substantiated the possibility of commercial products in near future.
After typical business ventures, the RCA technology was acquired by General
Electric. Despite a warm reception at the 1987 CD-ROM Conference, GE didn't include
Interactive Video in its strategic plans, and finally, the technology was sold to Intel which
provided the hardware and software needed for the first commercial applications.

WHAT IS INTERACTIVE VIDEO

Basically, Interactive Video is a combined system consisting of LaserDisc player, a
computer, and an authoring system, which can be controlled by the person who uses it.
Interactive Video represents the fusion of the versatility of computers to the fluency
of video in such a way that the user can control the flow of the action. This process develops
confidence, enthusiasm, reinforces independent learning, and increases student's achievement.
This versatile video-based technology can store, manipulate and display information
using an interactive approach where the flow of information presented on the screen varies
accordingly to the preferences of the person in front of the monitor. The information can be
retrieved from any portion of the recorded material (video and audio) and be shown at any
point in the application program.
In short, the computer governs the video, and the user controls them both. or, in other
words, the user controls the flow of information, the direction in which the video runs, the
speed (slow motion, for example), and the segment of the lesson to be seen next.
Although laserdisc-based interactive teaching is a relatively recent development,
students are stimulated to learn at a faster pace than ever before.
While focusing student attention on specific concepts and ideas, Interactive Video
creates a friendly and familiar environment that paces each student individually, and delivers
a high quality and consistent message.
Whether you teach foreign language, math, science, English, vocational training,
history, health, computers, or any other subject, there always will be a way to use this
innovative technology in order to enhance the learning process.
Teaching science or history becomes more efficient when you use a resource that puts
life into your presentation.
The different levels of academics and language proficiency in a Bilingual classroom
could be easily addressed by using this powerful tool.
Studies on Student Performance show that students who have been unmotivated, for
several different reasons, changed their behavior and became enthusiastic about the
interactive videodisc.

APPLICATIONS

Applications of Interactive Video Tochnology are endless. It only deppends in your
immagination and criactivity. Several organizations here in Massachusetts are using the
power of Interactive Video to sell their ideas, to introduce new products without having to
build a proper site for their displays, to guide customers in Department Stores and
Supermarckets in searching for products, to sell services, etc. The following is a list of
possible application areas where this technology has proven to be very effective.
Illustrate Lecture Material
Group Presentations
Develop and Present Demonstration Programs
Car Industry Showrooms
Travel Industry
Consumer Education
Student Study and Review
Sales
Training
Desktop Publishing
Create Permanent Courseware
Administer Quizzes and Exams
Interactive Instructions
Student Projects
Introduce Students to Programming
Information as Entertainment
Recruitment and Careers Counseling

CREATING YOUR OWN COURSEWARE

In order to get all the advantages out of an Interactive Video System, we cannot rely
only in the existing commercial discs, we need to spend a little more time in planning our
necessities and do the necessary homework.
When we analyze the learning process of a TBE classroom, something is pointed out
immediately: too many levels. This needs to be addressed accordingly. The capability of dual
audio tracks gives Interactive Video an edge in dealing with multi-lingual cultural backgrounds.
You should remember that, whether you need to teach, train or tell, nothing
(up-to-date) touches the power of the Interactive Video.