[1448] in Public-Access_Computer_Systems_Forum
Interactive
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (bkatz@cosy.uoguelph.ca)
Fri Oct 9 14:42:55 1992
Date: Fri, 9 Oct 1992 13:37:07 CDT
Reply-To: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <PACS-L%UHUPVM1.BITNET@mitvma.mit.edu>
From: bkatz@cosy.uoguelph.ca
To: Multiple recipients of list PACS-L <PACS-L%UHUPVM1.BITNET@mitvma.mit.edu>
In-Reply-To: <memo.786580@cosy.uoguelph.ca>
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
While not precisely an interactive CD-ROM workstation, there have been other
interactive workstations around for some time, based on Videodiscs. One of
the most impressive of these is the so-called Domesday System, named after the
famous Domesday Book created for William the Conqueror - an amazingly detailed
record of the estates, manors, people, animals, crops, etc. of 11thC. England.
As part of the 900th anniversary celebrations of the original Domesday, the
BBC and others undertook to create a 20thC record of the United Kingdom, 1986.
This was done using an interactivve videodisc system that is still a wonder to
behold, even 6 years afterwards! It includes the complete Ordinance Survey
mapping of the UK, down to the largest scales (1" = 100 yds), photos (in what
we would call high resolution video), extensive text on everything (litteraly)
in the country, *all* kinds of statistical information - which can be manipu-
lated by the user to suit the particular variables desired and then mapped onto
the geographic area relevant to the query, various "walks" to show what life's
like (in a country cottage, a county flat, a city house, etc., and all sorts
of other activities including a 60 minute compilation of documentary and news
footage from the 1980's. This all takes two 12" videodiscs. The system has
also been used for a series of simulation "games", in order to teach ecology,
how volcanoes function, and other things. Our copy of the system has resided
in our map section since day one, and is used regularly by those wanting quick
checks of geographical areas, information about abbeys or castles (etc.), some
stats on the percentage of women above the age of 50 who are afraid to go out
alone at night in the knightsbridge area, etc., etc. Quite spectacular!
Bernard Katz, U of Guelph Library
Guelph, Ontario
bkatz@cosy.uoguelph.ca
