a544@mindlink.UUCP (Rick McCormack) (10/03/90)
Apples Videodisc stax will handle the programming of laser discs, and provide support for laser players from Sony, Panasonic Hitachi equipped with the RS-232 connectors on the back. Voyager also supports control of the laserdisc players. Control is relatively easy -- its making the program in a sensible manner that proved toug
ch2i+@andrew.cmu.edu (Charles A. Hill) (10/04/90)
I'm thinking of eventually incorporating a videodisc into my research project, which is concerned with teaching biology concepts to junior high students. At this point, I'm working entirely with hypercard stacks. My question is, can a videodisc be programmed through hypercard and linked up to take commands from a hypercard stack? I'm thinking of something like Hyperscan, which lets you control the scanner entirely from within HC. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Charlie.
Hooper_TA@cc.curtin.edu.au (Todd Hooper) (10/04/90)
In article <gb2YVSK00Uh_A2T3Yr@andrew.cmu.edu>, ch2i+@andrew.cmu.edu (Charles A. Hill) writes: > I'm thinking of eventually incorporating a videodisc into my research > project, which is concerned with teaching biology concepts to junior > high students. At this point, I'm working entirely with hypercard stacks. > > My question is, can a videodisc be programmed through hypercard and > linked up to take commands from a hypercard stack? I'm thinking of > something like Hyperscan, which lets you control the scanner entirely > from within HC. Check out the 'Voyager VideoStack' toolkit which contains a whole bunch of XCMD's to program the player. We've used it here successfully. Voyager Corporation are at 1351 Pacific Coast Highway, Santa Monica. The toolkit sells for about A$130 in Australia. APDA also have the 'HyperCard VideoDisc toolkit' - this is A$45 here in Australia. I haven't seen this so I don't know what it is like. Disclaimer : I have no connection with either company. Todd
taylorj@yvax.byu.edu (10/04/90)
It's quite easy to run a videodisc from HyperCard. You can get stacks from Apple (via APDA) or from Voyager. I prefer Voyager's videodisc driver's as they are a little faster and work with SuperCard. The drivers will run any "industrial" videodisc player with a serial interface, and with the addition of a device called "The Box" they can control many consumer level players. Voyager's number is (800) 446-2001. The "Voyager Videostack" costs $99. Jim Taylor Microcomputer Support for Curriculum | Brigham Young University | Bitnet: taylorj@byuvax.bitnet 101 HRCB, Provo, UT 84602 | Internet: taylorj@yvax.byu.edu
via@well.sf.ca.us (Tony Cecala) (10/07/90)
L e s s o n C a r d (TM) ------------------------ Videodisc players and computers create the potential for interactive videodisc courseware. LessonCard is an authoring system for teachers with no time for complex commands or confusing manuals. Designed and tested by user-interface specialists. LessonCard can be learned in under an hour. It's power is derived from HyperCard(R) and its graphical interface. LessonCard's point-and-click interface makes it possible to create menu-based branching, integrated text/graphic screens, quizzes, and tests without memorizing a single command. Special browsing tools make it easy to edit video sequences. LessonCard(TM) Benefits ----------------------- EASY TO LEARN - productive authoring in under a day - simultaneously author and run lessons - on-line help - example lessons - technical support HIERARCHICAL BRANCHING - comprehensive index - 1000 screens possible - menus - map SOPHISTICATED TESTING - multiple choice questions - matching questions - open-ended questions - prescriptive feedback - question classification STUDENT TRACKING - collect and manage student performance - create reports - track progress - document mastery INTERACTIVE VIDEODISC CONTROL - create stills/sequences - point-and-click editing - video text overlay - compatible with all popular players RUNTIME MODULES - create runtime lessons for distribution (Licensing available for commercial resale of lessons.) Company Profile --------------- Founded in 1989, Visual Interface Architects is a design and development firm whose products feature careful attention to user interaction. VIA develops software on Apple Macintosh computers using HyperCard. The firm's founders, Tony Cecala and Mel Ristau, are experienced user interface designers and recognized HyperCard experts. VIA has developed several HyperCard-based testing instruments for both education and industry. These include a networked product evaluation system, an animated speech laboratory, and a learning-style testing instrument. The founders of VIA, Mel Ristau and Tony Cecala, have complementary backgrounds in graphic design and cognitive psychology. After completing an M.F.A. in information design from The University of Kansas, Ristau founded an information design program at Abilene Christian University where he is now a professor. Cecala holds a Ph.D. from Yale in cognitive psychology and worked at IBM and TI before co-founding VIA. They have introduced new methods of animation and typographic display into the HyperCard community, and their stack TrainSet was inspiration for Apple's Sample stack, Train Set, shipping with HyperCard 2.0. To order LessonCard, call C.H. Love & Co., Inc.: 800-527-4248 222 Cypress St. Abilene, TX 79602 AppleLink(R): VIA Well: VIA DISCLAIMER: I co-developed LessonCard. Call the 800 number and ask to speak with Kim Massingill. He can put you in touch with satisfied, unbiased users.