While there is much enthusiasm about the potential of microcomputers in test development and item banking, testing specialists have no interest in actually purchasing a turnkey test construction system. Focusing development efforts on providing methods to assist test directors, rather than external systems which replace institutionalized…

Reports on interviews with five CD-ROM producers and vendors about their future plans. Questions are posed in three areas: platforms and standards, such as compliance with the Z39.50 standard; software installation and setup features; and pricing, including costs of print and CD versions, discounts, and networking fees. (KRN)

Discusses artificial intelligence, robotics, natural language processing, and expert or knowledge-based systems research; examines two large expert systems, MYCIN and XCON; and reviews the resources required to build large expert systems and affordable smaller systems (intelligent job aids) for training. Expert system vendors and products are…

This interview with Dr. Toshi Doi, director of the Sony Corporation, covers his work at Sony, the multimedia industry, industry cooperation, Sony compact disc products and formats, multimedia standards and pricing, multimedia formats, and the future of the industry. A diagram of computer companies and corresponding multimedia platforms is…

Discussed are the developments in neural networks technology that promise to make computers a great deal smarter. The brain is described, and its workings are compared to that of a computer. Computer programs that allow the construction of a simulated neural network are discussed and evaluated. (KR)

This essay considers several areas of research in computer technology for education in North America and the implications of these areas of focus for the implementation of educational computer technologies in developing nations. The five areas of focus are: (1) curriculum integration, or the general rationale for using computer technology in…

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) software research and development project described explores information seeking behavior of end-user energy experts and develops software offering tutorials on front-end use of DOE/RECON databases and active help in performing online searches. Software development is described and results of prototype testing…

This report presents a review of the High Performance Computing and Communications (HPCC) Program, which has as its goal the acceleration of the commercial availability and utilization of the next generation of high performance computers and networks in order to: (1) extend U.S. technological leadership in high performance computing and computer…

Starting with an analysis of technological change and innovation cycles, this paper explores the effects of information technology on education in Australia over the past decade. Taking into account current programs and policies concerning the introduction of information technology in education, the paper outlines possible directions for future…

After less than a decade from its inception, the introduction of new information technology in Australian education has already undergone some identifiable stages. These range from the scattered development of innovative programs to the formulation of state and national policies, from the original introduction of microcomputers into schools to the…

The development of digital content raises new issues as rapid technological developments challenge existing business models and government policies. This OECD study identifies and discusses six groups of business and public policy issues and illustrates these with existing and potential OECD Digital Content Strategies and Policies: (1) Innovation…