This paper outlines: the importance of clinical assessment of speechreading; problems in assessment of speechreading, such as intertalker differences and lack of correlation with other traits; issues in measuring change in speechreading performance; viseme scoring on open-ended response tasks; new approaches to the speechreading assessment; and…

Issues surrounding the cost of Internet usage to individuals and institutions are addressed, including who currently pays for Internet use in colleges and universities, long-distance costs, how policy is set for institutional use, cost of transition to a larger system, and difficult issues to be faced in system expansion. (MSE)

A study investigated the effect of computer-mediated communication, or computer conferencing, on traditional gender-based differences in discussion participation, including patterns in turn-taking, perceptions of the kinds of contributions made by men and women, and actual contributions made. Continued potential for gender imbalance is found. (MSE)

Selection data for all Medical University of South Carolina anesthesiology residency applicants (about 200 per year) and the 8 selected per year were compared for 4 years. Results showed standardized test scores, grades, and class ranks of those selected were not higher than of others, but interview and recommendation scores were higher.…

This paper proposes that those traits which handicap visually oriented dyslexics in a verbally oriented educational system may confer advantages in new fields which rely on visual methods of analysis, especially those in computer applications. It is suggested that such traits also characterized Albert Einstein, Michael Faraday, James Maxwell, and…

In 1988, Indiana University's separate academic and administrative computing units were not responding to changing user demands. In merging and reorganizing the systems, the university tackled problems shared by many institutions and gathered information that can encourage and forewarn others in similar efforts. The project's history, process, and…

Boston College's (Massachusetts) vice president of information technology remarks on the elements contributing to his success on the occasion of receiving a professional award. He credits talented and energetic employees and an improved administrative structure for making innovation work. An interview about personnel changes at Boston College is…

Hofstra University (New York) contracted with a vendor to provide a student information kiosk system on a campus computer network that would improve and enhance delivery of student services. Installed in under two months, the system has quickly addressed some persistent challenges, including easy access to information and security. (MSE)

This article describes potential use of new technological products and services by blind/visually impaired people. Items discussed include computer input devices, public telephones, automatic teller machines, airline and rail arrival/departure displays, ticketing machines, information retrieval systems, order-entry terminals, optical character…

College advancement services can take the burden of many financial and analytical functions off the shoulders of development officers. Centralizing development-related financial functions can streamline clerical tasks and improve efficiency, consistency, continuity, accessibility of expertise, and capacity. Proficiency in a wide range of financial…

Describes the development of the VV-BOS (Visualizer/Verbalizer Behavior Observation Scale), a computer-based instrument for direct observation of students' preferences for visual or verbal learning material. Results of a study with second-language learners indicated a high degree of reliability as an alternative to conventional questionnaires.…

Discusses ways to apply traditional search strategies to online information seeking. Highlights include explore and browse search features; hierarchical features (knowledge/topic/subject trees, categories, distribution lists); analytical search features; and the process approach. (AEF)

Identifies 10 emerging areas of technology that will soon have a profound impact on the economy and on how people live and work: brain-machine interfaces; flexible transistors; data mining; digital rights management; biometrics; natural language processing; microphotonics; untangling code; robot design; and microfluidics. In each area, one…

The key to making optimal use of time, energy, and institutional resources in college and university technology planning is to understand important differences between long-term socioeconomic planning and short-term operational planning. A ten-step procedure that focuses on process rather than product, and allows ready reallocation of resources as…

Examines questions raised when implementing computerized versions of the "Looking After Children" materials in child-welfare services. Discussion concerns the difficulty of establishing common goals between information technology specialists and social work managers, the need to develop computer systems which are seen to benefit all parties…