Discusses interest in studies of media and the family; the creation of social meaning for media consumption; and in children's interpretation of television. Notes that the emergence of qualitative investigations represent a challenge to the assumption that the paradigm of media consumption is an individual viewer positioned before a screen in a…

Tests the proposition that message structure (cuts) affects attention to television differently, depending on whether the cuts link related or unrelated content. Finds cuts in unrelated sequences require more attention than cuts in related sequences. (NH)

Examines the relative contributions of both verbal ability and prior knowledge to comprehension and memory for a televised movie, in both immediate and delayed recall conditions. Suggests that, although both factors aid in the comprehension process, they do so in different ways. (SR)

Video segments captioned at different speeds were shown to a group of 578 people (ages 8 to 80) who are deaf, hard of hearing, or typically hearing. The most comfortable speed was found to be about 145 words per minute (WPM), close to the 141 WPM mean rate actually found in television programs. (Author/CR)

Examines the future of interactive TV where consumers navigate the Internet on their TVs with WebTV set-top boxes. Focuses on competition between cable companies and computer and consumer electronics companies. Highlights nine companies and partnerships developing interactive hardware and services. (PEN)

Integrates several mainstream research approaches to new media diffusion to explore the potential strengths and weaknesses of each. Investigates factors influencing multimedia cable service adoption interest, including demographic variables, existing media-use patterns, and personality traits such as "innovativeness." (SR)

Summarizes 12 recent documents and journal articles from the ERIC database that discuss topics related to television violence and children. Articles cited address the effects of television violence on child behavior and attitudes at school and home, and methods of reducing the impact of television on children. (JPB)

Examines the perpetrators of violence on American television in terms of their chronological age. Compares the amount and nature of violence committed by child and teen characters to that committed by adult characters. Suggests that younger perpetrators are depicted in several ways that pose risks for the child viewer. (SG)

Meta-analyzed data from six national studies of elementary through high school students to determine the relationship between amount of television viewing and educational achievement. According to a complex viewing-achievement model, for small amounts of viewing, achievement increased with viewing, but as viewing increased beyond a certain point,…

The use of video in distance education courses has a long tradition, with many colleges and universities having been delivering distance education courses with video since the 80's using the Instructional Television Fixed Service (ITFS) and cable television. With the emergence of the Internet and the increased access bandwidths from private homes…

Speculates on the future of television. (PF)

STUDIES AND CONFERENCES WERE HELD ON NEEDS OF EDUCATION FOR THE UTILIZATION OF SATELLITE TV TRANSMISSION TECHNIQUES, TO DETERMINE THE ROLE WHICH EDUCATION MIGHT PLAY IN DEVELOPMENT AND TO PREDICT FUTURE NEEDS. RESULTS OF THESE STUDIES AND CONFERENCES HAVE BEEN REPORTED FOR AN ORGANIZED LOOK AT THE DEVELOPMENT OF SPACE COMMUNICATION, ITS…