Discusses effects of new technology on writing by assessing whether an experienced writer's style of writing changes with new technology. Compares typed word-processed letters with dictated word-processed letters after a change to a voice recognition system and indicates more of an influence on the writing process than on the written products.…

Discussion of the predictive evaluation of educational software, i.e. the evaluation of software prior to its intended use, focuses on a model known as the Jigsaw Model, which attempts to integrate usability and educational issues. Highlights include the failure of checklists for evaluation and two studies that tested the model with practicing…

ISO--International Organization for Standards highlights the activities of WG8 (Working Group 8 of ISO) in the alignment of standards for a common tree model and common query languages. Examines the how Document Style Semantics and Specification Language (DSSSL) and HyTime make documents easier to work with and more powerful in their ability to…

Discusses World Wide Web development from a text-only technical documentation system to a multimedia information base distributed across the planet. Topics include Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) Document Type Description (DTD), practical use of HTML, replacing HTML, and opportunities for software developers. Debates the future of the Web by…

A computer program has been developed that analyzes data from interview transcripts, field notes, and other sources without a priori frameworks or the tedious categorizing of passages. The program finds repetitive association of words or ideas that characterize a verbal response corpus. An example of the program's use is given. (SLD)

Presents use of the effect size as a descriptive statistic for single-subject research. Discusses the way in which effect sizes augment interpretation of results, and reviews four types of treatment effects with case studies. An appendix includes a sample computer program for computing effect sizes. (SLD)

Describes a prototype system for software documentation management called SLEUTH (Software Literacy Enhancing Usefulness to Humans) being developed at the University of Virginia. Highlights include information retrieval techniques, hypertext links that are installed automatically, a WAIS (Wide Area Information Server) search engine, user…

Describes the Konstanz Hypertext System which offers a domain-specific developmental environment for the construction of large hypertexts. Highlights include the integration of external information, and three examples: resource discovery of online databases, management of electronic mail, and the compilation of an electronic journal issue.…

Describes a FORTRAN software program that calculates the probability of an observed difference between agreement measures obtained from two independent sets of raters. An example illustrates the use of the DIFFER program in evaluating undergraduate essays. (Author/SLD)

Designers of computer-based material are forced to express interactivity with concepts from the logical-mathematical paradigm of computer science. The results of three psychological experiments point to differences between the dominant paradigm and the subjects "intuitive" way of understanding interactive computer behavior, which shows…

Examines the visual manual genre, discussing main forms and functions of step-by-step and guided tour manuals in detail. Examines whether a visual manual helps computer users realize tasks faster and more accurately than a non-visual manual. Finds no effects on accuracy, but speedier task execution by 35% for visual manuals. Concludes there is no…

Describes how to connect to the RealAudio Web site to download a player that provides sound from Web pages to the computer through streaming technology. Explains hardware and software requirements and provides addresses for other RealAudio Web sites are provided, including weather information and current news. (LRW)

Describes the reengineering of business practices that took place at the University of Wisconsin-Superior when they implemented an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, PeopleSoft Student Administration (SA). Discusses lessons learned. (EV)

Explains intelligent agents, special software tools that help make the Web more interactive by helping with information retrieval. Describes major types of agents, including search agents and agents for specialized tasks including monitors and knowledge management; and lists relevant Web sites. (LRW)

Presents bibliographies of notable books, best books for young adults, audiobooks for young adults, notable children's books, notable children's videos, notable recordings for children, and notable software and Web sites for children; discusses bestsellers; and lists literary prizes awarded in 2001. (LRW)