Curriculum Software, Grading/Tracking Software, Multimedia Software, Multimedia Authoring Tools, and Projectors and Presentation Technologies
Curriculum Software
Language Arts
New Dynamic English
This four-level course in spoken English for beginning to advanced students
features new structure, lessons, and technology. Listening, speaking, reading,
and language structure are taught using video lessons combined with speech recognition
exercises and numerous language focus exercises. The speech lessons are designed
to improve oral fluency, but also reinforce grammar and vocabulary. Students
can be evaluated using 24 mini-tests. Interactive exercises also can be used
as a test preparation tool for college entrance exams and standardized tests
such as T'EFL and T'EIC. A comprehensive instructor's guide is available for
teachers. Each level of New Dynamic English provides 30-50 hours of study and
features an online glossary and study guide. The program includes detailed record
keeping and automatically adjusts the content based on learner performance.
Contact: DynEd International, Burlingame, CA; (800) 765-4375; http://www.dyned.com/
Spanish Whiz
Braser Soft has just released version 3.1 of their popular Windows program,
Spanish Whiz, a program designed to help users learn Spanish quickly. Along
with a new, easier to use interface, both the main program and the Sound CD
(which includes more than 4,500 sound files to help improve pronunciation and
listening skills) now include on-screen translations. The Help files include
a complete discussion of Spanish grammar, while the main program is divided
into three levels: help for beginners, intermediate, and advanced users. The
emphasis is on presenting and testing fundamentals. Self-quizzing, dictionaries,
and an option to build one's own word list round out the features. Contact:
BraserSoft, http://www.braser.com/
Tell Me More Language Software
Tell Me More Pro is speech recognition software that allows students in French,
Spanish, German, Italian, Dutch, Chinese, and English to interact with native
speakers and evaluates their performance. Spoken and written expression, comprehension,
pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar are all addressed. Features include more
than 140 interactive dialogues with native speakers, and more than 8,000 exercises,
videos, cartoons, and crossword puzzles. The software's tracking system monitors
the material covered and allows instructors to evaluate the performance of the
student. Students can communicate with instructors with one click of the mouse.
Contact: http://www.auralog.com/
Mathematics
ActivStats
ActivStats is a complete multimedia presentation of the material commonly found
in an Introductory Statistics course. ActivStats uses a full range of multimedia
to motivate, explain, visualize, and apply introductory statistics concepts,
including video, simulation, animation, narration, text, interactive experiments,
Web access, and Data Desk.
ActivStats student version is for review or study
along with any standard statistics text. The student version is available for
course adoption from Addison Wesley Longman. Teacher support materials include
in-class demonstrations that instructors can add to any page of the lesson book.
Data Desk from the same company is a full-function, graphical interface statistics
package that is easy to learn. Students apply each method immediately to real
data, helping to reinforce the understanding they have gained from the visualizations
and expositions. Data Desk also offers an additional laboratory for simulation
experiments. Contact: Data Description, Ithaca, NY; (800) 573-5121; http://www.datadesk.com/
Maple 7
New Maple 7 delivers a range of new symbolic and numerical tools for solving
and analyzing differential equations, including exact solutions to PDE systems
and to many new classes of linear and non-linear ODEs. It offers improved speed
and precision for numerical solutions of ODEs, new routines for BVPs and an
implementation of the Shampine-Corless algorithm for IVPs. Engineering problems
can now be fully managed and solved with appropriate dimensions in any modern
unit system and even some historical systems. A convenient dialog box converts
quantities between unit systems automatically. Maple 7 brings increased efficiency
to its numerical linear algebra routines including support for banded, packed,
and sparse matrices through industry-standard libraries like LAPACK, Atlas,
and Vendor BLAS. Incorporation of NAG routines has sped up numerical integration
and polynomial root finding. For students, Maple 7 now allows computation to
be restricted to real numbers. For the advanced mathematician, there is new
functionality for specialized areas of research including orthogonal series,
rational normal forms, linear functional systems, and linear operators. Maple
7's Sockets package gives applications standards-based, real-time access to
Internet data or data produced by Maple 7 sessions running on remote machines.
XML tools allow users to publish results developed as XML data files or XHTML
Web pages. MathML 2.0 support allows users to view Maple 7 expressions and documents
within compliant browsers and software packages. Finally, converting Maple 7
programs to C code and embedding compiled C routines into Maple applications
has been greatly simplified.
Also note that Waterloo Maple has recently released three new PowerTools titles,
Calculus I, Calculus II, and Physics Education. Maple PowerTools are free application
packages and academic course materials for Maple software located on the Maple
Application Center, an online source of technical solutions (http://www.mapleapps.com).
PowerTools are developed by experts in the field to help users configure Maple
for industry, research, and teaching. Contact: Waterloo Maple, West Waterloo,
Ontario, Canada, (800) 267-6583; http://www.maplesoft.com/
MathXpert
The MathXpert series of programs is designed to help students learn mathematics
problem solving skills, from Algebra through Calculus.
MathXpert software is
a true "expert system" that develops a step-by-step symbolic solution
to problems within the range of the covered topics. Problem solutions can be
developed in a number of ways, from a hands-off automatic process to a highly
interactive process, in which users select the portion of the problem to be
worked on, then select the appropriate operation from a pre-set menu of operations.
In either case, the program presents the description of the selected operation,
as well as the reformulated equation after the operation is applied. Hints and
single automated steps assist students in making progress if they do not understand
what step to take next. MathXpert's series of programs includes a special network
version for the classroom environment, called MathXpert Plus, which allows teachers
to customize and tailor the solutions for a specific set of problems to be solved
by the students. The teacher may restrict the number of hints or automated single
steps available to the student. The teacher may even totally disable the automated
solutions options for the students. MathXpert Online is a free service offered
to high school and college students that provides an automated solution to problems
selected, edited, or typed in by the student. Contact: Recognix, Inc., Santa
Clara, CA; (800) 361-1001; http://www.mathpert.com/
MATLAB 12 Student Version
MATLAB integrates computation, graphics, and programming in a flexible, open
environment. Known for its highly optimized matrix and vector calculations,
MATLAB offers students an intuitive language for expressing problems and their
solutions both mathematically and visually. Typical uses include numerical computation
and algorithm development, symbolic computation, modeling, simulation, prototyping,
data analysis, and engineering graphics. MATLAB Student Version includes a full-featured
version of MATLAB, Simulink software for modeling, and key functions of the
Symbolic Math Toolbox. Contact: Math Works, Natick, MA: (508) 647-7000; http://www.mathworks.com/
MINITAB 13
MINITAB 13 is a graphical analysis software package. The Student Edition includes
software by Minitab Inc. and an accompanying textbook for introductory statistics,
business statistics, and statistical methods courses. The new release offers
several new features. Project Manager provides an easy way to keep track of
analysis by organizing all the elements of the project in a familiar, tree-like
structure. The new ReportPad creates professional reports from within MINITAB.
StatGuide provides practical explanations of statistical output. Autofill lets
users fill in a series of values by simply dragging the mouse. For experimenters,
Release 13 offers new, complete Mixture Designs, Optimal Designs (D-Optimal
and distance-based), and Taguchi (Robust) Designs. Contact: Minitab Inc., State
College, PA; (800) 448-3555; http://www.minitab.com/
SPSS Graduate Pack 10.0
The SPSS Graduate Pack 10.
0 for Windows is the full version of SPSS one might
find in a lab on campus. The Graduate Pack for Windows includes SPSS Base, SPSS
Regression, and SPSS Advanced Statistics. It includes the book SPSS Base 10.0
Applications Guide, a resource to help students approach data, identify and
remedy problems, and interpret the results. It focuses on output, on understanding
what statistics mean, and on how the different statistics relate to each other.
Contact: SPSS, Inc., Chicago, IL; (800) 543-2185; http://www.spss.com/
StudyWorks! Online
StudyWorks! Online is a tool that can be used to help students grasp complex mathematical
and scientific concepts. Multimedia presentations and diagrams reinforce concepts,
guided exercises teach problem solving, and hundreds of practice problems test
mastery. The program's worksheet capabilities enable students to write equations,
perform calculations, and create graphs using real math notation. At StudyWorks
Online at the MathSoft Web site, students can participate in virtual study groups
and receive personalized help from MathSoft experts. Contact: MathSoft Inc., Cambridge,
MA; (617) 444-8000;
http://www.mathsoft.com/
Music
Finale 2001
This software allows composers and arrangers to create, play, and print music.
The Instrument Set-Up Wizard enables users to instantly set up any score, from
the fullest orchestration to the simplest jazz chart. New automation features
are combined with font and style enhancements. Twelve new plug-ins provide the
user with up to 42 shortcuts. Finale 2001 allows the user to enter notes while
playing a solo acoustic instrument; mix text and music to create worksheets
and exams; export music examples to word processors; practice ear training;
do homework; and print in color on pages up to 9 feet in size. Contact: Coda
Music Technology, Eden Prairie, MN; (612) 937-9611; http://www.codamusic.com/
Practica Musica 4
This software is a complete music theory/ear training tutor for both Macintosh
and Windows computers. The package includes the coordinated textbook Exploring
Theory with Practica Musica and a wide variety of customizable activities, including
everything from simple pitch reading or rhythm tapping to chord progressions,
polyphonic dictation, and transposition exercises. Practica Musica 4 offers
self-paced learning of music theory and ear training appropriate for inexperienced
listeners to experienced musicians. Users can choose activities, edit existing
ones, create new ones, or download others. Writing tools allow students to create
their own music, hear it, save it, and print it. Contact: Ars Nova, Kirkland,
WA; (800) 445-4866; http://www.ars-nova.com/
Time Sketch Editor
This software program has been designed to facilitate listening and aurally
analyzing CD music under CD-ROM and computer control. The program can be used
to create unique "teacher-developed" listening lessons with any audio
CD. This program is appropriate for fundamentals courses, appreciation courses,
or music history courses at any teaching level. The annotated listening format
can be applied to a number of classes and activities, plus the music performance
curriculum. Contact: Electronic Courseware Systems, Inc., Champaign, IL; (800)
832-4965; http://www.ecsmedia.com/
Science
A.D.A.M. online anatomy
A.D.A.M. online anatomy is a comprehensive database of detailed anatomical images
that allows users to point, click, and identify more than 20,000 anatomical
structures within fully dissectible male and female bodies in anterior, lateral,
medial, and posterior views. The user is able to dissect the body layer by layer
or use a scroll bar to navigate deeper. This unique "dissection" application
offers an interactive approach to discovering the human body. Contact: A.D.A.M.
Software, Atlanta, GA; (770) 980-0888; http://www.adam.com/
The Anatomy Project
This introductory CD-ROM set of The Anatomy Project offers 20 multimedia, interactive
CD-ROMs teaching and demonstrating the whole of topographical, functional, and
clinical human anatomy. Basic Human Anatomy contains seven chapters on the anatomical
position, nomenclature of movement, epithelial and connective tissues, muscle
and nervous tissues, muscles, aponeuroses, tendons, and ligaments, the blood
vascular system, and the nervous system. It features professional broadcast-quality
production, approximately 50 minutes of movie tutorials, an interactive atlas,
a searchable glossary, summaries of text with digital video review, interactive
questions with remediation for wrong answers, software help, and seven selectable
user levels: undergraduate, nursing, physical therapy, radiography, dental,
medical, and postgraduate. The program presents specially commissioned prosections,
still and real-time medical imaging, histology, and live action with expert
voice-over narration using classical Nomina Anatomica pronunciations. Contact:
Parthenon Publishing, Pearl River, NY; (800) 735-4744; http://www.parthpub.com/
The Animated Brain
This interactive CD-ROM on brain anatomy and biopsychology can be used for individual
study, class presentations, or lab exercises. It contains 90 narrated illustrations,
85 animations, 60 anatomical labeling exercises, and 200 multiple choice questions
with automatic scoring, interactive models, and video clips of behavior. A master
index, cross-referenced glossary, and a hypertext book with bookmarks are included
for easy reference. Contact: Brainviews, Ltd., Akron, OH; (330) 836-7215; http://www.brainviews.com/
Chemistry 3.0 for General Chemistry
Version 3.0 of the Comprehensive Chemistry CD-ROM for Windows combines the new
Interactive General Chemistry by Stanley Smith et al., with Introduction to
Organic Chemistry and Organic Chemistry Laboratory on one CD-ROM. Comprehensive
Chemistry CD-ROM supplements lecture, laboratory, and text for first-year general
and organic chemistry courses. Also available is the Falcon Management System
for purchase and use with the network version of Comprehensive Chemistry for
record keeping and tracking student completion of assigned lessons. Contact:
Falcon Software, Inc., Wellesley, MA; (781) 235-1767; http://www.falconsoftware.com/
The Chemistry Place
The Chemistry Place, from Pearson Educational Publishing, is a Web resource
for college and high school chemistry students and instructors. Focusing on
introductory chemistry, the content was developed by a team of scientists and
educators. The Web site offers audio material, animations, graphics, hypertext
links, text, and video, and features learning activities, research news, a connection
to Scientific American, and teaching resources. For fun, the site includes a
weekly riddle, a "best of the Web" section, and a section relating
chemistry to everyday life. Contact: Peregrine Publishers or Pearson, Needham,
MA; (800) 456-0179; http://www.peregrine-pub.com/
Electric Biology: Ecosystems
Designed as a companion and supplement to upper-division ecology and lower-division
environmental science courses, "Ecosystems" is organized into five
major topic sections: Ecosystem Concept, Energy Flow, Chemical Cycles, Human
Impacts, and Guest Essays. The software provides a comprehensive map and index
as well as a convenient glossary, multiple page notebook, and complete text
search capabilities. Contact: CyberLearn, Aptos, CA; (800) 499-3322; http://www.cyberlearn.com/
Online Physics Tutorial
This program is designed to provide an interactive and concept-based tutorial
for introductory college physics. Useful as a demonstration and visualization
tool, the product also serves as a quiz and review tool with the audio turned
off. The product includes over 200 hours of study material, self-quizzes, interactive
movies and animations, and pull down calculator, glossary, note pad, and periodic
table. Topics include general principles of physics, vectors, gravitation, electromagnetic
theory, special relativity, and much more. Contact: MCH Multimedia, Inc., Montreal,
Quebec, Canada; (514) 939-7418; http://www.mchmultimedia.com/
UNDERSTAND! Biochemistry
This CD-ROM facilitates active learning in biochemistry by showing actual processes.
Topics covered include basic cell chemistry through enzymology, bi'energetics,
metabolism, macromolecular structure, genetics, and molecular biology techniques.
Materials are organized in 60 minicourses, which span an entire 2-semester course.
More than 120 animations, 900 original illustrations, and 25 3D macromolecular
models are included. Web links guide students to useful Web sites, and hypertext
links enhance navigation. Contact: The Mona Group, Sunderland, MA; (800) 269-7119;
http://www.monagroup.com/
Grading/Tracking Software
eListen
Scantron's comprehensive survey system allows users to deploy electronic surveys
and collect data across a range of mediums. Users build and deploy surveys with
eListen Builder software in conjunction with third-party systems. Separate eListen
modules handle data collection and analysis. Web hosting services allow organizations
to run Internet-based surveys at www.elisten.com. The eListen platform supports
an array of industry standards including HTML, FTP, Active X, MAPI, and RDBMS.
Contact: Scantron, Tustin, CA; (800) 722-6876; http://www.scantron.com/
GradeQuick
GradeQuick is an electronic version of the traditional paper gradebook. It integrates
with almost any grading system at any level and allows users to customize the
main screen to display everything in one place. Instructors can calculate scores
and averages, customize reports, track and manage attendance, create a seating
chart with photos, and display statistics, percentiles, and subtotals on the
gradebook spreadsheet. Contact: Jackson Software, Glenc'e, IL; (800) 850-1777;
www.jacksoncorp.com.
Multimedia Software
Artesia Technologies' TEAMS 4.1
TEAMS is an open, digital asset management framework that provides superior
enterprise-wide access and flexibility to capture, store, manage, and re-express
information into new products. Convenient to use to author, archive, and amplify
information, TEAMS can capture all types of digital asset formats, allowing
for greater flexibility. TEAMS serves as the digital media hub that integrates
with and powers other asset-intensive applications like Web content management,
digital rights management, customer relationship management, syndication, e-learning,
and more. Contact: Artesia Technologies, Rockville, MD; (301) 548-4000; http://www.artesiatech.com/
Buz Multimedia Producer
The Iomega Buz Multimedia Producer is a combination of an Ultra SCSI controller
and real-time professional quality video capture card that connects users' PC
or Macintosh computers to an SCSI device such as a Jaz drive, Zip drive, or
scanner. The Buz Multimedia Producer lets users capture high-quality video from
VCRs, camcorders, DVDs and laserdiscs. It can also be used to add text, transitions,
special effects, or music to home movies. The Buz package contains: the Multimedia
Producer Box, a desktop box used for easy connection to the adapter card and
providing in/out connections for S-Video, composite video, and stereo audio;
the Adapter card, which combines a video capture card to input and digitize
video/audio and an Ultra SCSI host adapter for connecting mass storage devices
and scanners; and an Audio/Video cable which connects audio and video from your
input and output devices. Also included is necessary software for either a PC
or a Macintosh computer. Contact: Iomega, Roy, Utah; (800) MY-STUFF; http://www.iomega.com/
ClipMagic
ClipMagic 2.01 is an information manager for Windows operating systems that
allows users to capture text and images from any application or the Internet
and to store information for easy retrieval. The application has rules and filters
that allow users to automatically categorize incoming video clips. Files can
be searched for and retrieved on the basis of multiple types of data, including
keywords in the text, the size of individual text or images, the program they
were copied from, or their location on the Internet. ClipMagic includes its
own internal Web browser, a full-featured editor, and improved memory management.
Contact: MJT Net Ltd., New Hartley, UK; 44 (0) 976-691-276; http://www.clipmagic.com/
Convera Screening Room
Convera Screening Room provides advanced end-to-end technology for capturing,
analyzing, screening, searching, and retrieving all types of video and related
closed-caption text and metadata. It captures and analyzes video; identifies
crucial events like scene changes, cuts, and fades; and creates a story board
of thumbnail images for quick and easy access to significant scenes. Contact:
Convera, Vienna, VA; (800) 788-7758; www.convera.com.
Dazzle Multimedia's Digital Video Creator II
Digital Video Creator II lets users capture, edit, and share video. Users can
enhance video with professional transitions, scrolling titles, music, and voice-over
narration. They can also create streaming video and share edited movies with
others via tape, CD-R, DVD-R, presentations, e-mail, or posting to a personal
Web page. Users can record from any video source to full-motion MPEG-2 files
and edit them with easy drag-and-drop technology. By connecting the PC to a
VCR, users can transfer edited movies back to tape. Contact: Dazzle Multimedia,
Fremont, CA; (888) 436-4348; http://www.dazzle.com/
Discreet Reactor
Discreet designs flexible systems and software for digital image creation, manipulation
and editing. Our products enable digital artists to create compelling imagery
and transform the art and science of visual entertainment. Reactor is Discreet's
complete dynamics extension to its 3ds max 3D modeling, animation, and rendering
software. Reactor allows users to design advanced soft-body and rigid-body dynamics,
free-form deformations, cloth, fluids, and rope simulations within one highly
interactive system. Dynamics Simulations provide for physically accurate animations
driven by natural forces such as wind, gravity, and the density of an object.
Contact: Discreet, Santa Monica, CA; (310) 396-1167; http://www.discreet.com/
Digigami X-stream
Digigami X-stream is a collection of data export plug-ins for Adobe Premiere.
With X-stream, users can create a variety of streaming video files for use on
the Web or on an intranet. X-stream includes an MPEG-1 plug-in, a QuickTime/Fast-Start
plug-in, and X-GIF for converting any movie clip to a GIF89a animation. Contact:
Digigami, San Diego, CA; (619) 231-2600; http://www.digigami.com/
Equilibrium DeBabelizer Pro 5.0
Equilibrium DeBabelizer Pro 5.0 for Windows 95/98/NT saves users valuable time
by automatically translating, optimizing, and processing multiple graphic files,
including video and animation, for desktop publishing, multimedia, and the Web.
New features include an easy-to-use drag and drop Hot Folder processing function,
ability to embed watermarks in products, and capability to publish Web catalogs
with thumbnails, HTML, and JPEG files. Contact: Equilibrium, San Rafael, CA;
(415) 453-4427; http://www.equilibrium.com/
Inscriber CG/FeaturePak 3.4
Featurepak is a powerful title-creation productivity tool for leading video
production systems running under Windows 95 and Windows NT 4.0. Designed to
help users make professional video titles quickly and easily, FeaturePak offers
broadcast-quality titling capabilities at an affordable desktop price. Tools
include text rotation, texture mapping, alpha-aware paint, and 5-layer editing.
The tool allows users to achieve the following effects: soft-edge shadows, rotated
text, texture mapping of text foreground, edging, and shadows, on-the-fly sizing,
spline-based drawing tools with automatic beveling, logo import and manipulation,
an alpha-aware logo compose facility, rolls and multi-line crawls, and extensive
typographic control. Contact: Inscriber Technology Corp., Waterloo, Ontario,
Canada; (519) 570-9111; www.inscriber.com.
MacRascol 5.1
MacRascol 5.1 image management software is fully compatible with Macintosh OS
7 and 8. Features and improvements include a variety of new drag-and-drop functions
to help users create, manage, and output 35mm slide presentations as well as
ultra-high-resolution chromes and negatives for photo retouching and enlargements.
The Macintosh Binary Lasergraphics Language generator software and site license
allow users to transport files to other computers. Contact: Lasergraphics, Irvine,
CA; (800) 727-2655; http://www.lasergraphics.com/
Media Cataloger 2.0
Interactive Media Corp.'s Media Cataloger allows for efficient organization
of Web and multimedia files into visual catalogs with thumbnail images and a
keyword database. Catalogs are extremely small and can be searched rapidly by
a variety of criteria. Features include catalogs of up to 32,000 objects and
the capability to maintain three open windows providing simultaneous access
to thumbnails, keywords, and file information. Contact: Interactive Media Corp.,
Los Altos, CA; (650) 948-0745; http://www.imcinfo.com/
StudioSketch
StudioSketch studio in a box allows users to do live video sketching on a screen's
white background or over video images (such as the play drawings shown during
televised football games). Useful for highlighting presentation slides as well
as live action, the product features a logically-arranged menu of icons for
sketching and drawing with modes, shapes, and colors. Contact: B'eckeler Instruments,
(800) 552-2265; http://www.studiosketch.com/
Multimedia Authoring Tools
ButtonFly
ButtonFly graphic productivity tool helps users make buttons, banners, and logos.
Once the button is created, the product quickly reproduces it with just one
mouse click. ButtonFly automatically generates a whole set of buttons or images
with pre-defined titles or languages. Contact: GOTO Software, Jacksonville,
FL; (514) 499-1414; www.goto-software.com.
MagicMedia v. 1.52
MagicMedia is a high speed, easy to use thumbnail explorer to organize, maintain,
play, and edit media files, featuring enhanced movie and audio capabilities.
Users can create thumb playlists from multiple folders for Slide Shows, Movie
Series, and Audio Arrangements. MagicMedia also allows users to rip AudioCDs
to disk, arrange files to burn custom CDs, convert audio files to wav or mp3,
and extract, display, and save movie frames. Using MagicMedia, designers can
assign Thumbnails for easier visual identification of audio files. Contact:
PeakStars Programming Arts, http://www.peakstars.com.
Metacreations' Bryce 5
Bryce 5 software allows users to design, render, and animate natural 3D worlds
and abstract 3D sculptures for use in Web pages, QuickTime VR movies, and RealMovie
animations. Because it comes loaded with libraries of presets, it can be used
by beginners as well as advanced users. Users begin by building a scene with
wireframe primitives or meshes, and then assign realistic textures. An animation
preview feature quickly generates thumbnail previews and allow users to navigate
through an animation using a story-board style interface. Contact: Corel Corporation,
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; (800) 772-9735; http://www.corel.com/.
Quest 6.0
Quest enhances the creation of interactive training and education applications,
using a reusable and extensible object-oriented architecture. Quest features
FastTracks, libraries of pre-built screen layouts, buttons, and interactions.
The overall architecture of the Quest 6.0 is divided into two main areas-the
Title Design Level, where users lay out course structure, and the Frame Edit
level, where they add content. The latest release of the product makes movement
between these two levels even easier and more direct than previously available,
allowing authors to move seamlessly and quickly back and forth between levels.
Contact: Mentergy; Atlanta, GA; (770) 612-9129; http://www.mentergy.com.
Superscape 3D Webmaster
3D Webmaster from Superscape is a software tool for designing interactive 3D
for the Web. It conforms to many industry standards and is therefore compatible
with other software products. 3D Webmaster's ready-made templates make Web page
creation easy. Its drag-and-drop warehouse of 800 pieces of Virtual Clip Art,
500 ready-to-use textures, and 600 behavioral commands allows users to select
objects and import them to a Web page or store self-created objects for re-use.
The product features full HTML integration with a powerful Java interface to
give developers two-way communication between the Web page and a Java Applet
or JavaScript. Contact: Superscape, Santa Clara, CA; (408) 969-0500; http://www.superscape.com/
Tandberg Educational Partner Tools
This easy-to-use authoring software offers a simple interface to help teachers
and developers create multimedia learning materials. Each Partner Tool is available
in two versions: the Designer and the Browser. With the Designer, teachers can
choose the best medium to communicate their message. With the Browser, students
can work through the multimedia experience in a linear sequence or using random
access, but cannot change the content. Contact: Tandberg Educational Inc., Brewster,
NY; (800) 367-1137;
http://www.tandberg-us.com/.
Toolbook 8.1
ToolBook Instructor and ToolBook Assistant allow users to create dynamic, scaleable
e-Learning content. Using simple drag-and-drop learning objects, new and experienced
users alike can develop, edit, and distribute interactive content, giving organizations
the flexibility and power they need to meet time-sensitive demands with up-to-date
learning material. Content developed in ToolBook can be deployed on the Internet
or an intranet, a local area network (LAN), or on a CD-ROM Contact: Asymetrix
Learning Systems Inc., Bellevue, WA; (800) 448-6543; http://www.asymetrix.com/.
Projectors and Presentation Technologies
Barco Reality 6400
The BARCOREALITY 6400 combines exceptional resolution and high brightness with
advanced signal processing. Micro Lens Array Poly-Silicon S-XGA panels and a
new high brightness metal-halide arc lamp make this unit an appropriate tool
for conference rooms, auditoriums, CAD/CAM imaging, virtual reality centers,
and other venues. The Barco 6400 features 3400 ANSI lumens and three active
matrix 1.8" S-XGA poly-silicon LCD panels with a resolution of 1280 x 1024.
A patented pixel map processor guarantees legible characters and high quality
image reproduction. Contact: Barco Projection Systems, Kennesaw, GA; (770) 218-3200;
www.barco.com.
Canon LV 7325 Projector
This nine pound projector features 1500 ANSI lumens, Native XGA resolution,
powered zoom and focus, digital keystone correction, and PC-free presenting
using the PCMCIA card. Compatible with PCs or Macs, the projector can be used
in wired or wireless situations. Contact: Canon USA, Lake Success, NY; (516)
328-5960; www.canon.com.
Digital Projection Lightning Series
Digital Projection offers its Lightning series of ultra high bright image projectors.
Each unit is engineered with advanced cooling and filtration systems as well
as rugged mechanical construction to support high performance, large-venue imaging.
The 22gv provides XGA resolution and 10,000 ANSI lumens of imaging power. Contact:
Digital Projection Inc., Kennesaw, GA; (770) 420-1350; www.digitalprojection.com.
Eiki Notebook Two Projectors
The Eiki LC-XNB2U projector weighs less than 9 pounds and has a footprint about
the size of a legal notepad. With 1,200 ANSI Lumens, 90% uniformity, and 250:1
contrast ratio, the model is EIKI's highest end notebook portable. The LC-XNB2U
also features 3 panel LCD imaging, true XGA resolution, and SXGA, XGA, SVGA,
and VGA compatibility. This model includes power zoom and focus and digital
keystone correction. A PCMCIA slot, 8 Mb Smart Media flash memory card, PCMCIA
adapter, and MCI Slideshow software on CD-ROM round out the features. Contact:
EIKI International, Lake Forest, CA; (800) 322-3454; www.eiki.com.
Epson PowerLite 50c
The Epson PowerLite 50c Multimedia Projector features 1,000 ANSI lumens of brightness
and true SVGA performance, as well as a 400:1 contrast ratio for high quality
black-white contrast. Also part of the package is a digital zoom. Contact: Epson,
Torrance, CA; (800) 463-7766; www.epson.com.
Fujitsu LCD Projectors
Fujitsu's LPF-7200 provides extremely high brightness at 2,800 ANSI lumens,
digital keystone correction and manual lens shift. The LPF-7200 shows clear,
undistorted images even at UXGA/SXGA/SVGA/VGA modes. Any part of the screen
can be maximized by 2 to 25 times. The package also includes a stereo speaker
and mouse control. Contact: Fujitsu, Fairfield, NJ; (888) 888-3424; http://www.fujitsugeneral.com/.
JVC LX-D102OU Projector
This 13.8-pound model from JVC delivers 1,300 ANSI lumens and offers true XGA
performance (1024 x 768). The model is designed for laptop presentation requirements
and to perform well in brightly-lit conference rooms. Contact: JVC, Parsipanny,
NJ; www.jvc.com/pro.
Megapower ML 228
This projector delivers 800 x 600 resolution and 700 lumens. Compatible with
PCs and Macs, the model has a horizontal scan rate of 15-60 kHz, and a vertical
scan rate of 50-85 kHz. Typical contrast ratio is 200:1. Contact: Megapower
Technologies, Carlsbad, CA; (800) MEGA-321; www.mega-power.com.
Mitsubishi X300 Projector
The X300 is part of Mitsubishi's Professional Choice series of projectors. With
2,000 ANSI lumens, a contrast ratio of 300:1, and true XGA performance, this
is an appropriate model for campus use. Special features include built-in video
line doubler technology for fine, sharp, moving images and the capability to
display moving images from two different sources (PC and video) simultaneously.
Contact: Mitsubishi, Cypress, CA; (714) 220-2500; www.mitsubishi-display.com.
NEC Micro-Portable LT156 Projector
This micro-portable projector projects brightly with 1200ANSI lumens and true
XGA resolution. The projector features accurate display of non-native resolutions,
keystone correction, and a chalk board feature that allows users to "draw"
on the screen. A built-in PC card viewer saves slides on a compact flash memory
card. Contact: NEC, Itasca, IL; (800) 632-4636; www.nec.com.
Peerless Flat/Tilting LCD Wall Mount
This LCD mount holds the screen close to the wall while allowing it to tilt
up to twenty degrees. Several models are available, all UL listed. Contact:
Peerless Industries, Melrose, IL; (708) 865-8870; www.peerlessindustries.com.
Proxima Desktop Projector 6850
The 6850 model from Proxima features a bright 2,000 ANSI lumens, true XGA (1024
x 768) resolution, and Fit-to-View display of VGA (640 x 480) through SXGA (1280
x 1024) that supports full screen images from PCs and Macintosh computers.
The
model includes digital keystone correction, ports for up to two computers and
a USB mouse, picture-in-picture feature, and whisper-quiet operation (less than
40 dB). Both motorized and digital zoom are included as well. Contact: Proxima
Corp., San Diego, CA; (800) 447-7692; www.proxima.com.
Sanyo XU-35
The Sanyo XU-35 Ultra-portable projector features a typical 2,000 ANSI lumens,
true XGA, and a contrast ratio of 350:1. This model weighs less than nine pounds.
It offers power zoom and focus, whisper quiet operation, and optional Presentation
Viewer for presentations without a computer present. Contact: Sanyo, Inc., Chatsworth,
CA; (818) 998-7322; www.sanyolcd.com.
Sharp PG-C20XU Projector
This Sharp Notebook projector weighs just 5.7 pounds but delivers 1,000 ANSI
lumens. The unit features autosync for automatic image correction, power remote,
and digital keystone correction. Contact: Sharp Electronics, Mahwah, NJ; (201)
529-8731; www.sharp-usa.com.
3M 1700 Series Projectors
The 1711 is designed for ease of use. A 10 x 10-foot staging area provides plenty
of room to develop ideas. Extra long power cord provides flexibility, and an
open singlet projection head makes this model easy to focus, clean, and maintain.
The model features 2200 ANSI lumens and a double-lamp life of 130 hours average.
Contact: 3M Corp., Austin, TX; (800) 328-1371; www.3M.com.
ViewSonic PJ806 Projector
This projector weighs 13.2 pounds and produces 1850 ANSI lumens using a combination
of three LCD panels. Features include picture-in-picture capability, digital
keystone correction, the ability to freeze or magnify images, advanced compression
to run at the maximum resolution of 1,024 x 768, and a wireless remote (including
a built-in mouse and laser pointer). Contact: ViewSonic, Walnut, CA; (909) 869-7976;
www.viewsonic.com.
Cameras
Ken-a-Vision Video Flex Microscope Camera
The Ken-a-Vision Video Flex is a video microscope with a C-mount lens and a
25-inch arm. It allows the user to see microscopic images and objects up close
or zoomed out to infinity using the Video Flex head. Contact: Ken-a-Vision,
Inc., Kansas City, MO; (816) 358-5072; www.ken-a-vision.com
WolfVision Visualizer
WolfVision's portable models feature a unique folding system and ease-of-use.
The units include special surfaces for transparencies, design that prevents
blinding of the audience or speaker, and optimization for video projection and
video conferencing. Additional features include a 24x zoom, serial control input
RS232, slide drawer, and infrared remote control. Contact: WolfVision, San Carlos,
CA; (650) 802-0786; www.wolfvision.com.
Whiteboards
Mimio Digital Whiteboard
Mimio's Digital Whiteboard technology transforms standard whiteboards into collaborative
tools. Once Mimio is attached to the whiteboard, everything users write or draw
is captured electronically into the computer, making it easy to deliver lecture
notes online, stream video conferences, email colleagues, or post course announcements.
Contact: Virtual Ink, Boston, MA; (617) 623-8387; www.virtual-ink.com.
StarBoard Electronic Whiteboard
Users can integrate Hitachi's StarBoard electronic whiteboard into presentations
in several ways. It's usable as a conventional Dry-Erase Whiteboard, if used
without connecting the StarBoard to a computer. Users can also make it an electronic
Dry-Erase whiteboard by connecting the StarBoard to a computer and using the
Dual-Mode Pen and Electronic Eraser. Used this way, StarBoard saves all dry-erase
notes and prints them on demand. By connecting the StarBoard and an LCD projector
(not included) to a computer, users can also have full access to all of their
computer programs, plus Hitachi Software's special ShareWizard presentation
applications. Contact: Hitachi Software, San Francisco, CA; (888) 615-9600;
www.hitachi-soft.com.
