INFORMATION OVERLOAD? THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING! CD-ROM HAS ARRIVED
If you have been thinking you've just about mastered handling the
present information overload, welcome to Stage II, the CD-ROM. Ten
years ago I had my first real computer. Before that I had what was
known as a dumb terminal, with no memory of its own. My first Apple
II was a breakthrough: 128K of ROM (Read Only Memory), more than
double that of the previous Apple I.
Apple II was capable of holding 128,000 bytes, storage capacity
considered phenomenal at that time -- more than a tenth of a
megabyte. It was never all required but it was available just in
case. Back then computer programming was real work as all
instructions had to be fitted into concise cryptic wording.
Today, without a 40 MB "hard drive" the other kids won't play
games with you -- your "field" isn't big enough.
Forty MB means 40 million bytes (each representing one letter or
one digit in computer memory). That's an increase of 4,000 percent.
I recently acquired an 80 MGB hard drive in addition to my older 20
and 40 MGB units. That's a 10,000 percent increase in my computer
storage capacity in ten years. And, I'm a small operator.
What's next? A CD-ROM (Compact Disk - Read Only Memory). It has
a capacity of 613 MB (one MB holds 400 typewritten pages). On this
single 12-centimetre disc you can place the contents of more than
1,000 computer floppy discs! The whole 21 volumes of the Grolier
Encyclopedia are now available on one single disc, the same size as a
musical CD. It holds nine million words, has 33,000 entries and frees
up all that shelf space!
It lists as low as US$200. In England they now have 150 hours of
math classes on disc. The computer running the disc replaces the
teacher, explaining the procedure in a choice of languages ... over
and over again if necessary, with no loss of "cool" or visible
patience. Kids love it.
Last night four hours disappeared as I played with my latest
CD-ROM, "Time Table of History: Science & Innovation". It holds 15
billion years of history. If your eyes tire, let it talk to you. Also
available at around $100 is The Guinness Book of Records. Can you
imagine the complete list of all printed books? It's available too in
the General Catalogue of Printed Books to 1975. The price ticket
reads $20,000. Still cheaper than the books they replace. You get
lightning speed, a convenience previous historians could only dream
of, and the odds on finding what you want are markedly higher, even
from partially erroneous or incomplete information.
Compton's Encyclopedia Britannica, all 26 volumes, are now
available on one disc. This is the latest reference work designed
especially for computers. The little 4.5" silvery disc can hold the
information equivalent of 1,600 floppy discs. For instance this one
contains a mere 8,784,000 words ... and 15,000 pictures, color
drawings, photographs, charts, maps, etc. For example, 45 animated
sequences (mini-movies) show via an X-ray how the joints move. Also
included is a full hour of audio carrying historical speech sequences
from John F. Kennedy and others. If you don't understand a word -from anywhere, just click the mouse and the definition will appear
and the right computer will also pronounce the word. The system
already has everything linked together. Click the mouse on any spot
on the globe or on the timeline of history and up pops an appropriate
article.
More information:
The Macintosh Support Sampler on CD-ROM disc is
free. Send your name, occupation, company,
address, phone number and indicate what kind of
Macintosh or other computer you use and whether
you have an Apple CD SC or other CD-ROM Drive to:
Apple Computer Inc,
Apple CD-ROM Offer,
P.O. Box 751630,
Memphis, TN 38175-9967.
If you don't have a CD-ROM, take the disc to the nearest Apple dealer
for playing.
For Compton's Encyclopedia information:
Roald Haase, Manager,
News Services,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
310 South Michigan Avenue,
Chicago, Illinois 60604.
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