Optimistic View (Whoops!) of Interactive Videodiscs

ERIC Identifier: ED270103
Publication Date: 1985-12-00
Author: McLean, Lois
Source: ERIC Clearinghouse on Information Resources Syracuse NY.
Videodiscs in Education. ERIC Digest.
THIS DIGEST WAS CREATED BY ERIC, THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
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ACCESS ERIC 1-800-LET-ERIC
TEXT: Videodiscs could have a revolutionary impact on the use of audiovisual media in education. What makes the videodisc so attractive? Videodisc systems can combine the best features of instructional television and computer assisted instruction. They can provide individualized, self-paced instruction with feedback and remediation, while incorporating all traditional audiovisual media into one easy-to-use, durable format.

Source: http://www.eric.ed.gov/ accessed 20 November 2006

In my writings on forecasting the adoption of new media, I've observed that it's easier to envision the end-state scenario than it is to anticipate the bumps in the road. This results in an optimistic "forecast" for a new medium as seen in the text above. (There are examples of technologies that exceed expectations including broadband access, for example; its growth has exceeded forecasters's predictions for its growth because they did tend to focus on why broadband would not diffuse quickly, and the hurdles were overstated.

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You may use this content (better still, argue with me!), but please cite my ideas as © 2006, Dr. Bruce Klopfenstein. Find any typos! Don't smite me, let me know!