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Faculty experience at the College of Staten Island--City University of New York shows that Hybrid Analog Digital Networks (ADViNet) prove to be useful in the classroom environment. They support major instructional activities, and are very efficient in the distribution of full-screen motion video and other graphical images. The ADViNet does not introduce extra traffic in the local area network, and does not slow down other network operations. The use of a video network is an efficient and effective teaching tool in those courses where the course content is completely new to the students, requiring extensive use of lecture and presentations from visual sources. In advanced classes, laboratories, and seminars, video networks have prove productive for modeling, individual and group tutoring, and monitoring. Student surveys suggest that the students like to take classes in a classroom equipped with a video network. They prefer video networks to other systems of video distribution (such as big screens) and consider it an effective teaching tool. (SWC)

As the use of computers has become more common in society, human engineering and ergonomics have lagged behind the sciences which developed the equipment. Some research has been done in the past on the effects of screen colors on computer use efficiency, but results were inconclusive. This paper describes a study of the impact of screen color configuration on operators' ability to detect typographical errors in text. Participants included 97 undergraduate business students, divided into 3 ability levels--beginning (N=20), intermediate (N=32), and advanced (N=45)--based upon their reported keyboarding experience. Color configurations tested were white text on blue, blue on white, amber on green, and green on amber, all common color configurations in popular word processors. Screen areas were defined in quadrants, moving from upper left (1) to upper right (2), and then lower left (3) to lower right (4). Significant differences in the impact of color configuration were found in advanced and beginning level keyboardists, but none was found in those of intermediate skill level. Results suggested that more errors go undetected in the lower half of the screen, quadrants three and four. The best color configurations for error detection in these two quadrants are W/B and A/G, both light characters on dark backgrounds. These results have direct implications for instructors of proofreading. (Contains 15 references and 5 tables.) (SWC)

This document examines electronic display units for video and computer images in education. It begins by examining the viewing conditions necessary to have quality electronic images and identifying three essential criteria for image quality: definition, contrast, and luminosity. The two types of electronic images, video and computer, are then compared in terms of the nature of the transmission signals involved and the types of interfaces used. A list of factors that the potential user needs to check before purchasing display equipment precedes technical descriptions of different types of equipment, their strengths and weaknesses, and relative costs. [It is noted that it is not currently possible to display quality computer and video images with one piece of equipment.] The equipment examined is divided into two categories: cathode tube equipment, including color television, computer color monitors, and tritube videoprojectors; and liquid crystal equipment, including liquid crystal tablets and Tri-LCD video projectors. (JLB)

This study investigated the performance of 28 journalism students in making structural and mechanical/stylistic editing changes in spot news stories on video display terminal (VDT) screens and in hard copy. Results showed that editing on the VDT screen resulted in more structural and fewer mechanical/stylistic changes; academically superior students were better able to use the VDT to make structural changes. Structural editing performance was also associated with the students' personal writing habits. (Thirteen notes are included.) (Author/SR)

Surveys the human factors literature that focuses on self-report evaluations of visual fatigue resulting from use of a visual display unit (VDU). Highlights include viewing distance, color, user demographics, duration of VDU use, physiological measurements, and suggested guidelines for VDU use. (Author/LRW)

Suffered by 88% of those who use a computer for more than 3 hours a day, eyestrain is caused by direct and reflective glare, excessive lighting, improper ergonomics, low-quality or inappropriately adjusted video display terminals, uncorrected or improperly corrected vision, and insufficient or nonexistent eye care. Fatigue, errors, and lost days result. (PEN)

A computer expert describes two stand-alone, multimedia CD-ROM computer systems suitable for school and public libraries: a budget version for less than $2000 and a power version for about $3000. Recommends specific personal computer models, monitors, operating systems, processors, RAM (random access memory), hard drives, video subsystems, CD-ROM drives, soundboard and speakers, and modems. (PEN)

Reviews color research and considers its implications for the design of instructional materials. Topics include physiological and psychological effects; color and learning, including attention, search tasks, retention and other objective measures, and non-objective measures; color and the cathode ray tube (CRT); and further research needs. Contains 105 references. (LRW)

Groups of 40 younger and 40 older adults read 4 expository passages either on a computer display or as printed text. Online presentation resulted in better recall and comprehension evaluation for both age groups, an effect not caused by longer time spent reading online texts. Younger subjects spent less time reading and recalled more information. (SK)

Three experiments examined infants' perceptions of their own leg movements as presented to them via online video that varied the spatial orientation and directionality of movement. The infants looked significantly longer and generated significantly more leg activity while looking at the view displaying a left-right inversion than while looking at other views. (MDM)

Discusses three experiments conducted with undergraduates to investigate important characteristics of mental models, their influence on task performance, and instructional strategies facilitating their formation. Results suggest that dynamic visual displays are more effective than static visual displays for teaching electronic troubleshooting skills. (JKP)

Survey responses from 404 (of 523) office support personnel showed that most used computers 3-6 hours per day and had experienced vision or musculoskeletal problems, but most did not see a doctor, take regular breaks, do stretching exercises, or discuss problems with their supervisors. Many were not aware of ergonomic features that could help, and few ergonomic design changes had been made. (SK)

A content analysis examined health risk communication statements in national and local press coverage in 1988 of a controversy over proposed legislation to regulate the use of video display terminals (VDTs) in the workplace in Suffolk County, New York. The health risk communication statements from a total of 55 randomly selected articles were categorized as cognitive or affective statements and as alarming, reassuring, neutral or balanced (both alarming and reassuring) statements. The articles were selected from the "New York Times," the Long Island edition of "Newsday," and "Suffolk Life." Results showed that national and local newspapers differed significantly in the percent of cognitive and reassuring risk information they presented, but not in the percent of affective or alarming information they presented. In addition, national and local newspapers differed significantly in their use of health risk frames for articles. No significant differences for any of the variables were found between the local newspapers. (Five tables of data are included, and two appendixes and 48 references are attached.) (Author/PRA)

Through a series of case studies, this report examines the varied connections between selected Ontario schools and the TVOntario programs and services designed to support teaching and learning. The case studies profile nine school districts: Waterville, Countryside, Edgewater, Cliffside, Pleasantville, Rocky, Satellite City, Centretown, and Riverside. The research focuses on four aspects of the school environment: (1) areas of change and the change process; (2) television and video use; (3) microcomputer use; and (4) relationship with TVOntario. For each aspect, the report synthesizes the case studies, providing background information, a summary of findings, and a discussion of the findings in relation to TVOntario. Five recommendations for TVOntario follow the main section of the report together with summaries of the individual case studies. A final short section outlines the comments of the Ministry of Education officials on the issues. A summary of the study is provided in both English and French, and a glossary of 11 acronyms is included. (12 references) (SD)

Using Macintoshes, 111 high school students completed 8 3-minute timed typings, twice under each of 4 conditions (normal, monitors off, keyboards covered, and both monitor off and keyboard covered). Fastest speeds were achieved with monitors off, the most accurate with full visual access to both monitor and keyboard. (SK)

Describes the challenge to human eyesight brought about by the growing use of computers. The characteristics of the computer monitor and the "eye posture" required by monitors is discussed. Glasses appropriate for computer viewing and steps computer users can take to reduce eyestrain are covered. (KRN)

This paper is an outline of the key points of a presentation on the use of digitized video or videodisks for the development of still graphics instructional materials. An introduction examines the rapid technological changes and trends of the last 10 years and the assumptions underlying this presentation. A discussion of developmental stage issues then considers such criteria as cost, availability, quality or resolution, speed, and reliability. Delivery and revision stage issues are also examined, and a concluding summary provides information on standards, evaluation criteria, and other issues and possible changes. (19 references) (EW)

A near-ultrasonic pure tone of 15,570 Herz generated by flyback transformers in computer and video display terminal (VDT) monitors may cause severe non-specific irritation or stress disease in operators. Women hear higher frequency sounds than men and are twice as sensitive to "too loud" noise. Pure tones at high frequencies are more annoying than broadband noise at the same level. Because hormonal levels influence sensitivity to high frequency sound in both men and women, stress symptoms may be intermittent, but all who hear the pure tone are affected. Meaningless noise may induce physiological changes in stroke volume of the heart, pulse amplitude, dilatation of the pupil, the ability to quickly change focus of the eyes or move the eyes through certain angles. A survey of 38 students in two college classes using the same classroom equipped with 21 desktop computers revealed that 15 students (12 of them women) could hear the high-pitched sound. Nearly all 26 female students reported stress decreased noticeably shortly after computer monitors were turned off. Two sets of acoustical measurements were made in this classroom, one by an audiologist and one by an acoustical engineer. Both tests indicated a distinctive pure-tone sound at the 16 kHz frequency. Past studies of VDT health effects have not considered pure-tone sound or gender effects as possible causes of stress and stress disease symptoms in computerized workplaces or classrooms. (One table of data and 47 notes are included.) (SR)

A survey of office workers employed by North Carolina telephone companies was conducted to determine the extent and types of health problems experienced by office workers who use video display terminals (VDTs). Data were gathered by questionnaires mailed to 2,478 office workers, with 966 responses. Questions concerning a wide range of health effects and working conditions were asked. Ninety-five percent of the respondents were women, most aged 20-40 years. Some of the results of the survey were as follows: (1) VDT users who use a VDT for more than half of their work day experienced significantly higher rates of health problems than non-VDT users, including increased rates of eyestrain; back, neck, arm, and hand pain; stress-related problems; and chronic health problems--hypertension and angina; (2) poor workstation design factors, including lack of adjustable controls for VDT screen angle, brightness, glare, and chairs providing inadequate back support, were associated with increased rates of health problems for both VDT and non-VDT office workers; (3) these health problems were further aggravated by jobs that involved low job control and/or high job demands; and (4) there was a significant relationship between angina and VDT use. Recommendations were made for improvements in the following areas: VDT and workstation design; workplace design; stress reduction; training; research; and government action. The survey instrument is included. (KC)