Technology and Interactive Multimedia. Identifying Emerging Issues and Trends in Technology for Special Education.

As part of a 3-year study to identify emerging issues and trends in technology for special education, this paper addresses the role of interactive multimedia, especially the digital, optical compact disc technologies, in providing instructional services to special education students. An overview identifies technological and economic trends, focusing on the convergence of the personal computer industry with the consumer electronic industry resulting in an exploding multimedia market. The current technology is then reviewed for the following areas: personal computers, digital audio tape, interactive videodisc, compact disc read only memory, digital video interactive, Commodore Dynamic Total Vision, compact disc interactive, magneto-optic systems, digital compact cassettes, compact disc recordable/erasable technology, blue (focusable) lasers, high definition television, virtual reality, and communications. Key trends identified for the year 2000 and beyond include improved data compression and storage technology as the underlying enabling technology, multifunction hardware platforms as the norm, cross platform compatibility, and increasing importance of product contents. Key issues for developers in the areas of cost, return on investment, transportability of applications, and marketing are identified. Finally, end user considerations and questions to drive a possible special education technology agenda are offered. An extensive resource section lists books, periodicals, other source materials, and sources of major studies (44 citations in all). A glossary offers definitions of technical terms. (DB)