Intelligent Videodisc and the Learning Society

Abstract

Discoveries of fundamental importance are occurring in all areas of science at an incredible rate. However, continued growth and exploitation of information rests not only on science's ability to produce new knowledge but also upon society's ability to learn and to apply knowledge in a productive way. If we are to continue to reap the advantages of the “information explosion,” we need new, powerful intellectual tools to augment and expand human capacity to reason and to work “smarter.” The National Science Foundation has initiated a research and development thrust for a proof-of-concept demonstration of an intelligent videodisc system for science education in the hope that it will stimulate others to seek new instructional paradigms and to explore new technological innovations for use in the learning society.