December 5, 1995. Copyright, 1995, Graphic News. All rights reserved

HI-TECH CHRISTMAS PRESENTS FOR TODAYÕS KIDS
By Nicholas Booth, Science Editor

LONDON, December 5, Graphic News Ð The multimedia revolution has now reached the shops in time for Christmas. Gone are the days of electronic presents that stop working by Boxing Day or have limited educational value. ÔEdutainmentÕ Ð a stunning combination of education and entertainment Ð is the name of the game being played out on personal computers in bedrooms and studies throughout the world. The wave of the future is CD-ROMs, which store visual information as well as CD quality music, or PC-friendly platforms which can be played on your home computer. 

This Christmas, CD-ROM manufacturers are expecting increased sales on all titles, the variety of which is shown by the best-selling titles in the United States, released last month by PC Data in Reston, Virginia Ð ÔThe Lion King StorybookÕ, ÔMavis Beacon Teaches TypingÕ, ÔAladdin Activity CenterÕ plus ÔJust Grandma And MeÕ. In other words, titles are not just restricted to morally dubious, mind-numbing action games with little educational value. Now the revolution has reached crossed the Atlantic. Dorling Kindersley, BritainÕs most successful reference publisher, has stated its aim that all its titles will be published as CD-ROMs by 1997. Its current best-selling titles include ÔStowaway!Õ, ÔMy First Incredible Amazing DictionaryÕ and ÔHistory Of The WorldÕ.

The innovative use of graphic packages means that children will play for many hours on a computer and absorb information all the while. To many children, the use of computers is second nature and their appetite for new software is voracious. But how can parents know what constitutes a good title? And given that CD-ROMS are much more expensive than books, caution is warranted before money is exchanged. Experts suggest three ÔLsÕ should inform your buying Ð Learning, Looks and Longevity. 

Learning is determined by the age of your children: bold graphics, lots of sound and plenty of action will attract younger ones and hold their attention. As children get older, they will be ready for more challenging programs and those that cater for specific interests Ð such as science, sports or music. Looks come from how well the package is put together. Experts warn that buyers should be wary of bargain discounts Ð it may well be that they are not popular because they look awful. One way of checking is to take a test drive, as many publishers have demos available. Another point to bear in mind is that your computer may not have sufficient drive space and memory to run some of the more complex packages and you should jot down its specifications before buying one. 

Longevity refers to the novelty factor Ð will your child want to play the disk over and over again? Certainly, for older children, educational experts suggest that one good interactive encyclopaedia and a word processor package to improve writing skills should be encouraged. If in doubt, check with computer magazines which regularly review the latest software or simply shop around to solicit as many opinions as possible.

Source: Associated Press, Newsweek