E d i t o r i a l

INTERACTIVE VIDEO I N F O R M A T I O N SYSTEM

Equine practitioners will be hearing a lot more about Digital Equipment Corporation's (DEC) Interactive Video Information System (IVIS). The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) has entered into a co-venture with Visual Technology Group (VTG), a New York-based company that is involved in developing new technology solutions to meet the needs of selected medical and scientific groups.

With sponsorship from the AAEP, VTG is utilizing the Digital Professional 350 computer and other hardware which make up IVIS, to develop a system that will serve the equine practitioner in four areas:

1. Practice management. 2. Communications for data base retrieval. 3. Communications within the profession and with

service groups. 4. Continuing veterinary medical education. An Ad Hoc AAEP computing committee was formed

early this year to help VTG appraise the various existing veterinary practice management software and to provide a list of requirements for the ideal equine practice management system. Software is currently being developed by VTG which will reportedly fulfill the requirements set up by the committee.

Over the years, AAEP has been a leader in continuing education for equine practitioners. Now the organization has shown much forsight in selecting a system with such tremendous potential for education as IVIS.

IVIS combines the computing power of the DEC Pro 350 with high-resolution video, dual-channel audio, sophisticated graphics and text in a versatile, dynamic Learn ing Works ta t ion . IVIS's s t a t e -o f - the -a r t information delivery system has the potential to bring improved continuing education into every practitioner's office, to be utilized during short periods of leisure time.

IVIS presents moving and still video images of high quality color and resolution, along with computer- generated graphics and text, accompanied by dual- channel high-fidelity sound, played through headsets or amplified speakers. The practitioner interacts with material presented in IVIS programs through the use of the computer keyboard or the DECtouch's pressure- sensitive screen. The "lesson" is created somewhat as a

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The professional D E C 350 computer comes with a floor stand (2) and a color monitor. The floor stand houses the computer and the IVIS analog box.

EQUINE VETERINARY SCIENCE

The Laser Videodisc Player (3) is interfaced with the DEC Pro 350 computer (5). The keyboard is also shown (4).

video tape is made, but an extra dimension is provided by having the " lesson" control led by the computer . C o m p u t e r - g e n e r a t e d t e x t a n d / o r g r a p h i c s a r e incorporated with still and moving pictures.

IVIS was initially developed to train Digital Field Service technicians. Their experience with it confirmed the dramat ic difference IVIS can make in learning and retention. They found "Dynamic sensory impact involves students in lesson material the way no previous teaching method can."

The Laser Videodisc Player is an important part of IVIS. It produces clear, sharp, stable pictures of excellent color quality, and provides for separate bilingual or specialized soundtracks via two audio channels. Digital's LDP40 is a modified version of the microprocessor- controlled Sony LDP1000 and can play any standard constant angular velocity (CAV) optical videodisc. These video discs sell for a price comparable to a blank video tape and have a storage capacity of 54,000 frames, or 30 minutes of real-time video, per side. One important difference, however, is that any point on a disc can be accessed by the VDP40 in a matter of five seconds. Variable playback modes allows one to proceed at normal, fast and slow speeds, and to step by single frame and scan, in forward and reverse. It is envisioned by VTG that a series of educational IVIS programs will be made available to equine practitioners at nominal prices by veterinary colleges and commercial companies.

According to research done by Digital, people retain about 25% of what they hear, 45% of what they see and hear, and 70% of what they see, hear and do. IVIS engages the learner in all three areas. As an example, radiographs can be shown on the screen while the pathology is described by the audio port ion of the system. The learner may then be asked to touch the portion of the screen showing the lesion. The computer program then responds with one type of information (through the audio and video) if the person touches the correct part of the screen, the computer responds with another type of information if the learner touches the wrong part of the screen. The lesion can be correctly identified with an arrow or other means, after the learner has responded.

Digital says, "Even a computer novice can learn to use IVIS quickly and easily, guided by video demonstrations alternated with exercises on the computer monitor. The IVIS 'backpack" connects the compu te r with the

Volume 4, Number 6

videodisc player and synchronizes their electronic signals, so that video segments can be mixed with computer menus and programs that appear on the monitor.

Creating IVIS Courseware A special computer program is available for the Pro

350 computer that allows one to create interactive IVIS programs. This software is known as Vax Producer. Through a design technique called branching, alternate routes can be created through a given set of program materials. Branching is what gives viewers the choice of how and when to proceed, if and when to review, and when to be tested on their understanding of the information presented.

Along with the developmental capabilities of the Vax Producer software, Digital offers a library of generic IVIS courses as well as a host of courseware development and consultation services to help a group such as AAEP to adapt IVIS to whatever communication tasks may be required in the future.

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The availability of qual i ty courseware will be the key to making IVIS an accepted tool among A A E P members and other equine practi t ioners. Digital has agreed to

work closely with VTG and A A E P in getting some initial courseware prepared. In fact a trial course was shown on the IVIS system at the A A E P C o n v e n t i o n this mon th in Dallas. W E J

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