Man-computer Communications and Cai

Computer-assisted instruction in its various forms has become evident in all segments of the educational sector including industry. universities and colleges, public schools, specialized institutions catering to the handicapped, as well as in the area of professional continuing education. This wide range of application touches upon learners of widely varying ages and capabilities, as well as widely differing subject matter and instructional strategies. Because the sole interface hetween the learner and the computer is the terminal , and hecause the use of computer-assisted instruction depends considerahly upon the adequacy of the instruction as perceived hy the traditional instructor, these variations place severe demands upon terminal capabilities. Ideally, computer-assisted instruction terminals must provide to the learner, in an integrated and coordinated fashion , such capabilities as volatile and hard copy. special function keys, methods for accepting a pointing response, both static and dynamic graphics, photographic or similar high resolution images, audio, differing character sets including their magnification, and author support features. The importance of these factors varies as a function of the nature of the material taught, the instructional algorithms deemed necessary by the instructor, and the maturity of the student. Some of the most demanding constraints are imposed by the young normal child. COMMUNICATIONS HOMME-ORDINATEUR ET EAO