CompuServe Messages

I'm pretty sure there are now libraries out there (CanDo?), both commercial and PD/Shareware, that can let you incorporate MODS into your scripts. Director is good, but AV is the best for straight ahead flow-chart scripting. Struggles, my project, was done completely in AV except for 6 modules that were C programs. It did a great job. It's no Hypercard, though, but I think there are others now that can claim that distinction. I don't know alot about the current PC MM authoring applications. I was just at the IRA convention at San Antonio, TX. No, not THAT IRA; the International Reading Association. Everyone who has an invested interest in Educational Publishing sets up a booth and showcases their latest stuff. This is traditional publishing (books, magazines, etc.) but of course computers are making an impact slowly but surely. This is the 3rd year, I believe, that Scholastic has had something electronic to show. There's also, as I mentioned, Warner Bros, Paramount, Harcourt Brace, and a few others that had something electronic to show. If you've seen any of the Discis CD-ROM books then you know 90% of the market: Take a simple children's book and animate it (to whatever extent) with music and speech thrown in. Whatever variations you come up with are what will sell your product. Unfortunately, noone is trying a more video arcade approach to educational material. That's my driving line when I come up with ideas. How to tap into the Nintendo/Sega mentality that most 5-10 year olds have and use that to educate them. Since most educational publishing houses are full of former teachers, professors of education, and all the rest of that academic bullsh*t, it's understandable that they're not catching on. I'm also less a programmer type and more a "do-er" type. (Technical Designer, to borrow your terms!) Gimme an idea and I'll (somehow) get it from idea to finished design. Think of Jobs and Wozniak. (The old Apple team!) I'm like Jobs (in only the most superficial sense!!!). I might not know alot of C, but I am familiar enough with what has been accomplished in computer software that when someone says "I need X" I can, with 99% accuracy, say "Yes, it can be done" or "No, unless you wanna throw more money at it!" For the Struggles project, I was given a rough outline of an nifty social studies program. We tried IBM & Mac and neither offered hardware that would be cheap enough for a school. CBM was still trying to make a dent in the educational market and of course I mentioned to my superiors that my favorite machine, the Amiga, would be perfect! The rest is history. 8) It was my first REAL job in that field and I had the same misgivings you have now. I took it and am glad to say I've never regretted it. The skills I brought with me were 2 in number: 1) I am what you could call a power user. Love computers, never get enough of them. Read up on current stuff, etc. and 2) I am sufficiently anal-retentive that I'm a decent manager… can keep things in order and running smoothly. IPG is into traditional paper publishing, closely tied to the school curriculum. Thanks for the pat on the back! I hope I get the promotion, although they're discussing my raise at the moment. If we agree on it, it's a done deal. If not, such is life. Miguel ——– AP, AP, and away!