#Amiga Vision is here!
16 messages in this thread
Could explain to me what amiga vision is ? Thanks, Michelle.
Michelle:
Amiga Vision is a program which lets you build interactive, multimedia
presentations/applications easily.
Now, what does THAT mean?
Well, it means that you can combine animations, music, sound, still
graphics, etc. into an INTERACTIVE setup, which even has a built-in
database function, and do this, with perfect timing, simply by moving
little pictures around on the screen.
Example: At World Of Amiga here in New York a fellow from CBM showed me a
presentation he was building for a show. He was about a third of the way
through it, and was using a beta version of Amiga Vision. He had sound
files, music, animations, still graphics, and the data base all hooked
together. Here's what it did:
It was set to cycle. At the start, it did a little intro with sound, music
and animation to get the attention of the viewer (this was to run at a
trade show). Then it started using text, animation and sound to demonstrate
what it could o, and to ask questions of the viewer (this presetation was
actually to sell the ability to do such presentations at trade shows!) It
was set up to use a touch screen, so the viewer could simply touch a spot
on the screen to get more information an a particular subject. At any time
they viewer coudl say that they wanted to get more information in the form
of a brochure or video tape (can't remember which). If anyone touched that
button, an alphabet was shown at the top of the screen, while the machine
asked them to fill in their:
first name: (touch the right letters above)
R…A…Y
Your first name is RAY? Is that correct [YES] [NO] (touch one)
etc. until the entire name and address, and a comment, if they wanted, was
input. All of this was captured into the DBase compatible databse, and
then the Amiga said thanks for your interest, and began to recycle the show
until the next person touched the screen.
Amiga Vison can use keyboard, mouse, touchscreen and joystick user control.
It can read and use data from CD's, video tapes, floppies, HD's, and I
think live
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video, with the right equipment. The interface is really slick. Instead
of involved script languages, you assign various sounds, scores, graphics,
text and/or graphics to icons. The icons, if I remeber correctly,
sometimes have menus to fill out (show how many times, how loud should it
be, when shoudl it start, etc.), but it's very easy and interactive. You
lay them out on the screen in a manner that is very similar to using shapes
for logic and program development, and can take sub-routines, and compress
them into a single module icon. Double click on that icon, and the module
opens up to show you its logic flow. And these modules can next inside on
another, so you can have your intro duction become one item on screen when
that's set, etc.
That's probably way too long an answer. I hope it gives you some idea of
what Amiga Vision is, rather than confusing you more 🙂 It's hard to
describe if you haven't seen it, and, to be honest, I probably saw only a
small part of what it can really do.
?|^] Ray Lewis
Well, Amigavision is a complete multimedia package that is basically a
computer language that uses symbols, not words. I just bought it a few days
ago and haven't even begun to use all it's features, but it's great so far.
Nice gadgets too…
-Adam…
Amiga Vision is a "multi-media" presentation program something like "The
Director" but with a nice interface.
Of course, the problem with this is that, no matter how nice or how much
better AmigaVision is, 'interactive multimedia' on a computer is still (in
most cases) far *less* interactive than a good (paper) magazine. Not that
I don't like computers– but a guy I interviewed once, who works in
information science, pointed out that it's pretty hard to beat some tried &
true metaphors… like the Dewey Decimal System. Or a magazine with a
table of contents. Or network TV, 'TV Guide' and a remote control. Now
that's interactive!
.. Okay– let me have it…
Depends. I'd certainly not want to read a novel off interactive TV. But an
interactive Time magazine disc would be kinda neat, I think. Imagine
clicking on a China story and seeing a short clip of that guy holding off
the tanks, etc. Or hearing the shouts of Iranian demonstrators. It could be
powerful stuff in a say, bi-weekly magazine disc. Better than TV news, too,
as you could skip around to what you're interested in for more details.
Now imagine a TV Guide on disc… leave that disc in the player at night,
and when you wonder what else is on, just hit the player remote, and the
player could check an internal clock and display the schedule of shows. As
a super couch potato, I find that kind of an appealing idea <grin>.
TV Guide is disturbingly linear, and a perfect candidate for interactivity.
Especially if you have many channels available (or a satellite dish).
Sure, the traditional TV listing tells you "what's on now." But…
…you catch only part of a great PBS show. You know that these things are
usually run again. Query: When is the next time this program will be shown?
or
…are there any Fred + Ginger movies are on this week? Hitchcock? What
science fiction movies are on this week? What romantic comedies produced
before 1965 with at least a 3 star rating?
or
…which of my favorite shows (you could have a programmed list) will be
showing first-run episodes this week?
or you could have a programmed list of things to watch for (although the
data would change each week, obviously). So without having to 'ask,' (as in
my earlier example) the system would automatically tell you (as soon as it
saw the new week's data) whenever any of your favorite movies were being
shown. Or maybe only when it was being shown on a commercial-free station,
uncolorized. Or whenever anything with Judy Garland is broadcast. Or any
time Paul McCartney is listed as a guest on a show. Whatever.
Theoretically, there could be such a program (interface and search engine)
for a CD-ROM based computer. You could subscribe to the data disks which
would arrive periodically (they do not have to be very expensive – and they
could even sell advertising on them). You could even have the system
programmed to call (through a modem) once a day for latest updates (last
minute schedule changes and the like), which could be stored either in RAM
cartridges or on floppy disk.
And how about a link to the VCR? Mark off the programs you want to record
this week, and it will automatically set the VCR's timer.
TV Guide is primitive! ===Scott
Unrelated to CDTV really, but… I read about a pilot project out west
(CA?) where a gizmo attached to the TV calls a number (just as you
suggested) and downloads each week's TV schedule, and displays upcoming
shows according to your likes/dislikes. Unforch, I think it was about $3000
for the gizmo! I think TV Guide is missing a bet by not having some sort of
modem service, tho.
Also, I've heard that in many places overseas, the guides there have lots
of those barcode strips, so that you can run your VCR wand over what you
want to record. Someone needs to run all this technology together and give
us viewers/recorders a break… I spend about a 1/2 hour a week going thru
each Guide with a pen, marking off shows I'm interested in.
Did you see my article on XPress PC in Compute a few months back? This is a
modem-sized box that connects to the serial port and your cable TV feed,
and feeds 9600 baud data packets all day long, including news, weather,
some TV listings, some binary files, customized clipping service, etc. All
for about $150, with no additional fees. Very smart! They do make an
Amiga version, too.
No, sure didn't! I'll have to look it up. Thanks.
Does this mean that most or all cable systems feed such data into their
lines? I know close-caption data is inside the vertical sync area, but
would be surprised to hear of anything else. Or is this just some cable
systems?
I've seen ads for their game-delivery service called "Electric Toy Box", on
late-night cable TV. I believe the 800 number is 800-xPC-NEWS, where x is
between 2 and 9, perhaps 7. On my cable, it's delivered on channel 66,
because the interference on that channel changes according to the data LED.
🙂 It's not in vertical sync, I believe.
You've got the wrong guy if you think I'm going to jump down your
throat for saying things like magazines and address books are not obsolete!
I feel VERY firmly that computers are a hobby for many of us and not
necessarily a better way of doing everything. I think that computers are
excellent for some things. A word processor beats the devil out of a
typewritter and I think learning to program can force a person think
logically and creatively at the same time which can spill over and help
other aspects of life. At this time, computers can't replace completely
magazines or newspapers, and an address book is good enough for most
non-business uses.
One thing I think we have to be careful of is confusing indexing with
interactivity. Playing 'devil's advocate' some more, I think that
'interactive' media frequently is no more than a database. The advantage I
find to looking up a word in the Oxford English Dictionary vs. a computer
version of the same thing is that while looking up 'philosophy' I might
happen to find out what 'philology' is when I didn't even know I was
interested in philology. Or, that while checking to see what time 'MASH'
is on via TV Guide, I see a special on Computer Animation will be airing.
We have to remember that data is not information unless you ask the right
questions; and the 'question-asking' ability of any 'interactive' stuff
I've seen is sorely lacking. Maybe what would help is a 'randomize'
function… to let one browse on a hunch, rather than search on a
certainty. Any comments?
I tend to agree with you. The dictionary is also very portable.
(Well, maybe not the Oxford English Dictionary but you know what I mean.) I
can keep a dictionary with me at all times but it's tough to keep a
computer handy. (However, I DO own an Atari Portfolio. I VERY NICE and
HANDY little machine!)
I don't think computers have lived up to their potentional at all. I
would like to see a smart house that will do much of the trivial work for
you. Heat the house as you are about to wake up. Have the coffee ready.
Warm up the car. Turn on lights in the house before your arrival. Scan
the TV Guide to let you know when Siskel & Ebert is going to be on this
weekend 'cause the damn local stations keep moving the show all around the
map! Confirm the TV shows you want to watch and program the VCR. Send a
grocery list to the supermarket so they can either deliver your order or
have it waiting for you to pick up after work (with the bill automatically
dedcuted from your checking. Let's not forget an itemized receipt!) Etc.
THAT is when computers will start being more than hobbies to the general
public and start being a real help. I realize SOME of these things can be
done with "X-10" plugs but it's kind of a crude way of getting things done.
All electronic devices should come with a controlling computer chip that
will allow access via computer (with proper security codes, of course.)