Navigating through words

By referring to existing prototypes and systems, in this paper the advantages and disadvantages of computer and multimedia technologies in the development of reference works such as dictionaries and encyclopaedias are discussed. Some positive aspects of multimedia reference works are the possibility of accessing the same entry through a number of keys and research mechanisms, the possibility of 'navigating' through the semantic structure of the work itself, and even crossing the borders between different underlying structures. Some systems permit users to select the type of information they desire regarding a certain entry. This characteristic is particularly valuable in educational systems since it relieves users of the not so trivial task of autonomously extracting the information they need from a text which, because of the need for both conciseness and thoroughness, can be cryptic. In addition, some of these systems not only include texts and illustrations but also audiovisual material, tutorials, and multimedia sequences with different educational and informative aims. Finally the cost of, and time taken in, producing works of this type (except motion video production!), are potentially less than for analogous printed works with consequent repercussions on distribution costs and the frequency with which works can be updated. The major limits of multimedia dictionaries and encyclopaedias are practical ones, such as the scarce availability and standardization of suitable hardware platforms. Furthermore, hardware and software constraints impose compromises in terms of quality of images and audio, quality and quantity of motion video, portability of software and affordability.