The inauguration of a multimedia-based computer training facility at its Headquarters on June 29, 1992 brought into focus the efforts of the National Informatics Centre (NIC) at multimedia technology development. "Multimedia is a frontier area in information technology, and the NIC workstation is expected to provide a major impetus to the spread of multimedia in India," reported the August 17, 1992 issue of the Deccan Herald.
The Multimedia Systems (MMS) Development Programme was launched by NIC in September 1991 with the overall objective of introducing multimedia technology as an integral part of Informatics Services being provided by NIC.
NIC's multimedia-based training facility is the culmination of this MMS Development Programme. Twenty-eight low cost multimedia workstations have been installed by connecting existing PC-XTs to provide a unified audio-video and computer environment with a centrally controlled video-based instruction system.
NIC has indigenously developed a range of low cost products to make multimedia-based workstations feasible. Among these, the DUO Switch, PC-VCR Controller and the Software for Analog Video Interactive Application (SAVIA) deserve special mention.
The DUO Switch is an analog device which takes computer output from a CGA card and Video output from a VCR and displays the output on the monitor.
The PC-VCR Controller Card is an add-on card which can be used with XTs and ATs along with a VHS VCR. This controller card is a VCR under software control.
SAVIA is a Microsoft Windows-based software to operate a VCR through an XT/AT or the PC-VCR Controller Card. This package can index any VHS cassette and video clippings which can be viewed on the monitor with the help of a mouse.
These products, along with a few others such as the RGB decoder to enable the colour monitor to accept video signals from the VCR and the MultiBase add-on to dBase III, have made the first Multimedia-based training facility in the Country a practical reality.
(For further information, please contact Training Division, National Informatics Centre, A-Block, CGO Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi - 110 003.)
PC-VCR CONTROLLER CARD
THE WORK STATION