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Session 2326

Multimedia Oscilloscope Training Program

John Bellando, Joseph H. Nevin College of Engineering University of Cincinnati

Abstract

Innovations in multimedia technology have expanded the realm of instruction from the static world of printed manuals to the dynamic world of computer-enhanced training. Utilizing graphics, animation, text, sound, and interaction techniques, developers are able to create tutorials, demonstrations and teaching aids, which are both visually pleasing and informative. Instrumentation manuals are particularly suited to multimedia development due to the level of interaction necessary for their operation, allowing users to interact with the tutorial as they would the real instrument. Because oscilloscopes—used for displaying and measuring waveforms--are widely used in many fields, the goal of this project is to provide a stimulating, interactive learning environment where users could simultaneously gain and review their knowledge of the functions of an oscilloscope. This paper discusses the motivation for as well as the implementation of an oscilloscope training and learning software package, written with Macromedia’s Authorware and built around the HP 54600 series of digital storage oscilloscopes.

I. Introduction

In the information age where computers are common to home, work and school environments, a trend is beginning that shifts the focus of learning. In the past, learning was a two-dimensional process, involving text and pictures. With new multimedia and storage technology, many instructional lessons are being shifted to the three-dimensional realm of computer learning, utilizing not only text and graphics, but also video, audio, animation, and interactivity. Not only does this technology allow for an enhanced learning environment, but also extends educational opportunities to previously underserved populations. In fact, over the past several years, a magazine devoted to the discussion of enhancing the learning experience through multimedia and computer technology, Syllabus Magazine, has reached over 300,000 educators world-wide.

Already some major university programs, such as The Humanities Text Initiative at the University of Michigan and Project Bartleby at Columbia, have begun to create and disseminate online versions of many of the classics1, allowing for a potentially wider reading audience. Barring copyright issues, the future could foresee the wide-spread use of online textbooks for college campus classes. On a grander scale, Iowa State has built a virtual reality CAVE-type facility, wherein architectural students can explore historical and contemporary buildings such as the Parthenon, Pantheon, and Notre Dame, thanks to the Historical Building Reconstruction project2. Even a local level of educating, many instructors are finding that whole concepts or single ideas can usually be understood better with the addition of images or animation. At the University of Cincinnati’s College of Engineering we have had several instructors utilize the services of our Instructional Technology Center in creating animations and interactive programs

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Nevin, J. H., & Bellando, J. L. (2000, June), Multimedia Oscilloscope Training Program Paper presented at 2000 Annual Conference, St. Louis, Missouri. 10.18260/1-2--8578